Ice Hockey

Kovalchuk calls it quits

New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk, a former No 1 draft pick who blossomed into one of the game's top snipers, is retiring from the National Hockey League, the team said on Thursday. The 30-year-old Russian's decision to retire from the NHL came as a surprise since he will be leaving behind $77 million from the $100 million contract he signed in 2010.