The world's newest hockey tournament could also be its oldest.
Rod Ellison has seen a lot of firsts in hockey, but he was the pioneer yesterday by playing in possibly the world's first hockey tournament for players over the age of 80.
Twenty-two Octogenarians from across North America converged at the Burnaby Winter Club yesterday to show that you're never too old for slap shots, stick handling and trash talk - even if you sometimes need a hand to get your equipment on.
"I think for 80-year-old's we're not too bad," Ellison told 24 hours. "A few years ago I don't think there were many people playing who were 80."
So how has hockey evolved since these old-timers were learning the game?
"I got slower," laughed Tom Gory. "That's about the only change. If I weren't doing that, what would I be doing? Wasting away."
Winter Club organizer Stu Hyatt said he's in the process of filing the paperwork with the Guinness World Records to officially recognize the event as the first 80-plus hockey tournament.
But the bottom line for most players wasn't a record.
"It's just that we enjoy it," said Cy Wilson, 83. "We get wrapped up in the game when we're out there. Afterward it's just a beer and a good time."
