Perhaps the most amazing story at the GeriHatricks tournament was probably 94-year-old John Burnosky.

 

At 95 years of age John "Mr. B" Burnosky, right, has been certified by the Guiness Book of Records as Hockey's Most Durable Player. (Photo by Don Olea/CI)

Burnosky, who goes by the nickname “Mr. B,” is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “world’s most durable hockey player.” Burnosky started playing organized hockey at Kelvin Technical High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1929, and has continued to play this entire time, a good 77 years.

Burnosky plays with the 70 and up Bruno’s Dive Shop team out of Detroit, MI.

For many, the biggest thrill of the entire weekend was watching Burnosky emerge from the locker room with all his gear on, grinning from ear to ear. It seemed just having his equipment gave him the energy of a youngster again.

Although Burnosky was only able to play one shift during the tournament, he said he had a good reason why: he was in a car accident just a few weeks before.

To give you an idea how long Burnosky has been around, he predates the Titanic. But you’d never know it the way he carries himself. You could certainly call him a spry 95-year-old (his birthday was in April).



A fiesty 95-year-old John Burnosky wins the face off against Bakers Bearings. Burnosky was limited to one shift due to a recent knee injury suffered in an automobile accident.

Burnosky did give a hint on his secret for staying youthful and vibrant for so long:  “When it comes to smoking, drinking, all that stuff there, that’s where I cut out.”

His policy on alcohol is also moderation. 

Listen to the Interview Audio files by clicking here...
"On Smoking..."  
"On Drinking..."

“If I go to a party, I’ll have a couple of beers, you know. But I don’t drink in excess. You can drink sociably, that’s all right.”

Burnosky has obviously seen many major changes to the game, having played all the way through the eras of no helmets and little protective equipment to today. To him, the biggest difference in the game that he sees is the size of the players.

“Watching hockey now, you take these big fellas, they use their body to bounce you around. It’s okay if it’s a clean body check, but when you get close to the boards, and you turn around and they give you a good dirty pump, then they’ll get a penalty or something.”

Only standing about 5’-4” and weighing about 120 in his prime, Burnosky said he had to develop a way to avoid getting crushed with a big body check. 
"On Checking..."

“I’d be skating around and these big guys, six-foot, 250 pounds, they would come and the puck would go in the corner, and I would go in the corner to get the puck, they’d be coming right at me. I could see them charging. I’m watching them more than the puck! So when they got close to me like that in there, I’d turn around and put the stick right against [the boards], put my elbow out here, and they carried the guy off. And I did that a few times, then they stopped killing me.” He also says he understands the reason for the new rule changes to the NHL:  the fans. “You’re trying to satisfy the customer,” Burnosky said. “Cause they’re the ones that pay. And have you paid by them.” “Mr. B” has also passed his incredible longevity onto his son. Burnosky’s son Bruno, who skates with the 50-and-up division, has two titanium hip joints, yet still plays at a high level of competition with his Bruno’s Dive Shop teammates. On the Bruno’s Dive Shop Web site, he is asked how old is too old to play hockey. He responds, “When they bury me with my skates on!” With any luck, “Mr. B” will have many more years of hockey in front of him, and plenty more stories to tell.

The Olde Crabs are planning the Second Annual Danbury Hatter Old Timer Hockey Tournament. 2006 Tournament Date: October 27-29 Place: Danbury Ice Arena, 1 Independence Way, Danbury, CT For more information Click Here...