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"It's a bit scary. It's a bit unnerving." That's how Josh Gorges describes the transition from NHL hockey player to "former" NHL hockey player. He says he talked to others who have gone through it to make sure he was in the right mind set. "I knew this day was going to come someday," said the 34-year-old former Kelowna Rocket. "You can't play hockey forever. And I wanted to be prepared."
Lately, Gorges has been coming to Prospera Place, and supporting his former WHL team. The Kelowna Rockets brought him into the fold as an undrafted 16-year-old in 2000. Today, owner Bruce Hamilton described him as a 'special assistant' to Head Coach Adam Foote. But for now, there are no plans to bring him into a role that would require him to travel with the team. Gorges, who captained the Rockets to a Memorial Cup championship in 2004 is focused on spending more time with his family.
Still, he said being away from hockey won't be easy. "This has been everything in my life. It's the only thing I know," he admitted. "To not be doing that anymore is a little bit difficult, but at the same time I know that I've got a great family at home that I get to spend more time with. I get to see my kids grow up. I get to watch them play hockey now."
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