Former Kamloops Blazer Jermaine Loewen celebrating a goal as part of his 5 year career with the Blazers/via Kamloops Blazers
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Notification on social media by Jermaine Loewen announcing his decision to retire from professional hockey/via Instagram
Jermaine Loewen is calling it a day when it comes to his time in pro hockey.
After bouncing around the minor leagues the past few years, the 27 year-old has announced his retirement on his Instagram.
Loewen’s story is one of the more unique among professional hockey players.
After being born in Jamaica and later adopted by the Loewen family at a young age, he would move to and grow up in Arborg, Manitoba.
As a youngster in rural Manitoba, he would pick up hockey — and would eventually become a standout beyond his cultural heritage.
The Kamloops Blazers drafted Loewen and brought him in as a 16 year-old in the 2014-15 season.
His story and personality quickly endeared him to Kamloops Blazer fans.
He would captain the team in his final season as a Blazer in 2018-19.
His last two seasons would be his most productive, leading to him being drafted by the NHL’s Dallas Stars in the 2018 NHL Draft.
The Stars made him a 7th round selection, 199th overall.
Loewen played 295 games in a Blazer jersey collecting 78 goals and 142 points.
He scored a career high 36 goals in his 19 year-old season.
Former Kamloops Blazer Jermaine Loewen as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks/via Abby Canucks
Loewen’s pro career would take him to the AHL with stops in the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks minor league systems.
His last two seasons were spent in the ECHL in Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne.
Loewen returned back to Kamloops last season while he awaited a new pro contract.
Eventually Fort Wayne signed him to close out the season.
After exploring his options this summer, Loewen had indicated that he couldn’t find a contract that fit him and his family’s needs.
Loewen is married with a one year-old boy, Deshaun.
No word on what his post-hockey plans are at this point.
