American forward Taylor Matson announced his retirement on Thursday via the website of Rögle BK – the Swedish Hockey League club where he spent seven seasons of his 13-year professional career. He will continue to work within the club following his retirement.

“It was a very difficult decision to make,” the 36-year-old began. “I have been playing hockey since I was three years old. We bought a house in Ängelholm and have a son who is now one year old, so I wanted to move home and be here, be with the family. That’s part of the decision. But I also feel that my body was not 110 percent during training camp. My style of play means I have to be 110. I don’t want to go around playing at 85 to 90 percent. I want to perform at the top level and be a leading player if I play.”

Matson was born in Mound, Minnesota and played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2008 to 2012, serving as team captain his senior year.

Matson was a sixth-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks in 2007. He spent parts of three seasons in the AHL in the Vancouver and Minnesota Wild organizations, recording seven points in 39 regular-season games and one point in five playoff games. He also spent half a season with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears.

All of Matson’s career since 2014 has been in Europe.

“I had many friends who played in Europe,” he said. “One, Sam Lofqvist, played in Oskarshamn and Linköping. He told me that I should move to Sweden because my playing style suited here, but I didn’t want to move that far. That was the mentality I had.”

In his first season, he helped Rögle advance from the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan to the SHL. He then spent five SHL seasons in Ängelholm Rögle, followed by two with HV71 – one each in the HockeyAllsvenskan and SHL. Combined, he had 98 points in 348 SHL regular-season and playoff games.

Matson split last season between the Graz 99ers in Austria and Tappara Tampere in Finland. Tappara won the Finnish Liiga title although Matson played in only four playoff games.  

“It feels very exciting,” he said. “I have a lot to give the U-18 and U-20 players with development. I have a lot in me to tell and a lot of passion for hockey left. I want to use it in the best way.” 

Related articles:

Marco Rossi after comeback vs Canada: “In 50 years, I'll ...

Ex-Wild prospect returns to Finland

Another Swedish ex-NHLer heads home

Skellefteå wins SHL title with a mix of veterans and youth

Samuel Hlavaj: “I don't care who plays in front of me. I just ...