Jason Spezza, a player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced his retirement at the age of 38.

The Toronto Maple Leafs star said that, “effective immediately,” he will be assuming a new role in the NHL after 19 years in the league.

Jason Spezza, a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, declared his retirement from the NHL on Sunday following 19 seasons.

In a statement that ESPN was able to receive, Spezza, 38, stated, “Hockey has been my life’s work and to be able to come home to Toronto and bookend my playing career where it started was incredible.”

Throughout his nearly two-decade NHL career, Spezza played for three different teams. He expressed gratitude to the fans for their support.

“The fans’ influence on the game is immense, whether they are in Ottawa, Dallas, Toronto, or anywhere else in the league. That moment of skating onto the ice to the thunderous applause of the audience is something I will never forget, yet I can never quite recreate it. I’m grateful,” Spezza added.

The official Instagram account of the Maple Leafs verified that Spezza will be joining the executive office of the Toronto team “effective immediately.” He will serve as the team’s special assistant to general manager Kyle Dubas, according to ESPN.

“It is difficult to describe just how much of a lasting and positive impact Jason Spezza made in his three seasons with the Maple Leafs,” Dubas, 36, stated.

After being selected by the Ottawa Senators with the second overall choice in the 2001 NHL Draft, Spezza started his NHL career.

In 2008 and 2012, he participated in the NHL All-Star Game, as per his official NHL bio. After finishing the regular season as the best scorer, Spezza was awarded the John P. Sollenberger Trophy by the American Hockey League in 2005.