It was 30 years ago when a fresh-faced Kevin Cheveldayoff stepped to the podium at the NHL draft in Montreal, having just been selected 16th overall by the New York Islanders.
The rugged 18-year-old defenceman, coming off his second junior campaign with the Brandon Wheat Kings, had anxiously waited to hear his name called while future superstars such as Mike Modano, Trevor Linden, Jeremy Roenick, Rod Brind'Amour and Teemu Selanne were all selected before him.
"It's bizarre to think that it's 30 years. Obviously some exceptional Hall-of-Fame players," Cheveldayoff told the Free Press Tuesday as he reflected on just how different things are these days in virtually every aspect of the game.