(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Montreal Canadiens forward Blake Geoffrion has informed the club that he plans to retire from professional hockey, according to ESPN's John Buccigross.

Geoffrion suffered a skull fracture and a concussion after taking a hit from Syracuse Crunch defenceman Jean-Philippe Cote during an AHL game in November.

"I love the game of hockey more than anything and this decision tears me up inside," said Geoffrion, quoted by Buccigross. "But we are talking about my brain."

Grandson of Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion and son of Dan Geoffrion, the 25-year-old is the 2010 Hobey Baker winner as the top U.S. collegiate player. He recorded 28 goals and 22 assists through 40 games with the University of Wisconsin in his final year at school.

Geoffrion was a second round selection of the Nashville Predators, 56th overall, at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft before being traded to the Canadiens in exchange for Hal Gill on Feb. 25, 2012.

He has four goals and two assists through 10 games this season with the Bulldogs, and has registered eight goals and five assists with a plus- 3 rating through 55 career NHL games played.

I don't blame him. There's alot of medical information the past couple of years on what an impact certain contact sports have on your body/brain, NFL & NHL come to mind...