The crash was horrifying.

During a 2018 IndyCar race, the wheels of Robert Wickens’ car clipped those of Ryan Hunter-Reay’s car, launching Wickens airborne and into the fencing surrounding Pocono Raceway. Among the injuries Wickens suffered were a thoracic spinal fracture, a neck fracture, tibia and fibula fractures to both legs, fractures in both hands, four fractured ribs and a pulmonary contusion. He also had a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

At the time, Wickens was on the cusp of stardom in one of motorsports’ premier series. That year, he had seven top-five finishes in 14 races, finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500 and won IndyCar’s Rookie of the Year honor. Those injuries cut short a promising IndyCar career and could’ve meant Wickens’ days as a professional race car driver were over. But that thought never crossed the now 36-year-old’s mind.

“I thought I was going to make the first (IndyCar) race in March the following year,” Wickens said. “We were always talking about what (racing) would look like if I used hand controls. It was never a question; it was a question of ‘How? Where?’ I knew it was something that was possible.”

Wickens, who regained some use of his legs but lacks the full capability to use them while driving, returned to competitive racing a little over three years after the accident, using a hand-controlled throttle and braking system to control the cars. He competed in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, and in 2023, he captured the drivers’ championship.

And he isn’t done. A new chapter begins this weekend when he moves into an even higher level of racing by competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in a race through the streets of Long Beach, Calif. He’ll co-drive a Chevrolet Corvette fielded by DXDT Racing in the highly competitive GTD class, going against Mercedes, Ferrari, Porsche and other top-flight exotic sports cars.

Wickens will be on the grid at Long Beach due in part to an electric hand-controlled throttle and braking system, developed by Bosch and Pratt Miller, that he’s been able to utilize since returning to racing.

Without it, Wickens’ driving career would’ve likely ended in August 2018. However, the system has proven to be an equalizer, allowing him to compete on a mostly level field. And continued technological refinements by Bosch over the past few years have narrowed the performance gap between a car operated by hand controls and one operated by traditional pedals.

The hand control operates like similar systems that can be installed in road cars, except this one has been more fine-tuned to allow Wickens to drive almost as if he were using the throttle and brake by foot. He can lightly tap the brake while turning and thereby carry greater speed through the corners.

“The best thing about my new system with Bosch is that the tuning can happen in the background because this is an electronic braking system,” Wickens said. “So if I want more brake sensation or less braking sensation, I can either have a button on the steering wheel that I tune out of brake pressure that I get to apply to the brakes.

“The old system that I was using when I first started, the system was a very mechanical system where there’s a bunch of linkages and levers that just pushed the able-bodied brake pedal down, but I would squeeze something with my hand up by the steering wheel. … The downfall of that is there was a lot of latency in that system and a lot of inconsistency.”

Because Wickens and fellow driver Tommy Milner must trade off driving the Corvette, Bosch had to develop a straightforward way to switch between Milner using pedals and Wickens the hand controls.

“It’s quite impressive,” Milner said. “There’s just one button that either of us has to push to put it in the mode that we want and that switches all the systems over within a second.”

Once Wickens was committed to racing again, the challenge of navigating the expense and lack of accessibility only further complicated the endeavor. Finding sufficient sponsorship is often problematic enough in racing; Wickens also had to convince a team owner to install a hand-control system in their car.

“There are people racing all over the world with disabilities,” Robert Wickens said. “I’m just fortunate that I had a platform to show my progress.” (David Rosenblum / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Having gone through the process himself, Wickens would like to see such features more readily available in commercially produced vehicles. Just as manufacturers use auto racing to develop technology that can be applied to passenger vehicles, Wickens wants to see the same principle applied to hand-controlled systems to make it both convenient and cost-effective.

“I kind of have naive dreams of thinking that there could be a Robert Wickens steering wheel that can just fit into every road car in the world,” he said. “I’m imagining it’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, just plug it in like a USB or something and you’re on your way.’ But I know that that’s just not how it works. …

“The reality is, right now, when I’m driving on the road and I want to make a lane change, for example, I have to consciously over-speed because when I take my hand off the throttle to put on my turn signal, I slow down, and my hand isn’t on the throttle. Then, I have to signal and put my hand back on the throttle, make the lane change, and then take my hand off the throttle to stop your signal. It’s just a lot of extra steps.”

Long Beach is the first of five events in 2025 in which Wickens will drive the DXDT Racing Corvette entry. Plans beyond this season are still being determined. He is open to securing a full-time ride in the IMSA SportsCar Championship if the opportunity arises. He’d also like to race again in the Indianapolis 500.

Wickens downplays the idea that he is an inspiration, but those who know him marvel at how he’s refused to let go of his dream of being a professional driver when he had every reason to quit. He also wants to help others facing a similar situation.

“I personally don’t feel like I’m an inspiration to anybody, but I’m always kind of humbled when people tell me that I am,” Wickens said. “After I was paralyzed and out of my medical-induced coma, I was trying to understand what life I had. I was just working hard to try getting myself and my wife the best quality of life possible.

“There are people racing all over the world with disabilities. I’m just fortunate that I had a platform to show my progress where others might not.”

(Top photo of Robert Wickens: Courtesy of Chevrolet Racing)

Read Dane Brugler’s 2025 ‘The Beast’ NFL Draft guide.

The NFL Draft features 32 first-round picks. It does not, however, necessarily feature 32 prospects with a first-round grade.

Most drafts don’t sniff that number. And though the 2025 NFL Draft definitely features depth of talent at several positions, the number of players in this class with a consensus first-round grade is likely in the low teens. That’s especially important when discussing the top two quarterbacks, Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Both are very good prospects, but I’m not sure we can objectively call either “elite.”

A first-round grade means the player has almost no scouting holes, no serious questions about whether or not he’ll be able to handle a starting workload for an NFL team (likely a bad one) tomorrow. A year ago, there were three quarterbacks who fit that bill: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye. This year, quite frankly, there are zero.

It’s still possible Ward and Sanders land in the top 10. But it’s also possible one of those players — more likely Sanders — takes a tumble.

With that in mind, here’s my latest three-round mock draft:

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

To be clear, I would not do this. Same time, there’s too much smoke to ignore that first-year GM Mike Borgonzi’s priority is a quarterback, and if you’re going to take one this high, it’s absolutely Ward. I do not think he’d have gone higher than Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye last season, but it’s possible — given the QB desperation league wide — he’d have been a top-10 pick in 2024.

2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

The best football player in this draft class and one of the most unique talents we’ve seen in years, Hunter will make an impact wherever he goes — and wherever he lines up — immediately next year. If he sticks at CB he’ll arguably have the best ball skills of any DB in the NFL. He’s that good. This could also be Shedeur Sanders, though I’m decidedly less sure about him than I am Ward.

3. New York Giants: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

The Giants have spent the entire offseason trying to find veteran quarterbacks in the face of this rookie class, so this, too, could be a Sanders landing spot. But I have zero questions about Graham’s ability to help the Giants immediately.

4. New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, edge, Penn State

Carter’s foot situation certainly complicates matters, though I wouldn’t rule him out as a top-three selection here. If he’s healthy, Carter has a chance to be the best pro in this class. Foot injuries are very scary, however.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Campbell’s arms are a bit short — if he wasn’t so good with his hands and feet, that might be an issue. But Campbell, one of the hardest workers in this draft class, is a terrific athlete. Like when the Chargers drafted Rashawn Slater, nobody should overthink this.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Jeanty is the NFL Draft’s best running back prospect since at least Bijan Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs. He might be the best we’ve seen since Saquon Barkley. Regardless of where he fits in that tier, though, he absolutely should be a top-10 pick.

7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

At the very least, the Jets have a bridge QB in Justin Fields. It’s also possible Fields turns a corner and becomes the team’s long-term starter. Either way, New York’s new regime is not in position to roll the dice on a QB.

Aaron Glenn should remember when Detroit passed on QB talent in 2021 to draft Penei Sewell. Start your rebuild there.

8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

The tape tells the story with McMillan — and part of that story is that his less-than-stellar 40 time isn’t that big a deal. McMillan was a man among children at times in college and has the ability to help Bryce Young and this young Panthers offense immediately.

9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

The 2025 draft class features another great tight end group, and Warren — a true three-down player with the potential to be a dominant run blocker — is leader of the pack. The tight end position has evolved so much in the last 10 years, and Warren has the talent worthy of a top-10 pick.

GO DEEPER

Why do Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland stand out in 2025 NFL Draft TE class?

10. Chicago Bears: Shemar Stewart, edge, Texas A&M

The No. 2 edge in this class is a tough call, especially if we’re lumping Jihaad Campbell and/or Jalon Walker in with that group. A case certainly could be made for Georgia’s Mykel Williams here. But Stewart (6-5, 267) is actually bigger than Williams, and nearly as long (34 1/8 arms). He’s the most athletic edge in this class not named Abdul Carter.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

It’s hard to compare people to Micah Parsons. Campbell isn’t as fast as the Cowboys’ dynamic superstar, but he’s not that far off — and he’s probably at least as explosive. As was the case with Parsons when he came out of college, Campbell hasn’t scratched the surface with regard to all the things he can do on a football field.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

It’s not nothing that Johnson has avoided athletic testing at all costs this offseason. It’s also not nothing he more or less sat the 2024 season out after getting dinged up early. But the tape doesn’t lie — Johnson’s confidence is off-the-charts good, as is his football IQ. He definitely could tumble, but he’s a worthy top-15 prospect.

13. Miami Dolphins: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

The most complete athlete in this draft, Emmanwori has versatility that knows nearly no limit — he’s 6-foot-3, 220 pounds with a 4.38-second 40 time, 43-inch vertical and 11 foot, 6 inch broad jump. He’s still learning how to be consistent, but Emmanwori has the potential to be a defensive coordinator’s best friend.

14. Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

There are days when I think Loveland might be right there with Warren as a legit top-10 prospect. An outstanding receiver who terrorized linebackers and has the ability to beat safeties (and some corners), Loveland is also a better blocker than people realize and one of the most dependable talents on the board. He’d be a perfect fit in Indianapolis.

15. Atlanta Falcons: Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia

Williams’ scouting profile almost could be used to explain most of this class: He’s a terrific athlete (at 6-5, 260) and has limitless potential as a do-it-all edge with interior rush potential, but he’s also really never put everything together. Though it could take a minute for him to develop, he has true star potential at an incredibly valuable position.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

It wouldn’t be a shock if Harmon winds up going higher than this. At 6-4, 313, he’s bigger than Graham and probably comes with more versatility — he’s already proven he can walk outside and handle himself as a big edge.

Derrick Harmon impressed throughout his drills 📈 @OregonFootball

📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/RApm9yEw3q

— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Green, edge, Marshall

Like Carter, Campbell and Walker, Green is a phenomenal athlete who gives off Parsons-like vibes in terms of versatility. There also are serious off-field questions here teams will have to investigate before making a decision.

18. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

Booker’s not a perfect prospect. Scouts wanted to see more consistency from him as a junior, but they also understand that Booker’s been one of the SEC’s most physically impressive offensive linemen since the first game of his true freshman season. It feels like Seattle has been looking for a prospect like this for at least five years.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalon Walker, edge, Georgia

This might be the floor for Walker, whose testing may have caused him to slip behind Campbell and Green on some boards. Still, he’s a legit playmaker anywhere he lines up — a hell-on-wheels front-seven defender who’d be perfect for Todd Bowles.

20. Denver Broncos: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

One of my favorite players in this class, Egbuka is this year’s version of Amon-Ra St. Brown — a fearless competitor who was a difference-maker from Day 1 inside one of the country’s best programs. As far as I’m concerned, he’d qualify as the “Joker” weapon Sean Payton wants.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Even if Pittsburgh signs Aaron Rodgers, and even if Rodgers has some gas left in the tank we simply haven’t seen over the past three years, the Steelers have to devise a long-term plan for the most important position on the field. I cannot get there on Sanders as a top-10 pick, and I don’t think he’s ready to help fix a truly bad team. He’ll be a much better fit if he lands somewhere that can give him a supporting cast.

GO DEEPER

Colorado pro day: Travis Hunter is a lock as a top-5 pick, but could Shedeur Sanders fall?

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Jim Harbaugh’s backfield needs thunder and lightning. And Hampton, a 221-pound hammer with speed and wiggle, can be both at the same time. Not only did he rush for more than 3,000 combined yards the last two years, but also he had more than 60 catches.

23. Green Bay Packers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

A tough, smart, dependable competitor, Barron reminds me of a bigger version of Washington’s Mike Sainristil. He can play anywhere in the defensive backfield, and you’re going to get everything he has on every snap. He’d be perfect for the physical and talented NFC North.

24. Minnesota Vikings: Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State

Zabel was a true five-tool offensive lineman in college. He’s not long enough to be an every-day tackle in the NFL, but his ability to make things happen inside is undeniable. Zabel is a powerful, explosive, flexible athlete with elite football IQ.

25. Houston Texans: Joshua Simmons, OT, Ohio State

After suffering a knee injury early during the 2024 season, Simmons expects to be ready for the start of his rookie year. If he hadn’t suffered that injury, it’s fair to wonder if Simmons might have been OT1 in 2025. And the Texans have to find people who can keep C.J. Stroud off the ground.

26. Los Angeles Rams: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

Consistency is lacking, but Conerly is a young prospect with elite athletic traits and equally exciting flashes. His potential fit inside an offense that needs run blockers capable of being dangerous on the move and in space could be terrific.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge, Boston College

It’s possible Ezeiruaku is long gone by the late 20s, as the depth of his pass-rush arsenal and his attention to detail are arguably better than any other rusher in this class. He’s also one of the most agile (sub-7-second three-cone at the combine).

GO DEEPER

The case for sports’ greatest No. 8

28. Detroit Lions: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The Lions’ biggest need is edge, and it also wouldn’t shock me should Brad Holmes try to get younger at receiver — Jameson Williams’ long-term future on the roster is anything but certain. But Detroit also has uncertainty at guard. Banks, a college tackle, should translate well to a guard spot in the NFL and could potentially be a long-term answer opposite Sewell.

29. Washington Commanders: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Of all the draft-eligible offensive talent at Texas last season, Golden might’ve made the biggest leap. He displayed true difference-making speed and has an ability to win in any area of the field. He flashed WR1 ability, to go along with his 4.29 speed.

30. Buffalo Bills: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Grant’s talent (at 6-4, 331) is undeniable, but almost nothing about his game is consistent. He also did not test anywhere near where scouts anticipated he would. Still, he’s an explosive, powerful presence with high-end potential as a nose and/or a big 3-tech. There’s enough raw ability here to bet on.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Donovan Jackson, G/OT, Ohio State

A balanced, explosive athlete with very good length, Jackson spent most of his Ohio State career at guard before moving out to tackle in the wake of Simmons’ injury — a critical move during Ohio State’s title run. Jackson can be inconsistent with his hands but has the look of a possible long-term starter at guard or tackle.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

One of the smartest football players in this draft, Starks feels a lot like this year’s version of Brian Branch. He’s probably not fast enough to hold up as an outside corner, but he can play either safety spot or be a capable NFL nickel. He and Cooper DeJean together would be a lot of fun.

Round 2

33. Cleveland Browns: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

This, to me, makes much more sense for the Browns than reaching for a QB at No. 2. It’s possible Cleveland will have to trade back into the bottom of the first round for either Shough or Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, but this would give the Browns a young quarterback and a premium talent at the top of the second.

34. New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss

Personally, I prefer Shough to Dart but it’s very close. Dart’s biggest challenge will be proving he wasn’t simply a product of a very college-y offense the way ex-Ole Miss QB Matt Corral was. However, Dart’s a better prospect in just about every area. To me: Shough and Dart are closer to Sanders on the board than Sanders is to Ward.

UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger (projected top-50 pick) weighed in at 238 pounds at his workout today for NFL teams. From an NFL scout in attendance:

3C: 7.05
SS: 4.25
BJ: 10’7″
(No 40-yard dash)

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 2, 2025

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38. New England Patriots: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

39. Chicago Bears (from CAR): Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

40. New Orleans Saints: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

41. Chicago Bears: Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo

42. New York Jets: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

If there’s a QB other than Ward or Sanders who might surprise people with how high he’s picked, it’s Milroe. Every physical trait he owns is worth betting on, though the gamble here is considerable given how inconsistent he was as a passer during every season at Alabama.

43. San Francisco 49ers: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

44. Dallas Cowboys: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

45. Indianapolis Colts: Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina

GO DEEPER

Feldman’s 2025 NFL mock draft: How coaches view Ward, Sanders, Hunter, Carter and more

46. Atlanta Falcons: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

47. Arizona Cardinals: James Pearce Jr., edge, Tennessee

48. Miami Dolphins: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M

49. Cincinnati Bengals: Tate Ratledge, G/C, Georgia

50. Seattle Seahawks: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State

51. Denver Broncos: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

52. Seattle Seahawks (from PIT): Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nic Scourton, edge, Texas A&M

54. Green Bay Packers: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

55. Los Angeles Chargers: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

I’m not ruling out the possibility of someone at the bottom of the first taking a swing at Taylor, the athletic, sure-handed son Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor (and nephew of Zach Thomas). Few coaches in the NFL have better eyes for TE talent than Jim Harbaugh.

#LSU TE Mason Taylor

Garrett Nussmeier is going to miss him quite a bit.

[image or embed]

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— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner.bsky.social) February 11, 2025 at 7:29 AM

56. Buffalo Bills (from MIN): Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

57. Carolina Panthers (from LAR): Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State

58. Houston Texans: T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina

59. Baltimore Ravens: Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

60. Detroit Lions: JT Tuimoloau, edge, Ohio State

61. Washington Commanders: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

62. Buffalo Bills: Jack Bech, WR, TCU

63. Kansas City Chiefs: Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

64. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Burch, edge, Oregon

Round 3

65. New York Giants: Landon Jackson, edge, Arkansas

66. Kansas City Chiefs (from TEN): Jack Sawyer, edge, Ohio State

67. Cleveland Browns: Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College

68. Las Vegas Raiders: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

69. New England Patriots: Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville

GO DEEPER

Jordan Palmer wants to change how we evaluate QBs. Kyle McCord is his 2025 NFL Draft test case.

70. Jacksonville Jaguars: Oluwafemi Oladejo, edge, UCLA

71. New Orleans Saints: Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State

72. Chicago Bears: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma

73. New York Jets: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

74. Carolina Panthers: Kyle Kennard, edge, South Carolina

75. San Francisco 49ers: Cameron Williams, OT, Texas

76. Dallas Cowboys: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State

One of the more underrated players in this class, Williams is a small receiver, and his hands could be more consistent — but he’s one of the best YAC players in the class and an outstanding route runner with the ball skills to win in any area on the field. Very exciting player.

#Wazzu WR Kyle Williams is a problem.

He’s not big, could be more consistent with hands, but he’s one of the smoothest route runners in the country.

🏈4.42 speed
🏈10 contested catches at just 5-10, 190
🏈70-1196-14 last season
🏈Nearly 600 YAC yards

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This is a top 100 player IMO

[image or embed]

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner.bsky.social) April 5, 2025 at 9:34 AM

77. New England Patriots (from ATL): Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

78. Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Belton, OT, NC State

79. Houston Texans (from MIA): Jared Wilson, C, Georgia

80. Indianapolis Colts: Marcus Mbow, G/OT, Purdue

81. Cincinnati Bengals: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

82. Seattle Seahawks: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami

83. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas

85. Denver Broncos: Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon

86. Los Angeles Chargers: Jonah Savaiinaea, G/OT, Arizona

87. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland

88. Jacksonville Jaguars (from MIN): Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

89. Houston Texans: Tai Felton, WR, Maryland

90. Los Angeles Rams: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

91. Baltimore Ravens: Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State

92. Seattle Seahawks (from DET): Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary

93. New Orleans Saints (from WAS): Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas

94. Cleveland Browns (from BUF): Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas

GO DEEPER

Could the Browns be tanking for Arch Manning? NFL execs debate

95. Kansas City Chiefs: Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas

96. Philadelphia Eagles: Miles Frazier, G, LSU

97. Minnesota Vikings*: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

98. Miami Dolphins*: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU

99. New York Giants*: Jackson Slater, G/OT, Sacramento State

100. San Francisco 49ers*: Princely Umanmielen, edge, Ole Miss

101. Los Angeles Rams*: Savion Williams, WR, TCU

102. Detroit Lions*: Josaiah Stewart, edge, Michigan

The Lions double-dipped at CB last season, and don’t be surprised if they do the same this year while searching for pass-rush help opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Bringing an Ohio State (Tuimoloau) or Michigan (Stewart) player to Detroit always makes for a good time. These two would complement each other well.

(* = compensatory pick)

(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Michael Miller / ISI Photos, Ed Zurga / Getty Images, Mark J. Rebilas and Rich Barnes / Imagn Images)

OTTAWA — When asked to give his name, Larry Doshen instead grabbed his trading card. The photo was fairly recent, capturing him in black hockey pants as he cradled a hockey stick. He was helmetless, with a head of gray hair to match his “Silver Foxes” jersey.

Holding the card aloft, Doshen’s hand shook. He chalked it up to old age, but he was also filled with boyish nerves. And for good reason: The 84-year-old had just stepped off the ice after finally living his childhood fantasy of playing on an NHL rink.

“Once you get to skating, it’s fine,” Doshen said, pausing to reach into his mouth and remove his upper dentures. “I’ll take this thing out so you can hear me.”

An average NHL intermission typically features children from local minor hockey associations,  often as young as the under-7 “Timbits” level in Canada, either scrimmaging or competing in a shootout. Following the second period of the Ottawa Senators’ 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday, the youth made way for some much older gentlemen.

Or, as one attendee less delicately dubbed them, the “Stalebits.”

Forgive my lack of tweets during this game. I’ve been following this group of 80-year-olds who are playing in the second intermission of this Sens-Blue Jackets game. pic.twitter.com/kQ88PgWvpX

— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) April 6, 2025

Thirteen players representing multiple 80-and-over non-contact hockey teams in the Ottawa area — the eldest of whom were 88 years old — participated in the unusual exhibition on Sunday afternoon. The action lasted a brief three minutes, with Doshen battling through his brief anxiety at the front of the net to score the only goal. But the group of octogenarians drew cheers from the tens of thousands in attendance throughout, starting from the moment they each stepped onto the ice.

“This is a dream come true for me,” Aime Beaulne, one of the 88-year-olds, told The Athletic.

The game also brought awareness to the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame, a nonprofit that recognizes active hockey players above the age of 80 across Canada. The initiative was founded in 2011 with an inaugural class of six, each of whom were inducted according to what the organization describes as its “knighting protocols using a vintage 1930 one-piece wooden hockey stick.” Applicants can be nominated online. In addition to the age requirement of its eligibility criteria, the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame’s website lists “sound character and good sportsmanship.”

“Because now we’re getting guys right across the country,” said Herb Brennen, the 80+ Hall of Fame’s president. “We need to know that.”

The number of inductees has since grown to nearly 400 players and almost 40 builders since its launch. An induction game is played every year and each new member receives their hockey card, as Doshen did. The Hall plans on inducting its first female player later this year.

“We try to make sure that this is really family-oriented,” Brennen said. “Because most of our children and certainly our grandchildren have never seen us play hockey, so it’s rather an amazing experience for them to actually see the old guy on the ice.”

The 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame got the opportunity to skate at the Senators game through a mutual connection. Back in January, Hall of Fame vice president Loris Bondio met with a friend, Liam Maguire, over drinks at the latter’s titular restaurant just east of Ottawa’s downtown. It wasn’t planned, but they wound up discussing the 80+ Hall. A self-proclaimed hockey historian, Maguire was blown away by the concept and wondered how he could get the Senators involved. Bondio replied that his organization had tried, but failed, to meet with the Sens.

“I’ll get you your meeting,” Maguire told Bondio.

Maguire tapped his connection to team president Cyril Leeder, who alongside fellow Senators co-founder Randy Sexton once sold Maguire a season ticket pledge in the hopes of eventually luring an NHL franchise to the Canadian capital city. When Ottawa ultimately succeeded in its bid in 1990, Maguire celebrated with Leeder and Sexton. Thirty-five years later, it was Maguire pitching Leeder on the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame as an intermission showcase.

“I think it’s a beautiful, beautiful way of encapsulating why the Hall exists,” Bondio said. “Those kids have got to keep skating. Doesn’t matter if you don’t make the NHL. Doesn’t matter if you don’t make the team, keep skating. There’s always a place to play.”

Before their game at the CTC, the 80+ Hall of Famers sat in makeshift dressing rooms covered by curtains just near the Zamboni entrance, surrounded by stacks of wooden pallets, a pair of lowered basketball hoops, and a portable emergency eye wash station. After putting on their gear — including jerseys bearing the 80+ Hall’s logo — they lined up single-file and hit the ice.

“It’s uplifting to think one day like this could be me too,” said Matt Franczyk, the Senators’ specialist in hockey outreach. “Like, if I stay healthy, stay active, I could be on the ice playing with these guys as well.”

Most of the men who participated Sunday play hockey twice a week, for teams like the “Elder Skatesmen” and the “Octokids.” Others, like Barclay Frost, might play more often.

The 83-year-old Frost is considered the oldest goalie in Ottawa and is a member of Athletics Ontario’s Hall of Fame for his various athletic contributions as an athlete, coach and official — he filled the last role at the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal. Frost even represented Team Canada at an 80+ USA-Canada hockey event last fall. That is, until the American starting goaltender became unavailable and Frost was forced to change allegiances.

“I know what it’s like to be a traitor,” Frost said. “People wouldn’t talk to me. My wife was sitting up in the stands with all the Team Canada wives and all our Team Canada staff. And I’m on the other team.”

Herb Brennen’s hockey card was given to him after being inducted into the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023.

The fact that these over-80-and-above hockey teams exist is already impressive, but they also stand to combat a worrisome trend for elders. A Canadian government report estimated that 30 percent of seniors in the country — a group expected to grow from nearly 15 percent today to up to 25 percent of the population by 2036 — are at risk of being socially isolated. The International Federation on Ageing has added that “keeping older people socially connected and active” is the “number one emerging issue facing seniors” in Canada.

“I would really, really miss it if I didn’t have the dressing room to go to, to talk to the guys, and the banter back and forth,” Doshen said. “Talk about what we do on the ice, talk about what we do off the ice. A couple of the guys I know are having health problems, so you listen to them. Some others are having family health problems as well. It gives them a chance to talk.”

Indeed, playing means everything for these seniors, whether it’s because they want to stay fit — or, as Brennen recalled himself recently doing with fellow skaters, to chirp one another.

“I said, ‘I don’t know why the hell you even bring a hockey stick to the game,’” Brennen said. “(The pucks) go in off your ass. They go in off your elbow. What do you need a hockey stick for? You’ve probably got the same stick you ever started with.”

And then there are men like 88-year-old Wil Côté, who just appreciates the support that comes with playing with a band of brothers.

“It keeps me going for sure,” Côté said. “I like playing, but I like the camaraderie. When I come home, I’m happy.”

(Photos: Julian McKenzie / The Athletic)