Former Calgary Flames right winger Jaromir Jagr. Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Jaromir Jagr, 50, records two assists in pro hockey return

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Steven Ellis | Last updated 12/11/22

He just never quits.

It was the first game Jagr has played all season with the club he owns.

Jagr, who is set to turn 51 in February, filled in after illnesses struck the roster, according to FloHockey’s Chris Peters. Jagr helped setup Kladno’s second goal in the second period after his shot was stopped, but Matyas Filip was there to pick up the rebound. He then assisted on Matej Beran’s power-play maker with five minutes left in the third to finish as Kladno’s top scorer on Sunday.

In an interview with the Czech-language website blesk.cz back in October, Jagr said he was considering retiring for hockey for good. But with Kladno in need of urgent support, he changed his mind and returned for his big performance. Now, we’ll see if he decides to keep giving it a go and try and keep Kladno from finishing near the bottom.

In his season debut, Jaromir Jagr — The Legend — had two assists over 15:10 of ice time in Kladno's 7-3 loss to Liberec today. Kladno has had an illness running through the team that already forced them to postpone a game, so the owner jumped into the lineup. He's 50 years old.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 11, 2022

Kladno is last in the Czech league this year and in danger of relegation after earning promotion back in 2021. The team’s roster contains a few familiar names, including longtime Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec, former Anaheim/Tampa Bay defenseman Jake Dotchin and goaltender Landon Bow, who played two games with the Dallas Stars.

Greatly considered to be one of the best players in NHL history, Jagr will be a first-ballot hall of famer when he eventually decides to call it quits for good. He finished his 24-year NHL career with 1,921 points, the most by a European in NHL history. He also had 15 seasons of at least 70 points or more, and is a five-time winner o the Art Ross Trophy for most points in a single season, good for fourth all-time with a career-high of 127 in 1998-99.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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