how old is too old?

[masterpeice_patrice 4]

pro hockey.. sphl echl im not talking about nhl here. even tho id like to know how old was the oldest guy who got into the nhl? would you guys play for 300 - 400 a week? lets say money isint a concern. you play because you love the game.

[ultraman7k 0]

if you can financially support yourself, why ever let go of the dream? As long as you can play at a high level consistently, i don't think it should be a problem.

[wildebeest 0]

shortly after your first birthday.

[Neo5370 132]

Honestly? If you're older than the oldest kid in Juniors/D1 Hockey who hasn't made it (been drafted/scouted/been offered a spot), you won't either.

[Doctor Hook 0]

A man needs to support himself. If you can't do that playing pro hockey, then it's time to hang em up and go to work.

[Jordan 13]

A look at the quixotic career of Connie Madigan, who at the age of 38 became the oldest NHL rookie ever.

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.

Connie Madigan

More recently, it is probably Tim Thomas of the Bruins. Broke in at 31 years old.

Tim Thomas

[DCott 0]

A look at the quixotic career of Connie Madigan, who at the age of 38 became the oldest NHL rookie ever.

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.

Connie Madigan

More recently, it is probably Tim Thomas of the Bruins. Broke in at 31 years old.

Tim Thomas

That's not what he is asking. Madigan had been playing in other pro leagues before the NHL, and Thomas was drafted out of college. He means how old is too old to break into pro hockey in general, not just the NHL.

[Super Star 0]

How about you tell us your age and where you play right now and any other relevant data so we can tell you if you will ever make it or is it time to give up and get wife and work in a paper factory 9 to 5. :P

[royals07 0]

i started hockey in 7th grade, and by then, i knew i had no chance at even the A team. so, really depends on how much you're developing, and how well you can play at a high level. If you're financially fine, then go and pursue your dreams. nothing wrong with going. besides. just cuz you leave some league, it doesnt mean you hang up the skates.

[shifter 0]

playing recreational league is a good start like a kid playing house league. Build confidence, skill, sportsmenship, leadership,etc. When you feel like you can do better and want a faster pace game with better people move up. The only way you will get good is if you play people who are better then you are and learn from them. Everyone can play hockey. :D

[masterpeice_patrice 4]

btw thank you for your input to all those who replied except that punk ovechkin wannabe kid.

i have pro experience i played jr. b when i was younger and i grew up in a aaa system as a kid. i believe that my talent can take me far in hockey i was just wondering thats why i asked. im 25. i was featured int he fayetteville observer in north carolina with the fireantz.

[habookus 1]

how about you shut the fuk up super star? hahahahaha.i play pro i train with pros on a dialy basis there is no need to prove myself here unless you realy want to make an effort and watch me play? now blow that buggle gum up your ass.

btw thank you for your input to all those who replied except that punk ovechkin wannabe kid.

i have pro experience i played jr. b when i was younger and i grew up in a aaa system as a kid. i believe that my talent can take me far in hockey i was just wondering thats why i asked. im 25. i was featured int he fayetteville observer in north carolina with the fireantz.

...There's your answer.

[sitzlejd 0]

how about you shut the fuk up super star? hahahahaha.i play pro i train with pros on a dialy basis there is no need to prove myself here unless you realy want to make an effort and watch me play? now blow that buggle gum up your ass.

btw thank you for your input to all those who replied except that punk ovechkin wannabe kid.

i have pro experience i played jr. b when i was younger and i grew up in a aaa system as a kid. i believe that my talent can take me far in hockey i was just wondering thats why i asked. im 25. i was featured int he fayetteville observer in north carolina with the fireantz.

With that attitude I'm surprised you haven't made it big already...

[masterpeice_patrice 4]

apologies..

[DangleDangleChamp 0]

If you have not made it anywhere by the time your junior eligibility (21) is up your not going anywhere.

[Viking 1]

When you have reached the age at which you wonder if you're too old to make it, you've probably already been too old for two years.

[hyprlte 0]

If you have not made it anywhere by the time your junior eligibility (21) is up your not going anywhere.

thats not 100% true.. some of my friends played junior stopped for a couple years, and now are playing in the sphl and chl

[Law Goalie 147]

Honestly, if you like the lifestyle, do it until you need to support more than yourself.

However, don't *just* do that. I don't know what your educational situation is, or whether you've got a 'straight' job outside of hockey, but developing both of those would not be stupid. The only guys I've seen or heard of 'burning out' in the low-level pro leagues are the guys who take the subsidized housing and food and live as large as they can on their $300 a week - no savings, nothing outside hockey. That can be a one-way ticket to injury-riddled poverty in your thirties.

Just understand that you're putting the rest of your life on hold for this. I know that's exactly what I'm doing with my interminable graduate degrees - I just happen to have a wife who's doing it too, and we're both making sacrifices. With things in the world as they are, you're not really sacrificing 'prime earning years' by playing hockey into your 20s, the way you might have in the 40s or 50s, but you will have to work longer and harder for promotions and pensions when you leave.

[Super Star 0]

All I'm saying is once you out of Jr. the chances of making it anywhere decrease exponentially every year after. For once your not getting any younger, you need to get scouted and they don't come to just any beer league games so it means you have to go to some good tournaments and actually get noticed (average play will not cut it, got to stand out from every other guy that wants it) Unfortunately the number of those events is not that high. Your best bet would be to play college NCAA if you can or any college hockey at all will help since I know those places get scouted. On our last playoffs we had people from ECHL, I don't know if they drafted anyone (I didn't get the call :( ) so if you want to make it seek places to be seen.

PS even if hockey doesn't work out you might get some academic education out of the experience.

[oggy_3 0]

I would say after Junior if you dont go D1 or D3 it not time to hang up the laces but its time to start thinking of a career option.

Or if you dont go any semi-pro league like the ECHL after junior and you do not want to go the college route.

[Law Goalie 147]

Actually, the OP going to college camps is a seriously good idea.

Even if he already has an undergraduate degree (I'm assuming not), you can still play NCAA as a graduate student, right? Milk your hockey skills for an MBA - maybe not a Stanford one, sure, but it's still an MBA.

[kk2 0]

Actually, the OP going to college camps is a seriously good idea.

Even if he already has an undergraduate degree (I'm assuming not), you can still play NCAA as a graduate student, right? Milk your hockey skills for an MBA - maybe not a Stanford one, sure, but it's still an MBA.

This is a wise idea... you're not going to be able to retire off of what you're making so it would be very smart to have a plan for after hockey. Unless factory work is appealing to you.

[ital624 0]

There's no age limit to go out and have fun, so consider beer leagues, adult leagues, rec leagues with sponsors. As for trying to make it pro, if you BELIEVE theres still a chance (but lets be realistic) you know yourself better than us, is it really worth it to put your life on hold, just to spend tons of money, and focus on your mind and body to excell onto a bigger level while you don't have a career on the side to back you up once you call it quits? (semi-pro or pro) So on a more serious note: are you backed up career wise?

If you dont have a career or a legit job and you still decide to persuade the dream, maybe you should think twice.

At your age, and not being scouted yet, then I'm guessing your chances are low... cause you ain't getting any younger.

I think the college idea is best advice given since you'll be getting educated (career opportunities) and at the same time play some hockey where theres a good chance of you being scouted (depending how good of a player you are, seeing how you have pro-experience, i'm sure you're not a bad player)

You know yourself better and your 25, observe your opportunties, figure out if it's worth it or not. Good luck.

[masterpeice_patrice 4]

guys.. ive been asked to go to play college hockey next year even tho im 25 they normally dont ask the older crowd but they did bother with me.

[Law Goalie 147]

Do it. Don't hesitate. Find out what you need to do to get your amateur staus back after playing in the SPHL, get it done, and take care of all the applications for the college.

You're right in thinking that it's rare to offer a roster spot to an older player, but that means one of two things: they really like you as a player, and/or they want someone experience to shepherd a younger group.

This is, bar none, your best option.