Pat Maroon tears up during shocking announcement on Saturday.

This one was truly a shocker.

On Saturday afternoon Chicago Blackhawks forward Pat Maroon made a stunning announcement prior to a game against his hometown team, the St. Louis Blues. Maroon and the Blackhawks traveled to St. Louis for this one and it quickly became evident during a brief pre-game interview that this was no ordinary game for Maroon.

"To get to have a special moment tonight, to be in St. Louis and have my family come in town," said Maroon trailing off as he became overcome with emotion.

Maroon was being interviewed by former National Hockey League goaltender Darren Pang and I suspect that Pang had an inclination of the bombshell Maroon was about to drop given that Pang himself appeared to be overcome with emotion when asking Maroon questions. Pang's voice broke as he asked Maroon what it was like to be back home around old friends and teammates, and Maroon was equally choked up during his response.

"It's tough," began Maroon. "Sometimes you gotta give up everything you know and everything you dreamed of your whole life and I just know it's time for me."

What Maroon meant by these words was that he will be officially retiring from the NHL at the end of the season.

"It's time for my family to go start a new chapter in our lives," said Maroon.

Maroon vowed to give it his all down the final stretch.

"I'm just gonna finish this year as if every game is gonna be my last game," said Maroon. "I'm gonna play as hard as I can and do everything I can."

Both Maroon and Pang were very emotional by the end of the brief conversation, and Maroon perfectly encapsulated why in just a few words.

"This is all I know Panger," said Maroon. "It's tough."

It was a beautiful moment between two world class human beings and I would like to wish both Pat Maroon and the rest of the Maroon family all the best on whatever that next chapter may be.