The NHL has been disrupted several times since 2009 by labor disputes and pandemics. But every time Phil Kessel’s team hit the ice, he’s laced up his skates.
On Tuesday night, the 35-year-old Kessel, a right winger for the Vegas Golden Knights, set a league Ironman record by playing in his 990th consecutive NHL game. He surpassed Keith Yandl’s mark set last season. Yandle retired from the Philadelphia Flyers after last season.
“I don’t know. I just try to play no matter what.” he told reporters“I’ve been lucky over the years.”
That string also included time with the Maple Leafs, Penguins, Coyotes and Golden Knights, who joined him this season. His career includes his two Stanleys in Pittsburgh, his 2010 Olympic silver medal in the United States, and just his 400th goal in the NHL, with his 400th goal coming Tuesday night at Ironman. It’s a record breaker.
Before the streak, he successfully battled testicular cancer in his rookie season with the Bruins. I was.
The Ironman streak is a rare record and is sometimes considered difficult to break. If someone falls, veterans often say it will last forever. Because modern players are ‘not so tough’ or ‘only in for the money’.
But such a record is in some ways more achievable than 762 home runs or 164 rushing touchdowns, and it requires sustained brilliance. Of course, to be an Ironman you have to play long at the top level. But more than that, you need endurance, determination to not miss a game, luck and perhaps an understanding manager.
Players in other venerable North American sports leagues have that kind of willpower.
MLB: Cal Ripken Jr.
The most famous Ironman streak belongs to Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles, who appeared in 2,632 consecutive baseball games.
Ripken’s record chase in 1995 was closely followed by fans and scrupulously covered by the news media. He circled Camden Yards when he broke the record. Fans who high-fived were often cited as one of the most memorable places in sports for him in this decade, or even this century. It seemed to tell fans that baseball was back after the demoralizing players’ strike that ended earlier that season.
With many baseball greats in attendance, including President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, the news made the front page of The New York Times.
Ripken’s streak was particularly impressive as it broke the record of the legendary Lou Gehrig, who ended a streak of 2,130 games solely because he was dying of ALS, which would come to be known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
NBA: AC Green
AC Green holds the record for 1,192 consecutive games played in the NBA. He broke his 906’s previous mark in his 1997 and surpassed Randy Smith. ABA player Ron Boone played on his 1,041 straight, which eventually Green passed as well.
Green is best known for his work as a role player for the Showtime Lakers alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He moved on to the Suns, whose streak was at greatest risk. His JR Reid for the Knicks elbowed Green’s mouth and knocked out two teeth. Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons kept up the streak by playing Green for a few minutes in a face mask in a dozen games.
He was moving to the Mavs when he broke an NBA record. No record-breaking coverage was as prominent or celebrated as Ripken. Much of the article seemed to be distracted by Green’s self-proclaimed virginity.
NFL: Jeff Feegles
If I had to guess which player in the brutal NFL hasn’t missed a game in over 20 years, it’s probably a kicker or a punter.
And you would be right. Punter Jeff Feagles appeared in a total of 352 games from 1988 to 2010 for the Patriots, Eagles, Cardinals, Seahawks and Giants. The streak ended with his retirement after the 2009 season.
But the impressive honorable mention is Brett Favre, with 299 consecutive runs (297 as a starter) from 1992-2010. edge rusher. ‘Other team quarterbacks need to go down and he needs to go down hard,’ says Raiders owner Al Davis once saidFor 18 years, Favre always got back up when she sank.
