Jaromír Jágr with the Kladno Knights. Photo: Facebook / Rytíři Kladno
Czech hockey legend and owner of the Kladno Knights (Rytíři) club Jaromír Jágr returned to the ice for his team's league match against Liberec Sunday.
The video shows the NHL "ageless wonder," as he's been dubbed by the sports media, record two assists for the Knights as the bleachers erupt into cheers. Despite the 50-year-old's heroics, Kladno would go on to lose to HC Bílí Tygři Liberec by a score of 7-3.
Jágr was forced to lace up due to a player shortage that would've led to Kladno postponing the game as well as a potential league punishment. The match marks Jágr's first pro hockey game since April.
"On Friday, we found out that Liberec will not postpone the match. There were ten players at training and there were twelve of us on Saturday. We were in danger of losing it by default. I didn't want it to turn out that way," Jágr said in an interview posted on the Knights' website.
Jaromir Jagr, the ageless wonder 🤯
The Kladno Knights of the Czech Extraliga had an illness run through the team. Jagr, the team’s owner, jumped into the lineup and picked up two assists ... at 50 years old ðŸ‘
Jágr played his final season in the NHL in 2017-18 as part of the Calgary Flames, but has seen some action for Kladno in each of the six seasons since then.
His illustrious 24-year career spans play for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers, and the Calgary Flames.
He ranks fourth in NHL history in regular-season games played (1,733), fourth in goals (766), fifth in assists (1,155), and second in points (1,921) behind only the legendary Wayne Gretzky.
Jágr lead the Czech national hockey team to an Olympic gold medal in 1998 and a bronze in 2006.
Despite the feel-good aspect of the story, there is one downside to Jágr's return to professional hockey: he won't officially be eligible for the Hall of Fame until at least 2026 as the Hockey Hall of Fame doesn't allow a player to be inducted until they have been retired from professional hockey for at least three years.
50-year-old JaromÃr Jágr is making his season debut as he returns to @RytiriKladno lineup for Czech Extraliga game for the first time since April.
This means his induction into the @HockeyHallFame will be postponed at least until 2026.