Rug·ged (adj) -- Showing facial signs of strength; presenting a severe test of ability, stamina, or resolution; strongly built or constituted.

For some of the entries on Sports Illustrated's recently-released list of "The NHL's Most Rugged Players," the definition holds. Like when it discusses the virtues of Rod Brind'Amour(notes), who wears 18 years of hockey nasty on his face:

The Stanley Cup playoffs are the most grueling marathon in sports. To win the coveted Cup, players must go all-out through two months of punishing play. Hurricanes captain Rod Brind'Amour is an 18-year NHL veteran bidding for his second Stanley Cup. He's a strong two-way center exceptional on face-offs and the penalty-kill. Most importantly, he plays through pain and, at 38, is one of the league's grand old warriors. Here are 11 more players, past and present, who personify the word "rugged."

Yeah, about that ... first off, a hearty jeer to whoever thought it wise to mix generations on this list. First, because it's as annoying as when Versus runs a vignette on Tony Esposito between periods of a Chicago Blackhawks game. Second, because any comparison of ruggedness between players of the 1970s and today is rendered pointless because of the increased quality of equipment, accommodations and painkillers.

That understood, the SI list of "most rugged players":

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puc...urn=nhl,164777