Carkner retires after 15 pro seasons

The New York Islanders announced today the retirement of defenseman Matt Carkner.

Carkner, finished a 15-year professional playing career in 2015-16 by appearing in 41 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, notching two goals and nine assists. The 35-year-old native of Winchester, Ont., played 587 regular-season games in the AHL with Bridgeport, Binghamton, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Cleveland, and was a six-time recipient of his team’s IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for community relations efforts, winning at least once in all four cities. Carkner also won the AHL’s Yanick Dupre Memorial Award in 2007.

A second-round draft choice by Montreal in 1999, Carkner played 237 games in the National Hockey League with San Jose, Ottawa and the Islanders.