Updated

Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - George Parros, who carved out a nine-year career in the NHL primarily as a tough-guy forward, officially declared his retirement on Friday.

Parros earned a reputation as one of the premier fighters of his era, racking up 1,092 penalty minutes over 474 regular season games with five teams. The majority of that tenure came with the Anaheim Ducks, where Parros spent six seasons from 2006-12 and was a member of the franchise's 2006-07 Stanley Cup championship team.

The 34-year-old also played for the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers before finishing his career with a 22-game stint with Montreal last season.

"It's been an honor to play in the greatest league in the world," said Parros in a statement released by the NHL Players Association. "Thanks to the organizations I've had the good fortune to play for, especially to the Samueli and Molson families. I've had the most amazing support from all of the fans who have supported my many endeavors throughout my career, for that I am eternally grateful. A final thank you to my parents Jim and Lynne, my wife Tiffany and my children who have made this dream of mine a reality."

Known as much for his trademark mustache as his fighting skills, Parros also made an impact as the Ducks' player representative from 2008-12. He also was a member of the NHLPA's negotiating committee that helped hammer out the current Collective Bargaining Agreement that ended the 2012-13 lockout.

Prior to his professional career, Parros played four seasons at Princeton and earned a degree in economics from the Ivy League institution.