Mike Keane has given up the mantle as the oldest player in the American Hockey League -- and he's passing the baton to a former teammate whose passion for the game is similar to his.
As the Manitoba Moose get set to face the Chicago Wolves tomorrow night at Allstate Arena, Keane figures to be battling with defenceman Chris Chelios at some point.
Chelios has been skating with the Wolves since last week and officially signed a 25-game pro tryout offer on Tuesday.
Keane wasn't caught off guard by the news the 47-year-old, three-time Norris Trophy winner was extending his career.
"Once again, not really surprising," Keane said before the Moose left for a six-game road trip. "(Chelios) wants to play and you can't fault a guy for that. If you look at any hockey player, they would play if they had the right fit. Chicago is his home and he's in the same situation I am. Obviously, he's a little older than me but he wants to play as long as he can. I think it's great."
Keane chuckled when asked if he or Chelios could have imagined playing into their 40s when they were playing for the Montreal Canadiens in the late '80s and early '90s.
"The funny part is that him and Craig Ludwig were always saying 'I can't wait until I retire.' Ludwig played 55 years and Cheli is going to play 60," said Keane. "They are guys that love the game, really love to be around the guys, love to compete and as a hockey player you can't get another rush like that when you stop playing."
Keane couldn't resist taking a good-natured shot at Chelios.
"I don't know if I'll be the slowest guy out there, which is a bonus," said Keane.
Chelios told a scrum of reporters in the Chicago area yesterday that he's ready for the challenge.
"I want to make sure there's nothing left when I retire -- I enjoy the game just like I did when I started," said Chelios. "I just want to get in here and contribute. It's going to be pretty exciting. I can't wait to play the game and not have to worry about anything else."
Chelios isn't sure if his future will include a return to the NHL.
"Basically, I haven't played full-time for a year," said Chelios. "The most important thing is to not hurt this team. It's going to be a long road back. I'm just looking forward to playing for the Wolves. As long as I'm enjoying playing and helping a team out, that's all that matters."
Moose defenceman Travis Ramsey recalled a meeting with Chelios as a youngster.
"He was the first NHL player that I met and I always looked up to him as a player," said Ramsey, who grew up in California. "I was on a plane going to a tournament in Las Vegas and he was on his way there as well. On the plane, he was right in front of me and I got to shake his hand. He was a good guy."
Ramsey is looking forward to being on the ice with Chelios.
"It will be cool," said Ramsey. "Now after being around more pro guys, I won't be shell-shocked or star struck. But it will be kind off surreal for me to going from a short guy seeing him on a plane to now coming a long way in my career. It's neat to be meeting up with him again. It will be interesting."
Fellow American Cory Schneider is excited about the prospects of facing Chelios.
"Hey, if he wants to keep playing and he's able to, more power to him," said Schneider. "I grew up playing NHL 94 with the Chicago Blackhawks and they were solid with Chelios and (Jeremy) Roenick. It will be fun to get a chance to play against him."
The Moose, who are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs, will be facing a hungry Wolves club that is hoping to turn things around after a disappointing 1-5 start.
The Wolves also announced yesterday that Don Lever is their new head coach and former Winnipeg Jets forward Ron Wilson will be joining him as an assistant.
ken.wiebe@sunmedia.ca
