San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau played Monday night in his 1768th career game against the Vegas Golden Knights, breaking Hall of Famer Gordie Howe’s record for most in NHL history.
Marleau, 41, began his career at San Jose in the 1997-98 season. Marleau drafted the games played in 23 seasons. Courts, which like Marleau is a native of Saskatchewan, Canada, gathered its total over 26 seasons before ‘Mr. Hockey ‘finally retired at age 51.
It was the 899th consecutive game in which he played, the second longest current Iron Man series among active players.
Marleau started the game on right wing for the Sharks. The announcement that he had set the record was made with the first time in the game. He turns around the ice with his stick in the air. A video message was congratulated by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in which he congratulated Marleau on a career that ‘shows no signs of slowing down. The fans in Vegas, including some Sharks fans and Marleau’s family, cheered him on.
“You don’t really know how to feel. There’s a game tonight, but there are also a lot of things going on at the same time,” Marleau said before the game. “I’m just trying to embrace it and take in everything. I like being able to thank the people who helped me along the way.”
The Sharks celebrated the occasion with some additions to the wardrobe. They added a sticker with a Marleau silhouette next to his signature, his no. 12 and ‘1,768 games played.’ The same logo appears on the right shoulder of their jerseys. They have hooded sweatshirts with a cartoon drawing of Marleau celebrating a goal. Goalie Martin Jones wore a new mask with the name of Marleau on the side.
Marleau got a pair of commemorative gloves during practice with the grammatically challenging “Most Games Played In NHL History: 1,768th NHL Games” on which they appear, along with logos of the Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins, the three teams for which he played.
Prior to the game, the Sharks’ local television subsidiary hosted video tributes from members of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, Oakland Athletics coach and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who congratulated Marleau on his long life and said, ‘I’ve played in about 900 games in the NBA, and I can barely walk. ‘
Congratulations from all over the Bay! 👏#BayAreaUnite pic.twitter.com/kfoajUuyrO
– San Jose Sharks (@ SanJoseSharks) 20 April 2021
The Golden Knights are the arch-enemy of the Sharks, but they were also amazed at Marleau’s performance.
“As much as you hate your opponent, just as much as you want to beat your opponent, you still respect your opponent. I think everyone in our locker room respects the hell he does,” Captain Mark Stone said. “For him to play 82 games a season, never miss a game, always be there, it speaks volumes of what kind of profession he is.”