Jaromir Jagr was a NHL winger who is now 50 and still finds ways to be a star on the ice. But this time, it wasn’t through his ability to score goals.
Jagr plays and currently owns the Czech Extraliga hockey team Knights of Kladno. On Tuesday, he used his platform for the benefit of victims of the Ukrainian War.
The Czech star moved the regular season matchup with Sparta HC, from Kladno’s home arena (which seats about 5,200), to the O2 Arena in Prague. 14,512 spectators still filled the arena, even though the matchup was moved four days earlier than scheduled.
The game brought in $160,000 and included $68,000 from the NHL. Commissioner Gary Betman said that the donation amount was inspired by the “68” Jagr wore on his back when he dominated the NHL.
The jumbotron played messages from Ukraine throughout the contest. A silent audience listened to the messages and took in what they had to say. Two Ukrainian flags with the inscription “Rivalita Stranou” (which loosely translates to “Rivalry Aside”) were draped behind the glass, and the Ukrainian national anthem was played during pregame ceremonies.
💙💛 #WeStandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/aPavl8pDSh
— HC Sparta Praha (@HCSpartaPraha) March 8, 2022
Jagr stated that inspiration for fundraising came from the number of people fleeing war in Ukraine. Vit Rakusan Minister of Interior, Czech Republic says that over 100,000 Ukrainians have fled Ukraine to the Czech Republic in the 23 days since invasion.
Jagr had all resources available to him and decided to take the initiative to assist.
Related: NHL Continues To Punish Russian Athletes And Leagues For Ukraine Invasion
Jagr expressed sadness at the sight of people running away with just one bag. Jagr said that mothers and children often leave their fathers to go into battle and don’t know if they will ever return. They only hope that their children and wives will be taken care of by the rest of the world.
The ways that sports have been used to propagate radical and harmful ideologies is shocking. This new game offers a refreshing breath of air. No matter what your opinion is about the Ukrainian War or its aftermath, many people are experiencing real pain and needing support.
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