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This weekend, the country's ice hockey fans will celebrate the playing career of one of Britain's truly great sportsmen.

He might not be the most common household name, but Tony Hand MBE has written his legacy on British sport - by being one of the nation's stalwarts at a foreign game.

Ice hockey legend Hand, the first Briton ever to be drafted into the NHL, is set to call time on his monumental 34-year career in the senior game.

And it says something about Hand's mentality that he is still grafting away at the age of 47.

But after years of deciding when the time to hang up the skates will be, Hand is finally bowing out of the sport, as his Manchester Phoenix embark on their final league games of the season this weekend.

Hand said: "When you get to an age, you know when it is time.

(Image: Richard Amor Allan)

"Eventually you have to call time on it though, because you don't want to look silly out there, or have people say 'what is he doing playing'

"When you are a professional, you just get a feeling about when it is time."

Hand started his ice hockey career with the Murrayfield Racers, having played for their junior team, the Raiders, and working at the local rink.

His early career was spurred on by the fact his older brother, Paul, was also an ice hockey player.

But Hand's pedigree was picked up early by the Racers, as they gave him his senior debut for a game against the Fife Flyers in September 1981 - all because of a player shortage.

And he did not let up, finishing the season having featured in 19 games, despite his tender age.

(Image: Richard Amor Allan)

He went on to have a glittering career in England, featuring for the Sheffield Steelers, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals and Belfast Giants in between his stint in the States.

Such is Hand's legacy now, ice hockey fans of the Flyers, the team who he made his debut against, decided to travel all the way down to Manchester last week - a nearly 500-mile round-trip - just to take their children to see him in action before his retirement.

"It is a really nice gesture," said Hand. "It is very humbling to have that kind of support.

"I have never been one to look for acknowledgement, but to have that acknowledgement is really nice.

"All I wanted to do was to play ice hockey and now I will continue to coach."

Hand will now further turn his attention to the role which he has enjoyed much success with - as head coach of Manchester Phoenix ice hockey club.

(Image: Richard Amor Allan)

He has been player-coach of Manchester Phoenix since the start of the 2006/07 season and has won the Altrincham-based club English Premier League titles on two different occasions, among other successes.

All of that success coming while he was still ruling the roost on the ice, picking out pinpoint passes for his team-mates.

But after toying with the decision at the start of the season, Hand realised that it would be for the better of the team if he was to take on his role off the ice, giving him more impetus to work with the younger stars.

"Myself and Neil Morris [Manchester Phoenix owner] talked about it at the start of the year and it has come to fruition as the season has gone on.

"I'm not stupid. It will be for the good of the team that I have my concentration on coaching and bringing through some new blood at the club."

(Image: Richard Amor Allan)

Humble Hand does not pick out one particular moment as the finest of his career.

Despite holding numerous British record, becoming the first British-raised player to be drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1986 and taking charge of the British national team, he finds it hard to pick out on unique moment.

He admitted: "There is not really one thing. Anything that happens for the first time is nice."

So, Hand's incredible ice hockey career has come down to two final league games, both at home at the Altrincham ice rink. He will line-up for Phoenix against the Bracknell Bees on Saturday night, before making his final bow against the Swindon wildcats on Sunday evening.

But Phoenix could still mark the end of his playing career with a trophy. They will compete in the play-offs at the end of March - and there would be no better way to cap the career of Britain's most illustrious ice hockey player.