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Calgary’s Jay Bouwmeester breaks NHL ironman record for defensemen with 496th straight game

Jay Bouwmeester

Calgary Flames’ Jay Bouwmeester waits for the puck during a warmup before the NHL Heritage Classic hockey game in Calgary, Alberta, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)

AP

It’s a record that’s lasted just over four years, but Calgary’s Jay Bouwmeester is the new holder of the ironman record for defensemen. Bouwmeester suited up for and played against Phoenix tonight, his 496th straight game played in the NHL breaking the record that was held by Karlis Skrastins.

Bouwmeester hasn’t missed a game since the start of the 2003-2004 season with the Florida Panthers. Since the start of that season, he’s yet to miss a game. We’re hoping that Bouwmeester will have better luck than Skrastins had when he broke the record back in 2007. When Skrastins broke Tim Horton’s record with his 487th straight game, it would only be eight games later that he’d see it come to an end with a knee injury.

If you’re curious how far Bouwmeester has to go to break the all-time record for consecutive games played, it would take a while. Former Canadiens/Capitals/Whalers forward Doug Jarvis holds that record with 964 games played from 1975-1985. If Bouwmeester makes it that far in the current NHL, they should check to see if he’s actually human.