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Now he sees him as an equal teammate, with a role to play as a low-post man who does “the detail” things and understands the game’s mental side, concentrating on the unglamorous work of pick-and-rolls, rebounding and making the right pass.

Of whether the older man has taught him something? “You can still love something, regardless of how old you are.”

Stoddard certainly has a fan in Costello, a fixture around the Algonquin program for 25 years, but one who has never coached a Thunder player quite this old.

Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News

He finds it remarkable Stoddard was able to whip himself into shape while holding down a full-time job, being a father and taking on a full course load.

“After every practice, he’s always thanking me, saying, ‘Thanks for letting me live my dream,”’ said the coach, who jokes that Stoddard should be driving the team bus.

A native of Casselman, Stoddard played at St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School in Hammond until his final year, when he lost his spot on the team because of academic slippage.

Then he was married at 20, his first child was born, and basketball took a back seat to life. In the ensuing years, he coached here and there as a volunteer and only played sporadically.

He suited up for the OC Transpo team at a tournament in Montreal earlier this year. It was a turning point. “I was probably the most upset I’ve ever been playing basketball. I was so out-of-shape, I couldn’t even run.”

With the alumni tournament coming up, he started working out, shedding pounds, improving his cardio. Then came the chance encounter with Costello on the gym floor. So he got to work, hoping to set an example for this children, who have started an Instagram account (oldmandan24) to go with the Old Man Dan Fan Club.

“Success begins with self-belief,” he says, using a simple truism he hopes to instil in other players. “And I believe in myself 1,000 per cent, all day long.”

And how is the OC driver turned ancient college rookie spending the weekend? He’s boarding a bus on Friday for the season opener road trip to Barrie, where the points and stats will hardly matter.

Old Man Dan has already won.

To contact Kelly Egan, please call 613-726-5896 or email kegan@postmedia.com.

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