After 12 years of professional hockey, Tim Brent has called it a career, stepping away from pro hockey to pursue an opportunity outside of the sport. The impending unrestricted free agent won’t have to worry about finding a new place to play hockey in the 2016-17 season. “All of us have to kind of go through that process and understand that we can only play for so long,” Brent said about his decision to retire from pro hockey. “It was time. I still love the game of hockey and it’s given me and my family so much. I really owe it a lot, so it’s always really hard to walk away from that.
Brent’s 12-year pro career saw him travel the world to play the sport he loved. “Not just to see parts of the world, but to meet the people that live there. I’ve gotten to play with guys from all over the world,” Brent explained, adding, “One of the greatest parts of our sport is the people that are in it and getting to meet so many great people over the last 12 years, those are the things that you really take away from it when you’re finished and you look back on your career.
“I’ve been playing since I was four years old. All of the work up until you actually play in the NHL is finally realizing there’s nothing really like it. You’ve put in so much time and effort and made so many different sacrifices to get there that it’s just really a special moment and a special time. I truly tried to enjoy every day of it, so I don’t have any regrets there.
Here is a closer look at the career of Tim Brent.
Early Years and Junior Career
Tim Brent grew up in the Cambridge, Ontario, area playing minor ice hockey for the Hespeler Shamrocks of the OMHA and the Cambridge Hawks of the Alliance Pavilion League. He played in the 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Cambridge. At age 15, Brent signed with the Cambridge Winterhawks Jr.B. team of the OHA Midwestern Ontario Hockey League in the 1999-2000 season. After completing his Jr.B. season, Brent was the 2nd overall selection of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Toronto St. Michael's Majors.
Read also: Features of Custom Hockey Gloves
Brent began his major junior career on the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHL in the 2000-01 season. He played on the team for four seasons, until 2003-04. During that time, he was drafted twice, both times by Anaheim. He was first drafted 37th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, but was re-entered into the draft two years later after not signing with Anaheim. In the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, he was selected 75th overall, again by the Ducks. After firing his agent, he agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with Anaheim.
In 2004, Brent was part of the Canada men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2003 World Junior Championships.
Professional Career
In the 2004-05 season, he started his professional career with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks but was recalled by Anaheim and played 18 games in the NHL that season. The next season, he played on the Portland Pirates, the Ducks' new minor league affiliate. He began his 2006-07 season with Portland, but was recalled to the Ducks and scored his first NHL goal February 20, 2007, against the Vancouver Canucks. The Ducks went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.
The Anaheim Ducks celebrate their Stanley Cup victory in 2007.
Toronto Maple Leafs
On July 6, 2009, Brent signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. During his first preseason game of the 2009-2010 season, Brent tore his pectoral muscle - requiring surgery that would see him miss four months of action. After recovering, Brent returned to play with the Toronto Marlies, recording 28 points in 33 games. He was called up for the final game of the season to make his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs versus the Montreal Canadiens. He re-signed with the Leafs that offseason to a one-year two-way contract.
Read also: The story of Craig Needham
A strong training camp with Toronto saw Brent dress for the Maple Leafs in the season opener on October 7, 2010, versus the Montreal Canadiens. Brent immediately made an impact, scoring a goal. With the Leafs, Brent took on a checking center role, playing on the penalty kill unit. During a game on February 3, 2011, against the Carolina Hurricanes, Brent blocked two shots and cleared the puck in a single penalty kill.
Tim Brent during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Carolina Hurricanes and KHL
Brent signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 1, 2011. He played 30 games for the Hurricanes, registering just 3 points. Upon completion of his contract with the Hurricanes, Brent signed his first contract outside North America, on a one-year deal with Russian club, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League on July 30, 2013. After eighteen games with Torpedo, he was traded to Metallurg Magnitogorsk for Justin Hodgman.
Philadelphia Flyers and Retirement
Brent returned to North America following the 2014-15 season, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1, 2015. He was assigned for the duration of the 2015-16 season to the team's AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
“It was such a great experience for both my wife and I to be back in our comfort zone in an area where obviously there was a beautiful arena and a great fan base,” Brent said. “And an area where we got to enjoy the things we love so much, which is the outdoors away from hockey. It was a perfect place to play my last season. With the Phantoms this past season, Brent tallied 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 52 games, missing 19 games after having surgery on his hand.
Read also: Inside Aaron Ness's Career
“Breaking into the NHL, being able to play my first NHL game in Anaheim, being able to score my first NHL goal - all those experiences were a culmination of hard work, desire and passion for the game that started when I was eight years old,” Brent recalled.
| Team | League | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Hespeler Shamrocks | OMHA | Youth |
| Cambridge Hawks | Alliance Pavilion League | Youth |
| Cambridge Winterhawks Jr.B. | OHA Midwestern Ontario Hockey League | 1999-2000 |
| Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHL | 2000-2004 |
| Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | AHL | 2004-2005 |
| Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 2004-2007 |
| Portland Pirates | AHL | 2005-2007 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 2007-2008 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 2009-2011 |
| Toronto Marlies | AHL | 2009-2010 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 2011-2013 |
| Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | KHL | 2013-2014 |
| Metallurg Magnitogorsk | KHL | 2013-2014 |
| Lehigh Valley Phantoms | AHL | 2015-2016 |