''I may be leaving the ice, but I'm not leaving hockey,'' he said at a press conference at The Air Canada Centre.

''I am excited and nervous in my new role but I promise to bring the same person that had the passion, dedication and the enthusiasm to the broadcast arena that I delivered to the ice.''

The 36-year-old right-winger spent the final 11 seasons of his career in Toronto, and was one of the club's most popular players.

Domi said he just "couldn't put on another jersey."

"I love hockey, I love the Toronto Maple Leafs, this is my home,'' he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Domi was bought out by the Leafs earlier this summer. Other teams were interested in signing him, but he said he couldn't see himself playing anywhere else.

"There were other interests but I couldn't see myself wearing another jersey other than the blue and white,'' he said.

Domi played the role of the enforcer throughout his career, accumulating 3,515 penalty minutes in 1,020 career games with the Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets.

He scored just five goals last season under the revamped NHL. With fighting down and offence now favoured by the league, the Leafs decided it was time to cut Domi loose.

"Tie confided that he was planning to retire and asked if we would consider a role for him here," CTV president Rick Brace said. "TSN president Phil King held a secret audition and we were immediately impressed."

Domi has been assigned to the network's comprehensive NHL coverage, where as an analyst he will appear weekly during TSN's in-studio panel discussions and debates.

Domi makes his broadcasting debut on the eve of the 2006-07 NHL season on Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Leafs are paying Domi US$833,000 over the next two years, which is two-thirds of the $ 1.25 million he was owed on the final year of his contract.

"We want to thank Tie for his many years of service to the organization," Leafs general manager John Ferguson said in June while announcing the buyout. "He became a fan favourite for a reason."