Jaromir Jagr comes to Ukraine’s aid moving team’s final regular-season game
Anthony Scultore
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Jaromir Jagr, the third-leading goal-scorer in NHL history, is making moves in his home country of Czech Republic to raise money for Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion.
The 50 year-old Jagr owns the Czech Extraliga team Kladno, which he also plays for, and using his influence to help others.
“I would like to make this happen in the O2 Arena, because it is a popular and modern arena, where a large number of people can come to help,” Jagr wrote on Facebook. “I would like your opinion if you would come to the match and help us in this way those who need it the most at this time.”
The response was enough to get Jagr to move it’s team’s regular-season finale to a much larger venue.
Jaromir Jagr comes to Ukraine’s Aid
He posted a video to social media Tuesday to raise awareness for the cause and ask for a sellout.
“Hello hockey fans, this is Jaromir Jagr a former NHL player,” he began. “I played in the NHL close to 30 years and I enjoyed every minute of it. As you know the last 10 days the world has changed with thousands of people leaving the Ukraine just to survive.”
Kladno will play its regular-season finale Tuesday in an 18,000-seat arena in the capital city of Prague, with all profits donated to Ukrainian families who have fled to the Czech Republic.
“All the money we’re gonna get is going to be (used) for those people — kids, moms and old people — to help them to survive,” Jagr said. “But we need more help, that’s why I am asking you (for help).”
Jagr wore jersey No. 68 in the NHL to mark the year his grandfather, whom he never met, died when Soviet tanks violently stopped the Prague Spring uprising in Czechoslovakia.
–Field Level Media contributed to this report