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Victor Petkov
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Jets head coach Rock Bowness announces retirement
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He spent almost 50 years in NHL as a player and a coach

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness bid farewell to the NHL on Monday, drawing the curtain on an illustrious career spanning nearly five decades as both player and coach.

His decision to retire follows the Jets’ recent exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs, where they were ousted by the Colorado Avalanche in the opening round.

Bowness, aged 69, received recognition this season as a Jack Adams Award finalist, marking a significant accolade in his 14-year tenure as a head coach.

The Jets expressed their gratitude, acknowledging Bowness’s immense contribution to the sport. “Hockey won’t be the same without you, Bones,” they posted on X.

In a reflective moment during a press conference, Bowness revealed the inner workings of his decision-making process. “I’d always been told by older coaches that I’d know when the time was right,” he shared. “And when I was looking around after losing to Colorado, I wasn’t happy with the job I had done. It just hit me then, like, ‘It’s time.’ … I knew in my heart it was time.”

Throughout his career, Bowness amassed a record of 310-408-37 (with 48 ties) in 803 games across seven different teams, including two stints with the Winnipeg franchise. His coaching journey began in 1988-89 when he took on the role of interim head coach for the original Jets franchise.