Cyclone Taylor at Ottawa Senators Old-timers Game, 1953


Here are some great pics found in the newspaper archives of the Ottawa Citizen from 1953. It may be a photo of one of the very last times that all-time great Cyclone Taylor appeared in public in a hockey uniform. The day was March 24, 1953 in front of 5,000 spectators at the Ottawa Auditorium, the occasion being an old-timers game between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Maroons.
However, at 68-years old, Cyclone didn't actually play in the game but took warm-ups in full equipment to the delight of the fans. Also dressing only for the pre-game were three other Senator stars of the past; Harry Broadbent, Frank Nighbour and Cy Denneny, (pictured below) all in their early 60s at the time.
Among the ex-players that did play in the game was goaltender Alec Connell who was a mere 53 at the time along with Al Shields and Yip Radley both in their mid-40s (below). The Maroons beat the Senator oldsters by a score of 5-2 with the help of Bill Cowley only six years retired from NHL active duty. 42-year old Syd Howe potted a marker for the Sens in front of goalie Bill Beveridge. 



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