WHL Tri-City Americans

Eric Mestery Retires from Americans

Published on August 4, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - Tri-City Americans' Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced today that 20-year-old defenseman Eric Mestery has chosen to retire from the sport of hockey.

Originally selected by Tri-City in the first round (7th overall) of the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft, the 6'5", 202-pound defenseman from Winnipeg, Manitoba played in four WHL seasons, appearing in 240 games while collecting seven goals, 54 points and 161 penalty minutes. Tri-City dealt Mestery's rights to Lethbridge in November of 2008 as part of a package that brought Mitch Fadden and Brock Sutherland to the Americans. Then, the following November, Tory struck a deal with the Hurricanes to arrange for Mestery's return to Tri-City, where he was an instrumental figure on the Americans' blue line during their run to a third U.S. Division title and appearance in the club's first WHL Finals.

With his large frame and solid defensive skills, Mestery was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 2nd Round (57th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. As a 16-year-old, Mestery was also a part of Team Manitoba, which took home a silver medal at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon. Mestery will now turn his attention towards his education, as he plans to utilize his WHL scholarship and enroll in a post-secondary school.

"I talked to Eric yesterday and he informed me that the passion and commitment needed to play at this level was gone...that the game was no longer fun for him," explained Tory. "Eric had asked that he not be traded, instead making a responsible and mature decision in regards to getting on with life after hockey. We wish him all the best in wherever his future takes him."

"We would like to thank Eric for the years of hard work and service that he put into our club. He contributed to four of the five banners that will forever hang in the Toyota Center," Tory continued. "He is a classy young man and a great teammate...his presence in the locker room will be missed."

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