9/27/14
Jaromir Jagr is 42 years old. His age does not stop him from
being an absolute star on the ice. Drafted in 1990 by the Pittsburgh Penguins
(ugh), Jagr has just about seen and done it all. So far, he has played for
seven NHL teams. He won consecutive Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh in 1991 and
1992. That is so hard to do, especially so early in a player’s career. It’s
cool to think that Jagr has been playing hockey my whole life. However, it was
not always in the NHL. After the 2008 season, the New York Rangers informed him
that they would not be resigning him. So from 2008-2011, Jagr played for
Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). 2011 was a big year. One
of the players I grew up idolizing was finally a Philadelphia Flyer. It was so
cool to see. The summer of 2011, Jagr expressed interest of coming back to the
NHL. Instead of signing with Pittsburgh, he shocked the hockey world and signed
one year with the Flyers. Even though it was just one year, I think it is safe
to say that all Flyers fans absolutely fell in love with him. His commitment to
the team never failed. He was always the first one on the ice and the last one
to leave. He even had a key to the practice rink. Instead of going out at night
like a lot of the players, Jagr would go to the rink, strap weights to himself,
and skate his heart out. If that isn’t dedication, I really don’t know what is.
He is really such an amazing role model. Unfortunately, the Flyers did not sign
him again after his one season with the team. It was heart breaking. I was
lucky enough to have the chance to meet him that season. I was so star struck.
I have met many of the Flyers over the past few years, but this encounter was
probably one of the coolest. He is really down to earth and very sweet. We got
a pretty awesome picture together too! To this day, I still continue to root
for him. I wish nothing but the best for him. Except against the Flyers, of
course. Sorry for the longer post, I just really think this legend deserves
endless praise.
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