Members of an over-60 hockey team skate into their 80s — and beyond
Members of an over-60 hockey team skate into their 80s — and beyond
Members of an over-60 hockey team skate into their 80s — and beyond
In Worcester, the Central Mass. Rusty Blades are redefining retirement. The over-60 hockey club skates three mornings a week, year-round, simply for the love of the game.
“Once you stop moving, you start rusting,” says team member Paul LaVenture. “And we’re the Rusty Blades.”
The group includes players in their 60s, 70s, and 80s — but one teammate stands out. Meet 89-year-old Lionel Bourgeois.
Born in rural New Brunswick, Canada, Lionel learned hockey young, playing pond hockey before life pulled him away from the game. He lost his mother early, worked in the woods, served in the Army, and didn’t lace up skates again until his 30s. “I lost 10 years,” he says.
He made up for it — joining the Rusty Blades at age 63. Now, as he approaches 90, Lionel is the oldest player the team has ever had. Teammates say he still skates hard, shoots well, and lives for hockey.
“You gotta keep going,” Lionel says. “When people retire, they think they gotta sit down and do nothing. That’s not right.”
P.S. Lionel tells us he is a fan of both the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, and credits his longevity to his wife’s cooking.
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