Hard-nosed winger Barrett Heisten, who helped lead the University of Maine to its last NCAA championship in 1999, has retired from pro hockey, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

The 27-year-old Heisten played for the Alaska Aces of the East Coast Hockey League this season, collecting 17 goals and 33 assists in 60 games.

Heisten was a first-round pick (20th overall) of the Buffalo Sabres in 1999. He played in 71 games over two seasons at Maine, notching 25 goals and 40 assists. He had 12 & 16 in 34 games and was a Hockey East All-Rookie team pick in 1998-99.

Instead of signing with the Sabres, the Anchorage, Alaska, native eventually became a free agent and signed with the New York Rangers.

He played in 10 games for the Rangers in the 2001-02 season and in 380 minor league regular-season games with various teams, netting 78 goals and 124 assists. He led Alaska to the ECHL’s Kelly Cup championship two years ago.