Rumble announces retirement

Springfield Falcons defenseman Darren Rumble has announced his retirement and accepted a position as assistant coach with the team, it was announced by Tampa Bay Lightning Executive Vice President & General Manager Jay Feaster.

“While it’s unfortunate that Darren’s playing career has drawn to a close, the Tampa Bay Lightning organization is extremely pleased to be able to add a person of Darren’s character, work ethic and ability to our AHL coaching staff,” Feaster said. “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and watching Darren play since his second year as a pro, and I know he will help our young defensemen in Springfield develop and get to the NHL even sooner.”

Rumble, 35, played in 10 games with the Falcons this season, recording an assist and nine penalty minutes. A 6-foot-1, 200-pound native of Barrie, Ont., Rumble spent the 2003-04 season with the Lightning, appearing in five games as the team captured the Stanley Cup. In parts of eight NHL seasons, he appeared in 184 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Ottawa and St. Louis, recording 10 goals, 26 assists and 216 penalty minutes.

An AHL All-Star in 1997, when he also won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s outstanding defenseman, Rumble finishes his career with 77 goals and 317 assists for 394 points in 614 career AHL contests with Springfield, Hershey, Worcester, Philadelphia, P.E.I. and New Haven.

“I’m thrilled about this opportunity,” Rumble said. “Being with Tampa Bay the past two years I’ve seen first-hand what John Tortorella and Craig Ramsay are looking for throughout the different parts of the system, and I can apply that here. This is a great opportunity for me, and I have a good relationship with the players here in Springfield. They know I’m speaking from my experience in Tampa Bay, and they know it works.”