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Usually when Don Vallario is a forward on his line, the center is a college kid and the other forward is around 50 years old.

Vallario never feels out of place despite being 71.

“What’s age matter? Age is nothing,” Vallario said. “It’s just skating, shooting and passing, that’s it. The puck doesn’t know how old the guy is.”

Vallario has been playing hockey for 30 years and currently laces up for the Pterodactyls in the Protec Adult Hockey League in Somerset, N.J.

What’s it like having a 20-year-old pass the puck to a 71-year-old?

“Mostly it’s going the other way,” Vallario said laughing. “Mostly I’m hitting him going up ice, because he’s got the speed — I don’t have as much speed. I’m breaking him in and coming in for what’s left over after he shot it.”

Vallario’s speed may not be what it used to, but he makes up for it in other ways.

“He has a lot of energy,” Pterodactyls teammate Sean Caldwell said. “He skates really well, he moves around a lot, and he’s got a good shot. He doesn’t take as many shots as we think he should.”

Caldwell, 28, loves having Vallario on the team. The senior leader is an inspiration.

“It really pushes you to try your best, because there’s a guy’s out there and he’s 71 years old and he’s skating his butt off and making good plays,” Caldwell said. “You’re on the bench kind of dogging it and you’re like, ‘Man, I’m tired.’ Then you see him out there and you can’t be tired if he’s not tired, there’s no way.”

Getting out to play every week really isn’t getting more difficult for Vallario. He plays in the league and attends open hockey on a regular basis.

Vallario joined the Pterodactyls in 2012 after his previous team moved up to the top division. He didn’t think he was cut out for the top league, so he latched on with the Pterodactyls, who play in the lowest league, the North.

The Pterodactyls play all three seasons of the year in the league and tend to not have a lot of turnover on its roster. There’s a core group of four players who have been around since the team started eight years ago.

Caldwell has been on the team off and on for five years after having to be away while he attended police academy. He loves the fact the guys don’t take the game too seriously and are just out to have a good time.

“No matter how everyone comes out and plays, whether we have a good game, a bad game, everybody always has the same attitude coming out of it,” said Caldwell, who is now a corrections officer. “You come back to the locker room, you have a laugh, you tell a joke and nobody’s ever really like toxic about it.”

Vallario, who is a PGA professional, is all about the team concept of the Pterodactyls.

“I’m a golfer, and I’ve been playing individually for so many years, and to get back to a team aspect is great,” Vallario said. “The camaraderie of the guys, it’s a lot of fun.”

Vallario feels like he has plenty of years left playing hockey.

“Either I’m going to get hurt or I’m going to drop dead or I won’t be an asset to the team; at that time I’ll probably just play open hockey,” Vallario said. “But now, I’m not the worst guy on the ice, so I’m going to keep going.”

Said Caldwell: “Anybody who’s ever thought about playing hockey and maybe thinks they’re too old, Don’s a perfect example that you’re never too old to get out there and give it a try.

“If you want to try it, go for it.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.