Andrew Ference retires after 16 seasons in NHL

Veteran defenseman Andrew Ference retired from professional hockey on Thursday, the Edmonton Oilers announced.

Ference, 38, spent the last four seasons with Edmonton and served as captain from 2013-15. In 147 games with the Oilers, Ference tallied six goals and 26 assists to go along with 108 penalty minutes.

"As I graduate from my time of playing in the NHL, I realize I have the problem of being unable to properly thank the hundreds of people who have helped me achieve my goal of playing in the best league in the world," Ference said in the team's statement.

"Thank you to Pittsburgh, Calgary, Ceske Budejovice, Boston, and Edmonton. Your love of our sport provided me with an incredible stage to play on and your cities will always feel like home to me. Hockey fans really are amazing."

In 907 career regular-season games, the former eighth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins totaled 225 points (43 goals, 182 assists) and 753 minutes in penalties.

Ference missed the majority of the past two seasons with a severe hip injury.