The 'nana bunch

the venerable Chris Chelios, stalwart of the Blackhawks and Red Wings, has been called up by his latest team, Atlanta, for another stab at the NHL.

The Chicago native, who has played in more games than any other American-born NHL player, last played in the NHL last May with the Detroit Red Wings against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference finals.

He's 48.

Amazing to see he's still considered good enough for a go at the big league, though admittedly he's not going to show as good a turn of speed as he was once able to.

I shouldn't marvel at it, really, because if an athlete keeps themselves in shape they can go on at a reduced level in many sports. But til he's nearly fifty?

That said, he's still some way shy of the record, held by Mr Hockey, Gordie Howe, who was 51 when he played for the Hartford Whalers back in 1979-80.