Four Sask. players named to Canada world junior hockey championship team
Dec 14, 2024
Berkly Catton, Brayden Yager, Caden Price and Tanner Howe were all named.
Coincidence? I think not.
When you look at the top of the list of the most games played in the NHL, you’ll find Patrick Marleau and Gordie Howe tied.
That is, until tonight when Marleau will play in his 1,768th game.
One legend was born in Floral, Saskatchewan and is known as Mr. Hockey.
The other, who was born in Swift Current and grew up on a farm near Aneroid, is known as Mr. Shark.
Of course, both are separated by generations of hockey players but you can’t tell me it’s just a coincidence that with over 7,000 players who have played at least one game in the NHL, you have two Saskatchewan guys 1-2 on the list.
Throw in a gritty Albertan in Mark Messier at No. 3 and we can settle on it being a prairie thing.
The common thread is a passion for the game. You don’t play this long if you don’t love it.
While Marleau wonders what all the fuss is about, we wonder how long he can go. Hopefully he’ll go long enough to finally get his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, which is about the only thing that’s eluded him in his record-breaking career.