Carrollretires

Guppies All-Star Defenseman John Carroll Retires!

July 19, 2007, 12:00 AM ET

KILLINGWORTH, CT-- John Carroll, one of the Guppies top defensemen of all time, who helped Killingworth win Seven League Championships announced his retirement early Thursday morning at a news conference held at Killingworth Town Hall.

Carroll was surrounded by family, friends, and fans as he anounced his retirement after 13 season of Killingworth Guppies hockey. "I reached this decision after a lot of time and consideration. This just seems right!" proclaimed Carroll "However, it wasn't easy!"

Recently retired NHL defenseman Brian Leetch stood near Carroll in support for his friend. "I know what he's going through" stated Leetch who retired earlier this year.

John was voted the Waterbury Hockey Center's Most Valuable Defenseman during the Guppies Championship run in 1996. He was voted as the team's MVP in the 1995 Whalers Alumni Tournament. Carroll's trophy case also includes two Guppie Most Valuable Defenseman Awards (Renamed recently: Tim Gessner Award) in 2002 and Spring 2005.

Carroll has sat out the past 3 Guppies season before finally deciding to retire.

"I have been fortunate to be a Guppie player since 1995," Carroll said in a statement. "I missed being a Killingworth Guppie the past three seasons but believe it was the right time for me to stop playing."

Carroll started playing roller hockey, with the core of players that would eventually become the Killingworth Guppies, in the Summer of 1994. "Back then we would go to the Morgan School (in Clinton, CT) and play for hours and later we moved to Griswold Park" Carroll continued "Even then I knew what a great group of guys we had".

In the Spring of 1995, The Guppies were born and Carroll was named one of the teams first captains. "It was a great honor" remembered Carroll. "John was an obvious choice to be named a team Captain" stated Guppies fellow Captain Brian Kelly "He was a older guy on the team, one of our best players, and everyone respected him".

Carroll started his Hall of Fame career by scoring the Guppies first goal in team history on 05/15/1995 vs the Maple Leafs. "It's funny now, because everyone remembers John Carroll as a defensive defenseman, but in his early days John was an offensive threat for us" Marc Crayton.

After winning their second Championship in 1998 the Guppies ceased operations until 2001 when the team finally open up for business again. "I remember saying in 2001 that I wasn't coming back but Dave Armenia talked me into it" Carroll continued "Thanks Dave!"

In 2002 the Gupps moved into the new Z-Rink facility and enjoyed early success. John Carroll was consider the cornerstone of the Guppies powerful defensive unit. A unit that help the Guppies win 27 straight games.

Carroll help celebrate the Guppies 10th anniversary in 2005 before hanging up his skates. After 10 years and 13 seasons John Carroll's #2 was taken off for the last time and Johnny "Blue Line" Carroll place in Guppies Lore was secured!

Carroll won League Championships in (Waterbury) 1996,1998, (Z-Rink) 2002, 2003, Spring 2004, Summer 2004, & Spring 2005.

On behalf of all of us in Guppie Nation......Thank You John and Best of Luck!

Click here: To see John's #2 Hanging in the Hall of Fame