Cardiff Devils centreman Matthew Myers says his previous 899 Elite League appearances have flown by as he prepares for his 900th game this weekend.
The stars have aligned for the 34-year-old, who will mark the achievement as his current team head to former club, Nottingham Panthers – the only two teams Myers has played for in the EIHL.
And he’s already eyeing up the possibility of getting to four figures, but insists it’s not top of his list of targets right now.
“It’s pretty cool and it’s flown by,” Myers said. “I can remember scoring my first goal for the Devils when I was 15 and moving to Nottingham as though it was only yesterday.
“The fact that my 900th game is between the two teams I’ve played for in the Elite League is crazy, the way it’s worked out, but it’s definitely special.
“I’ve still got lots of hockey left in me and there’s a chance I can make 1,000, but you’re talking a couple of seasons away yet, all going well.
“It’s not something I’ve set myself as a target so I’ll take it gradually and see how I can get on.
Matthew Myers will make his 900th Elite League appearance this weekend – only the second player to do so (PHOTO: Helen Brabon)
“When you get to something like this, you get a lot of people sending messages and you can get reflective over what’s happened in your career.
“It brings back some fantastic memories, but with it some terrible haircuts and clothes as well, but it’s been a really good 18 years now.”
Myers is the league’s most decorated player with three league titles, six play-off wins and seven Challenge Cup wins to his name between two spells each at the Devils and the Panthers.
He will become only the second player in Elite League history to reach 900 games after Sheffield Steelers captain Jonathan Phillips.
And he says he feels like a teenager again as he gets ready for his latest return to the Motorpoint Arena, admitting he didn’t know he was so close to this latest milestone
“I feel like an 18-year-old going into this game on Saturday and I didn’t even realise I was at that number until the other week when there was a press release about Mark Richardson reaching 800.
“If the whole arena stands up for me, it will definitely be a proud moment for me and my family. I had a lot of great times in Nottingham and the organisation and the fans were always great to me.
“I enjoy going back there with Cardiff so I’m looking forward to Saturday and more importantly, trying to get the win that’s on the line.”
