Jan Mursak isn’t quite done yet.
The former Detroit Red Wings forward, who had spent much of the summer leaning toward retirement, has decided to suit up for one more season with Austrian club EC-KAC in the ICEHL. At 38, he says this will be his farewell campaign.
“I’ve decided to play another season, but this will truly be my last,” Mursak said on the team’s website. “The players, coaching staff, team doctors, management, and fans have treated me very well in Klagenfurt so far, and I’m truly grateful for that.
“This is especially true for General Manager Oliver Pilloni and Head Coach Kirk Furey. They gave me plenty of time this summer to think everything through carefully and make a decision free from pressure. A decision that now feels absolutely right.
“Our team looks strong. We have a good chance of competing for the championship again, and I’m really looking forward to contributing to a successful year together.”
Mursak will be entering his 19th pro season and his fourth with EC-KAC. He also signed on for a player development role with the club beginning the following season.
Pilloni made clear how much the organization values what Mursak still brings.
“Jan Mursak remains a game-changer in our league, a player every team would love to have,” Pilloni said. “Even during last season, he and his wife decided they wanted to stay in Carinthia, regardless of his hockey career, which underscores his deep connection to our region.
“Since the season didn’t end as we had all hoped, he soon made it clear that he didn’t want to end his career that way. We are delighted that Jan Muršak will remain with us for another season as a player and beyond, also in a different role within the organization.
Mursak’s NHL résumé includes 46 games with Detroit from 2010-13, along with a stint with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins that ended with a Calder Cup title in 2012-13. He remains the only Slovenian to play for the Red Wings and represented Slovenia in two Olympic Games, serving as captain at the 2018 Winter Olympiad.
His next season will be his last, but for now, Mursak gets one more run.
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