Center Vincent Damphousse announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday. "I want to thank my coaches, fans, media and especially my teammates for 18 great years in the NHL," said Damphousse. "I loved getting up every morning and heading to the rink, and I will miss being in the dressing room with the guys, however I'm looking forward to the next stage of my life." Damphousse, who served as vice president of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) from 2002 to 2005, ends an 18-year career which saw him tally 432 goals to go along with 773 assists in 1,378 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks. The 37-year-old Damphousse was also an integral part of the Canadiens' Stanley Cup Championship in 1992-93, as he produced a team-high 23 points in 20 playoff contests. "Vincent played the game with great passion and intensity every time he stepped on the ice," said former teammate Brian Savage. "It was beneficial for me and many others to break into the league and learn from Vinny how to be a professional both on and off the ice." A four-time NHL All-Star Game selection, Damphousse was the sixth overall pick in the 1986 draft by the Maple Leafs.