"There are tandems on ice that have lasted longer, but they usually involve side-by-side triple Salchows or sled dogs.

Chicago Blackhawks Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook have been defence partners for three years, which is like forever in a National Hockey League whose line combinations and blue-line pairings change on a coach's whim, often by the shift.

Keith and Seabrook, B.C. boys whose pooled talents are an impressive blend of speed, power and size, are a retro pairing -- a throwback to previous decades when good hockey partnerships outlasted good Hollywood marriages.

Paul Coffey and Charlie Huddy on the Edmonton Oilers.

Brian Leetch and Jeff Beukeboom on the New York Rangers.

Ray Bourque and Don Sweeney on the Boston Bruins.

Jyrki Lumme and Dana Murzyn on the Vancouver Canucks.

Till death, retirement or trade did they part.

Defence partnerships like these are nearly extinct, undermined by free agency and the salary cap, more frequent injuries and the universal lack of talent depth that leads coaches to shorten benches and load extra minutes onto a few."