Today, I announce my retirement from Ice Hockey.
On Monday night, I had a phone call with Dominic Osman, where he told me I wasn’t going to be playing this upcoming season for the Blackburn Hawks.
That’s not how I imagined it ending. This was always going to be my final year playing hockey so after a record-breaking 20 years and with 534 games played, it’s time for me to hang my skates up.
I walk away proud of every shift, every hit, every slap shot and every moment I gave to this sport.
From day one, I played for the badge on the front, not the name on the back. Hockey has been more than just a sport to me. It’s been a lifestyle, a purpose, and I’ve made friends that are now more like family. And nowhere felt more like home than Blackburn.
To the fans – thank you for everything. You’ve been the heartbeat of this club. Your support, your chants, your belief… it meant more than you’ll ever know. Watching my little girl Maggie high-five so many of you was a full-circle moment I’ll never forget. I wish I could’ve skated that pad one more time with her. I would’ve soaked it in just a little bit more.
To Graham Lomax – thank you for standing by me. Your passion, loyalty, and belief in this team and its players never went unnoticed, and I’ll always be grateful for your support.
Finally, to my family – thank you for riding every high and low with me. For the endless support, and the love that kept me grounded no matter what was happening on the ice.
I wish the Hawks nothing but the very best going forward. This team will always be part of who I am. Though this chapter closes sooner than I expected or wanted, I leave with my head high, full of pride, and nothing but love for the journey and the team. It’s time now to be present with my family, and enjoy different adventures.
I’ll be playing one last game for James Parsons and Marc Lovell’s testimonial at Deeside Dragons on 26th July. It’ll be an honour to celebrate two legends of the game—and hopefully, I’ll see many of you there.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Your Number 8, Aaron Davies
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺…
The word “Legend” is used far too often these days to describe people, what warrants the use of the word? for me it’s Loyalty & Commitment, in our sport it’s a bit of a revolving door with players chasing the next big payday and no real passion for a team or a club, in Aaron’s case you couldn’t find a more dedicated individual to the cause, polar opposite to the sentence I’ve just used, hence the use of the word LEGEND for that is exactly what defines him.
Aaron Davies is everything you want from a team mate. Compete levels, accountability, work rate, skill, longevity & above all else loyalty.
I have been so privileged to share the locker room with many individuals over the years but none longer than Aaron.
We have been into many battles together & the amount of times Aaron came up with big plays in the biggest of moments is testament to what it meant to him.
How he has continued to set the bar of what it means to represent the club year in, year out is a super power. A purely unbelievable individual.
Obviously Aaron will be remembered for his amazing statistics and trophies that he has put in the cabinet but above all that is the person thats represented the Hawks in the wider community.
We have shared school visits, hospital visits, radio visits and many more events on behalf of the club. When he speaks it comes from the heart.
To captain & coach Aaron has been amazing, to have a player like that in your arsenal to hold the rest of the guys accountable will always stay with me.
Aaron, thank you mate. You are the only person who relates to how much Blackburn means to me as it does you. A ride I’ve loved doing together.
Let’s get that no8 in the rafters. Aaron Davies – a friend, a team mate, a captain, A LEGEND. ❤️