FLINT, Mich. -- There's oldtimers hockey, and then there's John Burnosky.

The 96-year-old Clinton Twp. man literally is in a league by himself, but because no one else is available for the 90-and-over division, Burnosky has to skate with "youngsters" 30 years his junior.

The World's Most Durable Hockey Player -- so proclaimed by the Guinness Book of World Records -- is in Flint this weekend for the 23rd annual Vehicle City Oldtimers Hockey Tournament. The 52-team tourney is being staged at Iceland Arenas and Perani Arena and runs through Sunday.Burnosky handled a couple of faceoffs for his Bruno's Dive Shop team and also hoped to skate a shift in Friday night's 60-and-over game at Iceland. He usually limits himself to about five minutes a game.

"It all depends on how we're doing," said the right wing. "At my age, it's pretty tough to keep up with these youngsters."

The fact that he's even on skates amazes his teammates and anyone else who watches him.

"It motivates all of us," said Jerry Williams, captain of the Bruno's team. "He's not actually a competitive player, but it's kind of special to have him in our presence."

Burnosky was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on April 14, 1911, a year before the Titanic sank.

He said he came to Detroit at about age 18 for a tryout with the Red Wings, but his size (5-foot-4) kept him off the parent club.

"I played with them a few games, but being only 90 pounds, they put me in their farm system," Burnosky said.

He said he spent 10 years in the minors and claims to have played with Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Terry Sawchuk. Then he went to work in a Detroit bearing plant.

But he's played hockey ever since, and also has dabbled in soccer, baseball, softball and cricket, among other sports.

"I used to dive off bridges in Canada," he said.

He no longer plays league hockey but travels around for oldtimers tourneys, such as the Vehicle City. He's played from Maryland to California and draws media attention everywhere he goes.

"We tried to get him on Jay Leno's show," said Williams.

Burnosky attributes his long life to clean living, although he'll tip a beer now and then. He credits weekly visits to his chiropractor for keeping him agile.

"He manipulates you and adjusts the bones," Burnosky said. "I have to listen to the different cracks to tell where it's coming from."

He's just now coming back from a shoulder injury suffered a couple of months ago, when a collision with another player knocked him on his side.

But Burnosky keeps bouncing back and has no intention of ever hanging up his skates.

"What else is there to do besides sit on my couch?" he said.

Burnosky's team is scheduled to play at today at 1 p.m. at Perani and then 8 p.m. at Iceland. If the team qualifies, it would play again at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Iceland. Admission is free.