Most NHL players retire by their early thirties, stepping away from the game as younger talent rises through the ranks. But Terry Harper isn’t like most players.
At 84, the former Montreal Canadiens defenceman still laces up his skates twice a week at a rink near his home in Folsom, California.
As seen in a recent feature from Fox 40, Harper, a veteran of over 1,000 NHL games, still maintains his on-ice skills in a senior hockey league, rocking decades-old equipment. But unlike in his glory days, he now dons a helmet and visor.
The four-time NHL All-Star will be hitting the ice in Toronto on November 10 for the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) Legends Classic, where he’ll join various icons of the game — many of whom are half his age — for a game at Scotiabank Arena.
According to the Hall’s website, Harper is set to join a team captained by women’s hockey legend Jayna Hefford. The team will also include recent NHL inductees Pavel Datsyuk, Ryan Getzlaf, and former Canadiens captain Shea Weber.
Their opponents will be led by Eric Lindros and feature players such as Kevin Bieksa, Jeremy Roenick, and Mike Gartner, who, at 65, will be the second-oldest on the ice.
In the words of @Jeremy_Roenick, "That's đź¤đź¤đź¤Â amazing!"Â
Terry Harper is set to make an extraordinary HHOF Legends Classic debut this year at 84 years of age! Read more about this 5 x Stanley Cup winner here ➡️ https://t.co/SKbcfmXYW3 pic.twitter.com/4zoXYavqoy
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) October 24, 2024
Despite Harper’s veteran status, it did not take much convincing to get the Regina, Saskatchewan native, whose love of the game is undeniable, involved in the event.
“I play two or three times a week out here, and the more we discussed it, the more I thought, ‘Maybe I can play in it. I’d love to,'” Harper said in a recent interview with NHL.com.
So, what’s his longevity secret?
In addition to participating in the Oldtimers’ League in Sacramento County, the 6’1″ force of nature does yoga three times a week and Pilates and Zumba twice weekly.
Harper had an impressive NHL career, playing 1,066 games between 1962 and 1981. He played with the Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and Colorado Rockies. The gritty defenseman also added 112 playoff games to his resume, playing a key role in the Habs’ Stanley Cup wins in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, and 1971.
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