Forever Young

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

CAL RIPKEN, JOE DIMAGGIO, Wayne Gretzky, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan--those are the names you expect to hear when the subject of unbreakable sports records comes up.

Yet little known Connie Madigan, a defenseman for the 1972-73 St. Louis Blues, also holds a record that will never be broken. At the age of 38, the rugged defender became the oldest "rookie" to make his NHL debut when he took the ice on February 1, 1973, vs. the Montreal Canadiens.

- www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0FCM/2_30/79743293/p1/article.jhtml?term=

[seventeen]

Mr B, where did you dredge that up? I still remember listening to Vancouver Canucks radio broadcasts in the late 60's when Madigan played for, uhh, Portland I think in the old "senior" Western Hockey League. That was a tough league, and Madigan fit right in, even though he wasn't all that big a player - and a defenceman to boot. Yep, the good ole days, Andy Bathgate, Pat Hannigan. Sigh.

PS, I read the article after posting the above. I am gratified to know my memory isn't totally fried. It was Portland, though I couldn't remember 'Buckaroos'. Great name. Why couldn't some team pick that instead of Stars, or Avalanche, or Lightning or Blue Jackets. More sighs.