Wotton announces retirement

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers announced today that former captain Mark Wotton has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey.

“I had the privilege of playing hockey for 17 seasons and developed many life-long friendships that I cherish to this day,” Wotton said. “It was an honor to serve as the Sound Tigers captain for each of the five seasons I played in Bridgeport. I look forward to continuing to work within the Islanders organization.”

Wotton played 896 games during his 14 years in the American Hockey League, good for 15th on the all-time list and third-most among defensemen.

The Foxwarren, Man., native was a team captain for 11 of his 14 AHL seasons, wearing the "C" in Syracuse, Utah and Bridgeport. He was a member of Hershey’s Calder Cup championship team in 2006, and played in two AHL All-Star Classics — in 1998 and 2011, when he was selected captain of the Eastern Conference team.

Wotton is the Sound Tigers’ all-time leader in games played at 368, and in 2006-07 was named the team’s Man of the Year for his tireless work in the local community.

Wotton was originally drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 1992 and appeared in 43 career NHL games with Vancouver and Dallas.