Fayetteville’s Corey Toy Announces Retirement

FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Fireantz captain and fan favorite Corey Toy has retired from professional hockey.

Along with head coach Emery Olauson, the third season defenseman announced his resignation Tuesday morning saying that he wished to avoid potential long-term complications from multiple concussions.

Toy had served three games of a seven-game suspension from a Jan. 30 fight against Columbus’ Craig Simchuk. Corey suffered a second concussion; the first and more severe coming in late December when he was placed on 30 day IR after being knocked out by a blow to the head by Pensacola’s Corey Banfield, who served a one-game suspension. In a feature article titled “A Hockey Hero,” Toy related to PHN last July that he had knee surgery and suffered a broken foot during the 2013-14 season, and multiple cheekbone fractures in the opening game with the Perth Thunder.

“The decision was made a little over a week ago after an incident in a game vs Columbus,” Toy told ProHockeyNews. “It resulted in a 7- game suspension which was actually the least of my concerns. An uncharacteristic, scary situation brought to my attention that something wasn’t right. I decided it was time for me to move on, to take care of my mind and body.”

It’s been anything but a boring year for the 26 year old native from the tiny town of Round Hill, VA. Uncharacteristically for a blueliner, Toy scored an impressive 23 points in 39 games for the Fireantz last season; a team that only scored 143 collectively in all 56 contests and didn’t make the playoffs. Toy was the team’s 5th highest scorer and finished with the Fireantz’ highest plus/minus rating of +4.

Then after breaking his face in Perth, he saved a man from drowning while on the beach. “It’s been a wild year and a half,” Toy said.

Toy was kind enough once more to take time for ProHockeyNews and reflect on his career.

“Looking back I’ve had some amazing experiences,” he said. “I won two national championships as a teenager, and I had the opportunity to wear the red, white, and blue and represent my country overseas. I was able to play at Ohio State University, all over the U.S. And Canada, in front of thousands of people, and even had the pleasure of living and playing in Australia.

When faced with the reality that it is indeed time for me to hang up the skates, I found myself in a whirlwind of emotion but was quickly reminded of all the joy, blood, sweat, and tears that this great game has given me.”

Toy said that he will forever be grateful for the people he has met along the way both on and off the ice during his career.

“One thing I will miss the most is the impact I was able to have in so many young kids lives; seeing their eyes light up as you sign their favorite shirt or offer to show them around the locker room,” he said. “I’ll also miss the players – most especially my teammates. I’ll always remember the long bus trips, the early morning coffee conversation with Family Feud in the background, and being a part of so many great people’s lives.”

At the end of his comments, Toy wanted everyone to know how much their support has meant to him and that it will stay with him into the next phase of his life.

“The love and support I’ve received through this difficult time has been amazing – a true testament to the people who make up the hockey community. We really are a family; a family who cares and looks out for one another,” Toy said. “I’m so grateful that I’ve become a member of it and have been blessed beyond measure in both my career and life thus far. I am looking forward to what the future holds, though uncertain at the moment. I am confident that God has my back as He always has.”

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