Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios fractured his shin-bone, forcing him to miss three to six weeks.  Why is this noteworthy?  Because it reminds us that Chris Chelios is old, really freaking old.  The 46-year-old, old enough to be my father, is still playing in the NHL in what would have been his 26th season if not for the lockout.

How old is Chris Chelios?

On February 9, 1984, a young man was born, who would eventually earn moderate infamy for discussing soccer on an independent sports blog.  Chris Chelios was lacing up his skates in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to play for the U.S. Olympic team.

In 1991, Hockey is considered so mainstream that Wayne Gretzky fights crime and teaches kids lessons with fellow superstars Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan in the NBC cartoon “ProStars.€Â  Chris Chelios, according to Wikipedia, won the “Hit So Hard I am Dumb Award.€

On October 2, 1992, Disney released the classic film “The Mighty Ducks,” which recounts the probable tale of boozy attorney Gordon Bombay, sentenced to spend time with kids.  Chris Chelios began his tenth NHL season with the Chicago Blackhawks, a season where he notched a career-high 282 penalty minutes.

In 1998-99 Wayne Gretzky played his final season, the Nashville Predators (who may still exist?) joined the league as an expansion franchise, Chris Chelios, like all aging stars of his era, joined the Detroit Red Wings for a final send-off.

Some time in November 2008, Chris Chelios will skate onto the ice for his tenth season in Detroit.