40-year-old Pierre-Edouard Bellemare finally fulfills his Olympic dream as he leads Team France at Milan

Alexandre Texier described his captain wandering around the athletes' village like a kid in a candy store. At age 40, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare hardly qualifies as a kid anymore, but the childlike wonder makes perfect sense for someone living out a dream four decades in the making.Bellemare is the oldest player at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan. He brings 700 NHL games' worth of experience across 10 professional seasons with five different organizations. He has represented France at 12 World Championships throughout his career. But nothing compares to finally reaching the Olympics.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare still can’t believe he is leading France at the Olympics.

"It's a profound feeling in my heart," the French captain said following France's optional practice Monday.

The Games hold special significance beyond his personal connection. Bellemare's sister Rose-Eliandre represented France in gymnastics at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, adding to the family's Olympic heritage."I've dreamed about this for so long. I was 7 when I watched the opening ceremony of the Albertville Olympics. I'd watch France's hockey games on TV. That was the first time I saw hockey on TV. My brother and I would kneel in front of the television to watch the game.

I said to myself that it would be incredible to be there one day."Bellemare kept his career alive long enough to make this moment happen. After playing for Philadelphia, Vegas, Colorado, Tampa Bay and Seattle in the NHL, he continued in Europe with HC Ajoie in Switzerland's top professional league for the past two seasons."The Olympics have always had a big place in my family," he said. "As for me, it's an honor to see the Olympic rings on my France jersey.

I think it's amazing." France nearly missed qualification entirely. They lost 5-2 to Latvia in the final game of their Olympic qualifying tournament last summer, marking the sixth time since 2002 that France failed to punch their ticket through the standard route. But Russia's exclusion from the Games opened a door. France earned qualification as the highest-ranked remaining team in the IIHF standings. "I thought that my dream had slipped away from me yet again," Bellemare said.

"But the door was opened to us thanks to Russia's absence from the tournament."When asked where the Olympics rank among his career achievements, Bellemare answered without hesitation. "The Olympics are the highlight of a lifetime," he said. "I'm like my kids at Christmas. I've experienced some great moments in hockey. But being in Milan for the Olympics clears everything by far. I know that the NHL gave me tremendous financial security for my family, but in my heart, there is nothing that beats the Olympics and wearing the French jersey."France opens Group A play Thursday at 6:10 AM Eastern against Switzerland at Santagiulia Arena. For Bellemare, leading his country onto Olympic ice represents a journey that began 33 years ago in front of a television screen.