Cheerio Michael

Even if he can still walk into his local chippy and not spend the next four hours writing autographs and even if he will still have to work long hours as a plumber to support his young family rather than simply sit in a warm television studio, Tasker deserves to be remembered alongside Shearer as one of the region’s best.

Having made his senior debut at just 17 for the Durham Wasps, Tusker won two Grand Slams in his first two years in the sport. It might have been flash in the pan success, but while the Wasps eventually went down the drain, Tusker continued to thrive in a sport which rarely got any mainstream coverage.

While Shearer has only the adulation of Newcastle supporters and a Premiership winner’s medal from his time at Blackburn Rovers, Tusker has a cabinet full of silverware from a glittering career with Kingston Hawks, Coventry Blaze and, of course The Vipers.

He has won everything there is to win in the game, but he has also retired with his reputation and his dignity intact. Sport is littered with ageing stars trying to relive former glories, but at 33, Tusker has decided the time is right to quit and concentrate on the future.

He will go at the top of his game, respected and admired for the things he has achieved in the sport he loves.

You might not recognise him if he stands next to you in your local supermarket or if he comes to fix your plumbing - probably not helped by the fact ice-hockey players wear those big helmets which only seem to come off when they’re having a fight - but if you do this man deserves your respect.