Sylvain Cloutier lifted two trophies last season (Mark Tredgold)

Coventry Blaze have announced captain Sylvain Cloutier has retired from the sport with immediate effect.

The Canadian joined Coventry two-years ago and helped the club to two Elite League titles as well as winning the Challenge Cup and British Knockout Cup.

Coach Paul Thompson said: "I'm still very surprised to be honest.

"I spoke to him over the weekend and he told me then that he was going to retire to take up a full-time head coach position in the Central League."

Cloutier is to become the head coach at Corpus Christi Ice Rays of the Central Hockey League in North America

He scored 62 goals and with 95 assists amassed 157 points in 139 games for the Skydome outfit.

The 34-year-old was made Blaze skipper at the start of last season but made no secret of his desire to move into coaching.

Thompson added: "I'm disappointed because it's going to be a tough job to replace someone who I believe was the most complete all-round player in the Elite League.

"He's a man that I have huge respect for, in the way he carried himself both on and off the ice whilst he was here and I can understand his decision.

"Not many people get that type of offer at just 34 and he believes that it is the right decision for his future and that of his family. We'll certainly miss him though.

"My job now is to find the right replacement. I'm making extensive calls to agents and contacts all over the world to find the player that I think we need to fill the gap he will leave."