{
  "id": 8503241,
  "title": "Avs 41-year-old defenseman Brent Burns trimmed the beard, not the ambition, as he enters 23rd season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/avs-41-year-old-defenseman-brent-burns-trimmed-the-beard-not-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T17:29:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/2026/09/19/avs-41-year-old-defenseman-brent-burns-trimmed-the-beard-not-the-ambition-as-he-enters-23rd-season"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Englewood, Colo. (AP) — Brent Burns, the 41-year-old Colorado Avalanche defenseman, has trimmed his beard but not his ambition as he enters his 23rd season in the NHL. The famed bushy beard and well-groomed hair of the player are a sight to behold. When he smiles, you can notice the gleaming front teeth in the gap where he once had none.\n\nBurns has been a colorful character in the league, known for his ability to stay young at heart. Teammate Brock Nelson describes Burns as an 18- or 19-year-old kid who always seems to be having fun. His family hosted a young forward from the University of Michigan this summer, T.J. Hughes, who stayed with the Burns family instead of living out of a suitcase at a hotel.\n\nBurns' superpower, according to Nelson, is his ability to stay young at heart and enjoy the grind of a long season. The Colorado Avalanche player has played in 1,007 straight regular-season games and is 57 away from tying the mark of Phil Kessel. While Burns doesn't focus on breaking the league's all-time ironman streak, he remains determined to stay in the lineup and contribute to the team's success.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Brent Burns, 41, enters 23rd NHL season",
    "Known for youthful energy and fun personality",
    "1,002 consecutive regular-season games played"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}