LaKae Tavares, the Bermuda women’s hockey team captain, has retired from international competition.

The 40-year-old Tavares, who has represented the island since 2005, brought an end to her career at the end of the Pan Am Challenge, in which Bermuda finished fourth on home turf.

In stepping away from the international stage, the central defender revealed that her body could no longer cope with the rigours of playing hockey at the highest level.

“My knees are not very good and I’m not exactly able to keep up,” Tavares told The Royal Gazette. “It’s been great and an honour for me to represent Bermuda.

“The best thing that has come out of this entire process is building relationships with people around me. These are my friends and some of my family, so it’s just a great feeling.

“Hockey has given me friendships and a sense of community. That’s the most special thing for me as a player.”

Bermuda coach Kovin Moodley hailed the retiring captain as a Bermudian hockey legend.

“LaKae Tavares is one of the most patriotic Bermudian players I've come across in the time that I've been here,’’ Moodley said.

“She’ll go down as a Bermuda hockey legend. Her performance on the pitch, even at the latter part of her career, was still instrumental to the functioning of the team.

“She finishes off her career, not just a player, but the leader of this. She’s been significantly guiding players that she’s taken the field with in previous tournaments, and also offered guidance to the younger players.

“I’m very happy that she had the opportunity to experience a home tournament, and be around friends and family in the last phase of her international career.”

“When you work with the players in Bermuda, you do recognise that there’s quite distinct age categories in the team.

“LaKae falls into the category of not just a player, but also a mother and a wife. To be able to connect with someone who is in that phase of their life is just special.

“In the time that I’ve been here, I've had a great working relationship with LaKae. She was a player that I could trust and rely on.

“I was able to call upon her numerous times to take on more responsibilities within the group. She made sure we uphold the standards and culture that we’re trying to set for the national team.”

Having made the decision to retire at the end of the Pan Am Challenge, Tavares endured some emotional moments in the five matches she played. She started every game and formed a solid central defensive pairing with Jessica Hollis.

“There has been so many tears for me throughout this entire process,’’ she said. “I knew every time I stepped on the pitch, it’s going to be one of my last memories as an international player.

“A win was not a part of my focus for this tournament. Being in a position where we can play the best hockey that Bermuda has to offer was always part of the forefront for me.

“Most of the core group already knew I was retiring, we had so many discussions leading up to this tournament. Most of them actually didn't believe me, but this is my time.

“I will continue to play at club level and give back in another capacity to our national programme. I’ll serve in whatever capacity wherever I’ll be required.”

As she walks away, Tavares, whose 11-year-old daughter is also involved in the sport, believes the future of hockey on the island looks promising.

“Hockey in Bermuda is in a good place, we are building up the sport,’’ Tavares said.

“I have a lot of trust in the group of leaders that we have. I know they’re going to continue carrying the rest of our teams on their backs.

“We have a lot of junior players coming on board, so I just feel OK to walk away at this point.

“I feel having this tournament at home has inspired a younger generation to want to get involved in hockey.

“I have one daughter and she is part of the FunStix Programme, an initiative run by the Bermuda Hockey Federation.

“She knew that I went into this tournament as my last. Her and my husband have been an amazing support system. I’m just happy that she can be inspired, not by me, but the rest of the team.”

Moodley commended the retiring captain for playing her part in grooming players that could step into her shoes.

“At the end of the day, there’s some qualities in individuals that can’t be replaced,’’ the coach said.

“LaKae understood her role as a player is to make sure that the future of hockey is looked after.

“She was fully invested in ensuring that when she steps away, there’s enough support and players that can continue with the progress we've made.”