Jaromir Jagr earns another huge honour
The venerable hockey player Jaromir Jagr, who will go down as one of the greatest ever, has finally received a significant honor from the International Ice Hockey Federation.
The renowned hockey player Jaromir Jagr has already won numerous awards and is expected to get more in the future. This is just one more accolade to add to his impressive resume. His entry into the IIHF Hall of Fame has been announced by the International Ice Hockey Federation. According to the IIHF, which oversees ice hockey worldwide, Jagr is among the greatest players to have represented a nation in international competition.
"Jaromir Jagr is a legend, plain and simple, and even at age 52 he still plays some games for his club team, Kladno. His last appearance with the national team was eight years ago, here in Prague, where he was named tournament MVP at the Men's World Championship. It was the culmination of a career that started in 1990 when he helped Czechoslovakia win a bronze medal at the World Junior Championship."
Similar to his NHL career, Jagr's list of achievements in international hockey is extensive, replete with records and trophies. Olympic gold and bronze, two gold and two bronze medals from World Championships, bronze from the World Cup, and gold from the European Champions Cup are among them. He has served as a representative for both the Czech Republic (Czechia) and Czechoslovakia. Jagr expressed gratitude to his idols for his induction as well as to his former coach, the legendary Ivan Hlinka.
"When he coached me in Pittsburgh he said, If you want to be great, you have to know the history of your game. I remember that very well, and thinking that what he is trying to say is that every kid needs an idol. And when I was watching the World Championships and the Olympics, I was looking for an idol.
And I started with Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey. Then Hakan Loob, Jarri Kurri, who was my favourite guy when I was young. I wanted to be a goalscorer like him. But also Czech legends Jaroslav Pouzar, Igor Liba, Nedomansky, Martinec, Novy, Pospisil. I loved them all. They're the reasons I became the player I became."
And I started with Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey. Then Hakan Loob, Jarri Kurri, who was my favourite guy when I was young. I wanted to be a goalscorer like him. But also Czech legends Jaroslav Pouzar, Igor Liba, Nedomansky, Martinec, Novy, Pospisil. I loved them all. They're the reasons I became the player I became."
In addition to playing alongside a number of the idols he named, Jagr also passed them in other categories according to the stat sheets. The NHL will eventually call for inductees into its Hall of Fame. Before being inducted, players must have officially retired from professional hockey.
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