Andres Ambuhl scored his first goal at Olympic Winter Games at age 38 in his fifth Olympics.
photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images
When Andres Ambuhl tied Switzerland’s qualification play-off against Czechia, the 38-year-old grabbed his first ever goal in Olympic play. He’s now the oldest man to achieve that feat here in Beijing, pipping Denmark’s 37-year-old Frans Nielsen.
But which other golden oldies have matured late in their careers and grabbed their first Olympic goal at an age when many players are settling into retirement? Over the last 30 years of Olympic action, we found nine players who scored their first goal at the Games in their late 30s – one of them after his 40th birthday.
2022 – Andres Ambuhl (38) and Frans Nielsen (37)
The contrast between this year’s golden oldies could hardly be greater. Ambuhl came to Beijing with an eye on the history books as he made his fifth appearance at the Games. The 38-year-old HC Davos player is also a veteran of 16 World Championships and seems intent on writing new records for longevity in Swiss hockey. Yet, prior to this week, he hadn’t scored a goal at the Games. Indeed, his first three tournaments did not yield a single point. Then came four assists in PyeongChang and now a goal – and a vital one at that.
Nielsen, 37, meanwhile, is another player with vast international experience. But there's a different reason for his late arrival at the Olympics: 2022 is the first time Denmark has qualified for the Games. Had the Danes featured in earlier years, Nielsen would surely have been a key part of that team as well. Instead, he had to wait more than 16 years from his first attempt to qualify with his country in 2006 before delivering a decisive penalty shot to secure a sensational win over Czechia on that eagerly anticipated Olympic debut.
2018 – Sergei Mozyakin (36)
Russia’s all-time leading goal scorer in domestic hockey hasn’t always found favour at international level. His omission from the 2014 roster was one of the big talking points of that tournament – with then IIHF President Rene Fasel among those who suggested that Mozyakin’s inclusion might have brought home ice glory in Sochi. It wasn’t until PyeongChang that the two-time Gagarin Cup winner went to the Olympics – and at the age of 36 he won gold with Team OAR at the first attempt. Mozyakin grabbed one goal in that tournament, opening the scoring in the 8-2 group stage win over Slovenia.
2006 – Mathieu Schneider (36)
Mathieu Schneider was a highly productive defenceman throughout a long NHL career that took in 10 different clubs and more than 1,200 games. He got his first Olympic call-up in 1998, but went goalless in six games in Nagano. After missing 2002, he was back in Torino and found the net in his final Olympic appearance. That goal came midway through the USA’s quarter-final match-up with Finland and his power play effort tied the game at 2-2. However, two goals from Olli Jokinen restored the Finnish advantage and the Americans crashed out with a 3-4 loss.
2002 – Mario Lemieux (36), Phil Houseley (37)
Super Mario Lemieux wasn’t playing when the NHL went to the 1998 Games, but he was back on the ice in 2002 and got the call for Salt Lake City. Aged 36, he chipped in two goals in the group stage, both in a 3-3 tie with the Czech Republic on Feb. 18. Later in the competition, though, American defenceman Phil Houseley, 37 at the time, got Team USA’s third goal in its semi-final against the Russians. Houseley was making his Olympic debut towards the end of a 20-year NHL career and his goal proved vital, as Russia rallied from 0-3 but ran out of time and dropped a 2-3 verdict. Lemieux left Utah with gold, though, as Canada beat the host in the final.
1998 – Chris Chelios (36), Ray Bourque (37)
The first NHL Olympics saw many players get a late chance at the Games. However, while a certain Wayne Gretzky was the focus of attention, the Great One didn’t get a goal in Nagano. Instead, future Hall-of-Famer Chris Chelios and Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque flew the flag for the merits of experience. Chelios did not waste time, opening the scoring 11 minutes into his Olympic debut on Feb. 13, 1998, kicking off a 2-4 loss to Sweden. He was 36 years old and would play at two more Olympics. Four hours later, though, Canada’s Ray Bourque, aged 37, topped the American defenceman when he potted the second in a 5-0 win over Belarus.
1992 – Borje Salming (40)
Swedish defenceman Borje Salming is the oldest player on the list. His first taste of international action came way back in 1972, when he was playing for Brynas. The following year, he was back at the Worlds and plundered 10 (4+6) points in 10 games. That set the standard for a hugely productive career as a two-way blue liner. He compiled 787 points in 17 NHL seasons, topping 70 for four years running in the late 70s. Most of that time was spent in Toronto, but after a season with the Red Wings he returned to Sweden in time to get the call to the 1992 Games in Albertville. Aged 40, he still had 7 (4+3) points on a Swedish team that lost to Czechoslovakia in the quarter-finals.
But which other golden oldies have matured late in their careers and grabbed their first Olympic goal at an age when many players are settling into retirement? Over the last 30 years of Olympic action, we found nine players who scored their first goal at the Games in their late 30s – one of them after his 40th birthday.
2022 – Andres Ambuhl (38) and Frans Nielsen (37)
The contrast between this year’s golden oldies could hardly be greater. Ambuhl came to Beijing with an eye on the history books as he made his fifth appearance at the Games. The 38-year-old HC Davos player is also a veteran of 16 World Championships and seems intent on writing new records for longevity in Swiss hockey. Yet, prior to this week, he hadn’t scored a goal at the Games. Indeed, his first three tournaments did not yield a single point. Then came four assists in PyeongChang and now a goal – and a vital one at that.
Nielsen, 37, meanwhile, is another player with vast international experience. But there's a different reason for his late arrival at the Olympics: 2022 is the first time Denmark has qualified for the Games. Had the Danes featured in earlier years, Nielsen would surely have been a key part of that team as well. Instead, he had to wait more than 16 years from his first attempt to qualify with his country in 2006 before delivering a decisive penalty shot to secure a sensational win over Czechia on that eagerly anticipated Olympic debut.
2018 – Sergei Mozyakin (36)
Russia’s all-time leading goal scorer in domestic hockey hasn’t always found favour at international level. His omission from the 2014 roster was one of the big talking points of that tournament – with then IIHF President Rene Fasel among those who suggested that Mozyakin’s inclusion might have brought home ice glory in Sochi. It wasn’t until PyeongChang that the two-time Gagarin Cup winner went to the Olympics – and at the age of 36 he won gold with Team OAR at the first attempt. Mozyakin grabbed one goal in that tournament, opening the scoring in the 8-2 group stage win over Slovenia.
2006 – Mathieu Schneider (36)
Mathieu Schneider was a highly productive defenceman throughout a long NHL career that took in 10 different clubs and more than 1,200 games. He got his first Olympic call-up in 1998, but went goalless in six games in Nagano. After missing 2002, he was back in Torino and found the net in his final Olympic appearance. That goal came midway through the USA’s quarter-final match-up with Finland and his power play effort tied the game at 2-2. However, two goals from Olli Jokinen restored the Finnish advantage and the Americans crashed out with a 3-4 loss.
2002 – Mario Lemieux (36), Phil Houseley (37)
Super Mario Lemieux wasn’t playing when the NHL went to the 1998 Games, but he was back on the ice in 2002 and got the call for Salt Lake City. Aged 36, he chipped in two goals in the group stage, both in a 3-3 tie with the Czech Republic on Feb. 18. Later in the competition, though, American defenceman Phil Houseley, 37 at the time, got Team USA’s third goal in its semi-final against the Russians. Houseley was making his Olympic debut towards the end of a 20-year NHL career and his goal proved vital, as Russia rallied from 0-3 but ran out of time and dropped a 2-3 verdict. Lemieux left Utah with gold, though, as Canada beat the host in the final.
1998 – Chris Chelios (36), Ray Bourque (37)
The first NHL Olympics saw many players get a late chance at the Games. However, while a certain Wayne Gretzky was the focus of attention, the Great One didn’t get a goal in Nagano. Instead, future Hall-of-Famer Chris Chelios and Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque flew the flag for the merits of experience. Chelios did not waste time, opening the scoring 11 minutes into his Olympic debut on Feb. 13, 1998, kicking off a 2-4 loss to Sweden. He was 36 years old and would play at two more Olympics. Four hours later, though, Canada’s Ray Bourque, aged 37, topped the American defenceman when he potted the second in a 5-0 win over Belarus.
1992 – Borje Salming (40)
Swedish defenceman Borje Salming is the oldest player on the list. His first taste of international action came way back in 1972, when he was playing for Brynas. The following year, he was back at the Worlds and plundered 10 (4+6) points in 10 games. That set the standard for a hugely productive career as a two-way blue liner. He compiled 787 points in 17 NHL seasons, topping 70 for four years running in the late 70s. Most of that time was spent in Toronto, but after a season with the Red Wings he returned to Sweden in time to get the call to the 1992 Games in Albertville. Aged 40, he still had 7 (4+3) points on a Swedish team that lost to Czechoslovakia in the quarter-finals.