Patrick Roy, the winningest goalie in NHL history, decided Wednesday not to play for Canada in the upcoming Salt Lake City Olympics.
"It's no longer a rumor," the Colorado Avalanche goalie said. "I called (general manager) Wayne Gretzky today and said I would no longer be a part of the Olympics."
The news came out during the Avalanche's 5-4 loss Wednesday night to the New York Islanders, a little sooner than Roy expected.
"I was going to wait to get back home," said Roy, who called Gretzky after he heard talk emerging that he wouldn't play.
Roy, who made the decision the past few weeks, cited rest as the main reason to sit out the second Olympics to feature NHL players.
He also wants to watch his 12-year-old son, Jonathan, play in a Pee Wee tournament in Quebec.