Hockey dream won't die for 48-year-old Chelios

At 48 years young, Chris Chelios has been called more than a few names during his 25 seasons in professional hockey. Gramps is one he'd rather not hear and, thankfully, his teammates on the American League's Chicago Wolves are showing excellent judgment.

"I think they are still a little respectful here," Chelios chuckled Wednesday. "A lot of guys from other teams are jabbing me for my age but these guys have been great."

For the record, Chelios is not a grandfather. His oldest of four children, son Dean, is 20 and playing at Michigan State. So there. But his Wolves' teammate Paul Postma is the same age as Dean. And another member of the Wolves, ex-Vancouver Giant captain Spencer Machacek, willingly admits his father is only one year older than Chelios.

"Yeah..." sighed Chelios. "I've had that from guys on other teams, too. It's okay. That's why I don't have the heart to do anything to half the kids in the league because they're my kid's age. It's strange but I'm sure there are a lot of guys who would love to be in this situation."

The situation, of course, is playing. Chelios simply can't give it up. He is in Abbotsford Thursday and Friday where he'll be patrolling the Wolves' blueline against the Calgary Flames' farm team, the Heat. (Game times are 7:30 both nights.) Chelios is doing this because he still dreams of a return to the NHL.

He's won three Stanley Cups, three Norris Trophies and appeared in four Olympics representing the United States. He's suited up for 1,644 regular-season NHL games and a record 266 in the playoffs. He's also the record holder for most seasons in the playoffs — 24. He's a five-time first-team all-star.

Despite all these accomplishments, he isn't satisfied.

"I knew I had to play to get back in and I'm pretty happy with the way things have gone personally and from a team standpoint,:" said Chelios, who has 18 points and is a remarkable plus-25 in 36 games with the Wolves. "I know what my role is here. I'm trying to help the younger guys but I'm also trying to take that step and get to the NHL. I'd love to get a call any day and there has been some interest.

"But if it ends in Chicago and with the Wolves — and hopefully we can maybe win a championship — that's great. I've got no regrets. I mean, there are signs on the wall that it's almost time, like the music in the room, but it's been great. It's like having my own kids. It's been pretty entertaining."

Chelios was entertaining, too, in his media scrum Wednesday. Asked about his shoulder pads, which date back to 1976, he quipped: "My equipment is about done and so am I."

Heat head coach Jim Playfair, 45, recalled being a member of the Chicago Blackhawk organization when Chelios was traded there in the summer of 1990. He subsequently coached against him in the NHL for six seasons and now he's coaching against him in the American League.

"It's pretty neat," said Playfair. "I played with him when he first came to Chicago and I look back and think 'my God, that was a lifetime ago.' And he's still going. I think it's a great lesson for a lot of players who wonder how committed they are to get to the next level. Chelly could retire a wealthy man for the rest of his life but he still feels the need to try to get back to the NHL.

"I think it's an admirable quality. A lot of young kids can learn from it."