the travelling jagrs

• Other sports

Tragedy strikes the tight group of friends known as 'The Traveling Jagrs'

I've always loved these guys. Sorry to hear this awful news.

• Published on November 9 2023 at 2:59 PM
• Updated on November 9 2023 at 3:01 PM

If you've never heard of 'The Travelling Jagrs', buckle up. You're in for a treat.

The group of friends from Calgary, Alberta have followed NHL superstar and future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr for years now in his pro hockey exploits, traveling across the words to watch $68 play. The best part? They all don classic Jagr mullet wigs and wear jerseys from each of the 9 NHL teams he has suited up for, plus a 10th for his native Czech national team.

Six years ago in 2017 when Jagr played his final NHL game, people thought that the jig was up and that the 'Traveling Jagrs' would have to call it quits. Not so, though.

“Everybody is talking about lemons and we’re making lemonade,” Trevor Freeman, a ringleader of the group, told Sportsnet’s Eric Francis back in 2017. Freeman, known as "Dallas Jagr" because he wore the future Hall of Famer’s Stars jersey, said, “We’re going to regroup. The plan for a Czech tour was always in the works because we knew he would eventually end up finishing his playing days there.”

Last month, the boys finally made it happen. They made their pilgrimage to Kladno in Czechia to watch their namesake leader play for his hometown Kladno Knights. It was a bittersweet moment for this tight knit group of friends though. Freeman was unable to travel with his compatriots as he was suffering from late stage lung cancer. Tragically, Freeman passed away at home while his friends were on their penultimate trip.

“This was meant to be for him,” said Tylor Keller 'Rangers Jagr', who is Freeman’s cousin, said Tuesday night from Prague. “To go to Czech Republic as Jagrs, I was crying the whole trip. He created this, he wanted this. He wanted to come and coach, but it couldn’t happen.”

What did happen though is the boys celebrated their friends life with the man whose approval he sought so dearly. The boys got to meet Jagr in Kladno and shared the tragic story of their friend's passing. "He remembered Trevor", Keller said, "and expressed his condolences."

With their Czech journey now over the boys have just one more gathering planned for the future: Jagr's eventual Hall of Fame induction.

“We need to be there,” Keller said.

NHL slaps Valeri Nichushkin with six-month suspension!

• 2 minutes read

• Trevor Connors

Long-time TSN host Darren Dutchyshen has passed away

Nichushkin's teammates throw him under the bus after he's banned from NHL for 6 months

• 4 minutes read

‘The Travelling Jagrs’ make appearance in Calgary

The Travelling Jagr’s join Roger Millions to talk about the growth of the group and the interaction with fans.

You may have noticed a few extra mullets in the crowd at Tuesday’s Calgary Flames game.

That can only mean one thing: The Travelling Jagrs are at the Saddledome.

That's it for the first period. Panthers: 2 Flames: 1 Jagrs: 15(!?) pic.twitter.com/anTWnsbZA3 — Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) January 18, 2017

The rowdy group of Jaromir Jagr lookalikes has become known around the league for its collection of wigs and wide variety of No. 68 sweaters — Penguins, Rangers, Flyers, and even his national team threads — and received plenty of attention Tuesday night as the Florida Panthers took on the Flames.

The Travelling Jagrs have been around for four years now, cheering on their hero and his hairdo on the road.

Flames columnist Eric Francis spoke to a few members of the crew about the rules — yes, there are rules — of the club:

“There’s a little bible of rules we made up over time, like we never cheer for the home team or even his team – the Panthers – we cheer for Jagr only,” co-founder Chris Richter told Francis .

#Flames fans: don't be alarmed if you walk into a scene like this at the Dome tonight. @travellingjagrs pic.twitter.com/5Wycj2zooK — Eric Francis (@EricFrancis) January 18, 2017

“He knows we’re always around. He always acknowledges us during the pre-game skate,” Richter said. “I don’t think he knew what to think at first, but he knows that we’re happy to support him. I think he gets a kick out of it for sure.”

LATEST NHL NEWS

PHOTO: 'The Travelling Jagrs' meet their namesake after Panthers win

Jaromir Jagr kickstarted a three-goal comeback in the Florida Panthers ' 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, scoring his 26th of the season in front of some of his biggest fans.

For the second game in a row, 'The Travelling Jagrs' watched the 44-year-old and his team pick up two points, and members of the group were all able to meet their hero after the game. The group attended the Panthers' win over the New Jersey Devils two days earlier, when Jagr recorded two assists on "Mullet Night."

How's this for a wrap up party? @FlaPanthers @FlaPanthersPR @NHL @PR_NHL #DreamsDoComeTrue #Legend #Playoffs2016 pic.twitter.com/E3uqDlgM2a — The Travelling Jagrs (@68isgr8) April 3, 2016

Jagr took time to sign jerseys for the entire group, who also played some shinny at the Panthers IceDen earlier in the week.

You know how you know we had a goo... grea... AMAZING night... pic.twitter.com/3gDh7oIzAO — The Travelling Jagrs (@68isgr8) April 3, 2016

Prior to their trip, the Panthers helped the group recruit a new " non-travelling " member before hosting them for their past two home games.

Florida's win Saturday was their 44th of the season, setting a new franchise record .

• Sullivan named USA's 4 Nations Face-Off, Olympic coach
• Oilers going back to Skinner for must-win Game 6
• Berube was always the obvious hire for Maple Leafs
• Montgomery laments stagnant offense: 'Can't win every game 2-1'
• Duchene soaks in series winner: 'It's just elation'

Daily Newsletter

More stories.

• Rex Hoggard ,

• Dustin Long ,

• Mary Omatiga ,

Trending Teams

50 stunning facts, stats, and stories to celebrate jaromir jagr’s 50th birthday.

• Adam Gretz ,

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - NOVEMBER 23, 2020: Czech ice hockey player Jaromir Jagr reacts at a press conference before a KHL match between Avangard Omsk and Ak Bars Kazan marking the 70th birthday of Avangard Omsk. Jagr played for Avangard Omsk in 2008-2011 in 181 matches. He scored 73 goals and made 92 assists for the club. Alexander Shcherbak/TASS (Photo by Alexander ShcherbakTASS via Getty Images)

Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

Jaromir Jagr is celebrating his 50th birthday on Tuesday and he is still playing hockey professionally in the Czech Republic.

That alone is an absolutely incredible fact. So we wanted to take a dive down memory line to look back at 50 stunning facts, stats, and stories to celebrate Jagr’s professional hockey career that has spanned 34 seasons (and touched five different decades!) going all the way back to his debut with Kladno as a 16-year-old.

Here we go.

The basics that you may know

1. His 766 career regular-season goals are third on the NHL’s all-time list behind only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.

2. He is second on the NHL’s all-time points list with 1,921 points

3. He is in the top-five in the following categories: Regular-season goals, regular-season points, regular-season shots on goal, regular-season assists, even-strength goals, games played, postseason points.

4. He appeared in 10 NHL All-Star Games.

5. During his career he won the NHL’s scoring title five times, and was one of just three players (Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux being the other two players) to win it between 1981 and 2001, a stretch of 20 seasons.

6. He won the Art Ross Trophy more times than any non-Canadian player.

7. He won the 1999 Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.

8. He won the Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay Award; most outstanding player as voted by the players) three different times.

9. He won the Bill Masterton Trophy during the 2015-16 season.

10. Two-time Stanley Cup champion (1991 and 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins).

11. Olympic Gold medal winner (1998 with the Czech Republic).

12. Two-time IIHF World Championship winner (2005 and 2010 with the Czech Republic).

13. One of just 27 players to be in the IIHF “Triple Gold Club” as a Stanley Cup champion, World Championship Gold Medalist, and Olympic Gold Medalist.

14. He is one of just two Czech players to be in the Triple Gold Club, joining his former Penguins teammate Jiri Slegr.

15. He was the flag bearer for the Czech Republic at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

16. He represented the Czech Republic in the Olympics four times (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010), scoring 11 goals.

17. He was named as one of the NHL’s 100 greatest players in 2017.

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

The stunning numbers

18. He has played more than 2,410 professional hockey games in the regular season and playoffs across the NHL and Europe.

19. He has been playing professional hockey in one league or another for the past 34 consecutive years.

20. He stated previously that he wanted to play until he is 50, and now he has done it.

21. During those games he has scored more than 1,038 goals in his professional games (regular season, playoffs, NHL, and Europe).

22. There have been 1,050 players to appear in at least one NHL game this season. Only 93 of them (8.8%) were actually born when Jagr made his professional debut for Kladno in 1988-89 as a 16-year-old.

23. Only 17 of the NHL’s 32 teams were in their current locations in 1988. Four of them moved (Minnesota to Dallas, Hartford to Carolina, Winnipeg to Arizona, Quebec to Colorado) and 11 came into existence (San Jose, Tampa Bay, Ottawa, Florida, Anaheim, Nashville, Columbus, Minnesota Wild, Vegas, and Seattle). Another team, Atlanta, came into existence and also moved (to Winnipeg to become Jets version 2.0).

24. Jagr has played for 14 different teams professionally throughout his career in six different countries (United States, Canada, Czech Republic, Russia, Germany, and Italy).

Crazy but true facts

25. Jagr has been playing hockey so long that he played against the Soviet Union in the 1990 IIHF World Junior Championship.

26. He also played against West Germany.

27. While playing for Czechoslovakia .

28. In Jagr’s rookie season he played against Guy Lafleur. In Lafleur’s rookie season he was teammates with Henri Richard. In Henri Richard’s rookie season he was teammates with his brother, Maurice. In Maurice Richard’s rookie season he was teammates with Toe Blake. In Toe Blake’s rookie season? He played for the Montreal Maroons.

29. When Jagr began playing in professionally in Kladno in 1988, Marcel Dionne, Larry Robinson, Billy Smith, Borje Salming, and Lafleur were all still active NHL players.

30. Jagr not only played in Wayne Gretzky’s final NHL game 23 years ago, he scored the game-winning goal in overtime to end Gretzky’s career.

31. Jagr was long-time teammates with Lemieux in Pittsburgh and assisted on his final playoff goal before his first retirement in 1997.

32. Then, three years later, he also assisted on Lemieux’s first goal in his NHL return.

33. He also scored a goal in that game, which was assisted by Lemieux.

34. At different points in his career he was both the youngest player in the NHL (18, during the 1990-91 season) and the oldest player in the NHL (45, during the 2015-16 season).

Random stories

35. Personal anecdote No. 1: During Game 1 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Final in Pittsburgh, hours after the Boston Bruins had defeated the Penguins, there was still one player tirelessly working out in the hall outside of the team’s locker rooms: It was 40-year-old Jaromir Jagr

36. Personal anecdote No. 2: Following a game in 2012 in Pittsburgh when he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, Jagr was asked one last question about a defensive play he made in that game to prevent a goal in a Flyers win after several other media members had left the scrum. Jagr stood up out of his seat, screamed “I am so glad you asked that question!” And began calling every media member in the room back over him to while screaming, “Selke Trophy! Right here! When you vote for the Selke Trophy, remember my name!” He seemed legitimately happy.

37. He did not get a Selke Trophy vote that season, but he did get random Selke votes in 2006-07 and 2015-16.

38. There is an argument to be made that he saved the Penguins franchise in 1999. If the Penguins lose Game 6 to New Jersey there was a belief the team was either going to fold or relocate. They so desperately needed the revenue of another playoff series. Jagr scored the game-tying goal with less than two minutes to play and then the game-winning goal in overtime. The Penguins then won Game 7 in New Jersey to advance. He did all of that while playing, basically, on one leg.

39. He once angered Barry Trotz by trying to score a between-the-legs goal on a breakaway .

He is everywhere

40. He has a commemorative bank note in the Czech Republic:

The Czech Republic has issued a commemorative banknote for Jaromir Jagr's 50th birthday. Note the Triple Gold Club logo on the face side. On the back, the crowded Old Town Square in Prague, where the Czech hockey team arrived after winning the Nagano Olympics in 1998. https://t.co/i4jKnrau7X pic.twitter.com/yoVaPCclPC — Szymon Szemberg (@Sz1909_Szemberg) February 15, 2022

41. He also had his own peanut butter in Pittsburgh .

42. The Traveling Jagr fan club that made its way around the NHL toward the end of his NHL career.

How's this for a wrap up party? @FlaPanthers @FlaPanthersPR @NHL @PR_NHL #DreamsDoComeTrue #Legend #Playoffs2016 pic.twitter.com/E3uqDlgM2a — The Travelling Jagrs (@68isgr8) April 3, 2016

43. Jagr was traded four times in his career, going from Pittsburgh to Washington; Washington to New York; Dallas to Boston; New Jersey to Florida

44. The players he was traded for: Kris Beech, Michal Sivik, Ross Lupaschuk, Anson Carter, Lane MacDermid, Cody Payne, a first-round draft pick (Jason Dickinson), a second-round draft pick (Ryan Gropp), and a third-round draft pick (Rem Pitlick).

45. Those nine players have combined to score (as of Tuesday) 269 goals in the NHL. That is 497 fewer goals than Jagr himself scored in the NHL. And 202 of those goals belonged to Anson Carter by himself. The other eight players combined for only 67 goals.

46. He owns his hometown team in Kladno, where he still plays.

Random stuff

47 . He is still the oldest player in NHL history to record a hat trick at age 42 as a member of the New Jersey Devils. He recorded 15 hat tricks during his career, and had five seasons with multiple hat tricks.

48 . His 19 overtime goals are second on the NHL all-time list, trailing only Alex Ovechkin’s 24. The obvious catch here is that Jagr spent the bulk of his career playing without the luxury of 4-on-4 or 3-on-3 overtime.

49. Jagr was at his peak between the 1994-95 and 2000-01 seasons, winning four of the six scoring titles during that stretch. He averaged 1.54 points per game during that stretch. No other player that appeared in at least 200 games during that stretch averaged more than 1.35 points per game. Eric Lindros (1.35) and Joe Sakic (1.30) were the only other two over 1.30.

50. The ultimate what if: Could he have beaten Wayne Gretzky’s goal record? He finished his NHL career with 766 regular season goals, 128 behind Gretzky. Keep in mind that he missed two half seasons (1994-95 and 2012-13) and one full season (2004-05) due to lockouts, and then three more full seasons when he went to play in the KHL between 2008-09 and 2010-11. That is basically six full seasons from his NHL career, gone. While you can not assume no injuries, it is not a stretch to think he could have found 128 goals in all of those seasons, especially at the rates he scored goals during those years. In an alternate universe Alex Ovechkin is chasing Jagr’s all-time goals record right now.

Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @AGretz .

Mark Madden: Jaromir Jagr's larger-than-life accomplishments helped shape Penguins' history

Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.

Get Ad-Free >

TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.

News Spotlight

• From Elegance to Excitement: The Range of Events at Walnut Hall Foggy Mountain Lodge Partner News
• Nolan Schanuel vs. Rangers Preview, Player Prop Bets - May 18 TribLive
• Video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in 2016 TribLive
• How to Choose the Right Arborist for Your Tree Care Needs BeaverJack Tree Service, LLC Partner News
• Essential Tips for Choosing the Right Frame to Enhance Your Art Piece In The Frame Partner News
• Will Vasily Podkolzin Score a Goal Against the Oilers on May 18? TribLive
• What is the Ideal Outdoor Setting for Spring Senior Photoshoots? In The Frame Partner News
• Knicks vs. Pacers Tickets Available - Eastern Semifinals , Game 7 TribLive
• How to Choose the Right Martial Arts School for Your Child Norwin Ninjas Partner News
• First Call: A good reason why the Pirates should not trade closer David Bednar TribLive

Advertisement

Jaromir jagr crashes tv interview with traveling jagrs, share this article.

During his lengthy NHL career, Jaromir Jagr has played for nine different teams, picking up legions of fans along the way.

One particularly dedicated group, the Traveling Jagrs, don their namesakes signature mullet and the jersey of every team he’s played for to root on their idol.

On Saturday night, the man himself crashed their live TV interview during the first intermission of the game against the Winnipeg Jets.

The Traveling Jagrs ( @68isgr8 ) stopped by #Flames TV Live … and were surprised by 6️⃣8️⃣ himself! pic.twitter.com/huWEuwK3mJ — Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 8, 2017

The Traveling Jagrs, most of who are based in Calgary, actually didn’t have a Flames jersey until No. 68 hand delivered it to them. It was an excellent surprise.

this is the best version of 'Where's Waldo' i've ever seen. pic.twitter.com/pg41tk5Uo6 — Blinn Manuel Miranda (@NHLBlinn) October 8, 2017

Even better, here’s a behind the scenes shot of Jagr skipping, yes, skipping towards his fans.

just seconds earlier… pic.twitter.com/76JQ0QoUVw — steph (@myregularface) October 8, 2017

Most Popular

Preakness stakes 149 updated odds and weather forecast the day before the race, every ea ncaa football cover star since 1993, 2024 nba mock draft: a consensus shows how experts are projecting all of the top prospects, 9 photos of the most stunning sports illustrated swimsuit launch party 2024 red carpet outfits, every 2024 preakness stakes horse name, ranked, twins outfielder willi castro furiously threw the ball out of the stadium after a run scored when he lost track of the outs, the 11 most ridiculous horse names to ever win the kentucky derby.

Please enter an email address.

Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.

Something went wrong.

• CBSSports.com
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• CBS Sports Home
• Champions League
• Motor Sports
• High School

Football Pick'em

College Pick'em

Fantasy baseball, fantasy football, fantasy basketball, fantasy hockey, franchise games, pga championship.

• CBS Sports Golazo Network
• UEFA Champions League
• UEFA Europa League
• Italian Serie A
• Watch CBS Sports Network
• TV Shows & Listings

The Early Edge

A Daily SportsLine Betting Podcast

With the First Pick

NFL Draft recap

• Podcasts Home
• The First Cut Golf
• Beyond the Arc
• We Need to Talk Now
• Eye On College Basketball
• NFL Pick Six
• Cover 3 College Football
• Fantasy Football Today
• My Teams Organize / See All Teams Help Account Settings Log Out

Jaromir Jagr's incredible season is over: 10 things we'll remember most

Jaromir jagr gave us some lasting memories in his incredibly fun and dominant season at age 44..

With the Florida Panthers ’ shocking 2-1 overtime loss to the New York Islanders in Game 6 Sunday night, their season is over. So, too, is the resurgent campaign put forth by 44-year-old future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr .

The Legend had a season for the ages, even if the ending didn’t go so well. Jagr finished the six-game series against the Isles with two assists. He hasn’t scored a goal in the playoffs since 2012 while with the Philadelphia Flyers .

One of the reasons Jagr himself got shut down is that the Isles were able to really key on Florida’s top line. The lack of depth showed more in the Panthers’ series because they spent part of the time without Vincent Trocheck , who was dynamic in the regular season. As soon as he got back, they lost Nick Bjugstad to an injury in Game 5. Those are big lineup gaps that put more pressure on Jagr and linemates Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau to produce.

Despite the disappointing end, this was an unforgettable for Jagr and anyone that's been watching him for the past 26 years. No player aged 43 or older had ever come close to the level of production Jagr enjoyed in 2015-16 and he climbed up a bunch of the NHL's leaderboards.

It has been as if he discovered the Fountain of Youth with the Panthers. Now Jagr has to decide what to do for next season. He signed a one-year extension with Florida last summer. With that set to expire, he could test unrestricted free agency where there would undoubtedly be a market for him, or he could stay with the Panthers and see if they can give it another go. Playing alongside Barkov and Huberdeau again has to be enticing.

But that’s all ahead. Let’s take a look back at what turned out to be an unforgettable season for one of the greatest players ever to lace them up in the NHL.

Here are the most memorable moments of the Year of the Jagr

1. Jaromir Jagr passes Gordie Howe to become the NHL’s third all-time leading scorer

There were so many milestones this season for Jagr, but the most significant was the one that moved him past “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe for third on the NHL’s all-time points list.

It wasn’t pretty, but this Jagr assist represented his 1,851st point .

He is going to have a good shot at moving up to No. 2 next season, assuming he comes back as planned. Jagr trails Mark Messier by just 19 points for second on the all-time list. Wayne Gretzky holds the record, but he has 2,857 points. Nobody is catching that guy.

2. Jagr passes Brett Hull to become the NHL’s third all-time leading goal scorer

Five days after he turned 44, Jagr was in a history-making mood against the Winnipeg Jets . The Legend scored his 741st goal early in the game. Then, with the Panthers up 2-1 already, Jagr got another chance in tight and decided to scoot past Brett Hull that very night.

Here’s goal No. 742 that moved Jagr past Hull :

Most goals in NHL history 1. Wayne Gretzky: 894 2. Gordie Howe: 801 3. Jaromir Jagr: 742 https://t.co/yFARDnJUie — #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) February 21, 2016

3. Jagr is elected Atlantic Division captain for the NHL All-Star Game against his wishes

Jaromir Jagr’s popularity among fans remains strong. It might even be stronger than ever now. There was no better indication of that when Jagr was elected as one of the four captains for the NHL’s All-Star Game tournament this year.

He really didn’t want to go, hoping to rest, and begged fans not to vote for him.

Fans-I appreciate your votes for All-Star game, but 3 on 3 would kill me,and i don't want to die yet:)Thank you for understanding. Too old:) — Jaromir Jagr (@68Jagr) December 2, 2015

They didn’t listen. He went and the event was so much better for it.

Jagr ended up being the second-most popular guy there, if not for big John Scott. P.K. Subban had the best tribute as he became Jagr for his attempt during the breakaway challenge during the skills competition.

It was funny:))) I didn't know he's going to do it. P.K.-my little brother :) pic.twitter.com/XFvVjbigWh — Jaromir Jagr (@68Jagr) January 31, 2016

4. The Return of the Mullet

Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo vowed to get Jagr to bring back the look that he made his own during the 1990s. Everyone had mullets back then, but no one had one quite like Jagr. So Luongo wanted to see the flowing locks again.

I will make it my mission this year, work 24h around the clock 2 get Jags to bring this puppy back! It's gonna happen pic.twitter.com/NcAiEzmtmU — Strombone (@strombone1) September 16, 2015

Jagr obliged and started growing it out. Though he would never match the volume of his early-1990s coif, the locks brought him strength.

Here’s what it looked like in November:

IT'S GROWING! Here's today's #JagrsMullet update. #FlaPanthers mullet tracker: https://t.co/wpPJTVkjZS pic.twitter.com/V7qxI0iK45 — Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) November 20, 2015

Here’s what it looked like at the end of the season:

5. Jagr kicks absurd coffee habit, proceeds to go on a tear

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal , Jagr revealed that he decided to give up his 10-cup-a-day coffee habit for Lent. The fact that any person can put down 10 cups a day is crazy enough, but an elite athlete? Come on. That can’t be healthy.

Maybe it wasn’t. Jagr had 20 points in the 21 games during Lent.

6. Jagr gets his teeth knocked out, handles it with humor

Jaromir Jagr went a lot of years with most of his original teeth. He got hit in the mouth a few times, including right before the Christmas break. Here’s how he reacted:

Dear Santa, can I get a new teeth for Christmas :) it's going to be tough to eat-good -at least I don't get fat :))) pic.twitter.com/mifGcolCdP — Jaromir Jagr (@68Jagr) December 23, 2015

There goes the male modeling career...

7. Jagr shows he can still dominate at 44

The best play Jagr made all season came on an assist to Aleksander Barkov. First he picked New Jersey Devils defenseman David Warsofsky ’s pocket, streaks down the ice for a 2-on-1 break, freezes everyone with the fake shot and drops a perfect backhand pass to Barkov for the goal.

Guys his age aren’t supposed to clown the young guys like that.

8. Real Jagr meets the “Traveling Jagrs”

The Traveling Jagrs are a group of fans, most of whom hail from Alberta, that get to a few games a year. All of them dress in the many uniforms Jagr has worn over the years, complete with the necessary mullet wig.

The Panthers hosted the traveling band of legendary misfits at a few games earlier this season and finally arranged a meet and greet with No. 68 himself .

How's this for a wrap up party? @FlaPanthers @FlaPanthersPR @NHL @PR_NHL #DreamsDoComeTrue #Legend #Playoffs2016 pic.twitter.com/E3uqDlgM2a — The Travelling Jagrs (@68isgr8) April 3, 2016

9. Jagr finishes the season with 66 points

Jagr didn’t seem to like people making a big deal about his age, but it was a big deal because he had a season unlike anyone we’ve seen at 43 or 44 years old. Not only that, he had such a remarkable year when scoring in the league was really difficult.

The legendary winger only missed three games all season, which is a feat in itself, and put up 66 points. That was 21st in the entire NHL and fell just one point shy of Jagr’s high since returning to the NHL after his three-season stint in the KHL.

There have been only 15 seasons played by skaters (does not goalies) aged 43 or older. Five of them belong to Chris Chelios. Either way, Jagr had the most productive season of any of those players by a long shot.

Mark Messier had 43 points in his final season in 2003-04. That was the previous high for a player aged 43 or older. Jagr beat it by 23 points. It was also the eighth most productive season for a player aged 40 or older and there have been a lot more of those.

Age is only a number when it comes to No. 68.

10. He’s coming back next year

Here’s the one thought you should keep in your mind as summer approaches. When the NHL returns next fall, Jagr expects to return right with it. He told Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel that he wants to play next season “for sure .” Now we’ll have to see if that’s in Florida or elsewhere.

As long as it's in the NHL, most hockey fans will be happy.

Our Latest NHL Stories

Stars' Roope Hintz ruled out for Game 6 vs. Avalanche

Austin nivison • 1 min read.

2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket

Chris bengel • 2 min read.

Brad Marchand could return to lineup for Game 6

Chris bengel • 1 min read.

NHL Awards tracker: Every winner from 2023-24 season

Austin nivison • 2 min read.

Kris Letang undergoes surgery on fractured finger

Bruins rule out Marchand for Game 5 vs. Panthers

Share video.

NHL Awards tracker: Every winner from this season

Utah NHL franchise unveils survey for new team name

MacKinnon, Matthews up for Ted Lindsay Award

Sharks win NHL Draft lottery; Blackhawks get No. 2 pick

Senators hire ex-Devils assistant as head coach

Tracking every move in NHL coaching carousel

Blues sign Drew Bannister to two-year extension

Power Rankings: Golden Knights now No. 1

Jagr’s Final Flames Season Revisited

Jaromir Jagr’s NHL career concluded quietly in the 2017-18 season. The 45-year-old legend had joined the Calgary Flames on a one-year deal, but he lasted just 22 games before injuries led to the termination of his contract. Despite the early exit, his stint with the Flames featured memorable moments on and off the ice.

Jagr’s mid-season departure was an unfortunate send-off for the hockey icon. But during his time with the team, he endeared himself to Flames fans, made some noteworthy appearances on the scoresheet, and added a meaningful Canadian milestone to his storied career.

Jaromir Jagr Joins the Calgary Flames in 2017-18

On Oct. 4, 2017, a then 45-year-old Jagr signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Flames. It had been six seasons since the NHL great had returned from the KHL, where he’d played for Avangard Omsk between 2008 and 2011.

Related: Jaromir Jagr – A Retrospective in Quotations

Upon his NHL return, Jagr displayed impressive durability and offensive punch. Between 2011 and 2017, he found success with the Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, and Florida Panthers. Sure, speed was no longer an asset, but his size, strength, possession skills, and vision made him a viable NHL option in his 40s.

But the Panthers chose to move on from Jagr in the 2017 offseason, despite his productive run of two-and-a-half seasons on their top line. The five-time Hart Trophy winner then found himself without a suitor ahead of the 2017-18 season. He even sent out a tweet that poked fun at his newfound unpopularity amid free agency.

FA 1994- all GMs called , FA 2017- 0 calls🏆😀 pic.twitter.com/7uLJm95CAB — Jaromir Jagr (@68Jagr) June 29, 2017

Despite earlier reports that he wanted to play in the NHL until he was 50 , it appeared that the league had outgrown what Jagr had to offer. That was, until the Flames eventually brought him in on the season’s opening day to add scoring depth in their bottom six.

Jagr’s Highlights with the Calgary Flames

Upon signing with the Flames on Oct. 4, Jagr confirmed two key details : “99.9 percent this might be my last season,” he said, “so I want to get the experience so I can one day say I played for a Canadian team.”

The Flames were Jagr’s ninth NHL team, but his first in Canada. He could also break Gordie Howe’s all-time games played record if he skated in 57 games with the Flames.

Related: Penguins’ Franchise Stars – Malkin Is Better Than Jagr

But he had signed late – on Oct. 4 – which was the first day of the 2017-18 NHL season. He missed training camp and had to get himself ready before he could make his Flames debut. Early reports said that he was “not feeling great” at practice , but he still debuted seven days after signing.

The “Travelling Jagrs” Meet Their Hero

Jagr’s first highlight with the Flames came before he’d actually debuted in a game. A few days after joining the team, he made dreams come true when he crashed an interview with the “Travelling Jagrs.” This Alberta-based group of over a dozen Jagr superfans attended games dressed in his many different NHL team uniforms and era-appropriate hairstyles.

On Oct. 7, Jagr presented the mulleted “Travelling Jagrs” with a signed No. 68 Flames jersey. The star’s surprise appearance during the broadcast also mounted anticipation for his eventual debut. It came a few days later on Oct. 11.

In his third game, on Oct. 14, he notched his first point with the Flames on a Johnny Gaudreau goal against the Vancouver Canucks. Unfortunately, injuries soon followed – and would come to dominate his tenure with the team. He was out of the lineup between Oct. 22 and Nov. 6.

Jagr’s Goal with the Flames

His best night with the team came on Nov. 9, 2017, when he scored his lone goal as a Flame and added an important assist to go with it.

The goal, which was a pretty finish on a two-on-one with Gaudreau, came as a sigh of relief. It had taken seven games, but also over five weeks since he had signed with the team. It was his 766 th and final NHL goal. In the same game, he also had the primary assist on Mark Jankowski’s first NHL goal.

Related: Best Nicknames in Hockey

Jagr connected with Flames youngsters – such as Gaudreau, Jankowski, and Sam Bennett – on the ice and off it. His presence and influence on the team were later championed as a positive outcome of the signing.

Injuries Stunt the Jagr-Flames Experiment

Knee and groin issues kept Jagr out of the lineup and away from practice throughout his time in Calgary. He was a fixture on the third line for nearly a calendar month from early November to early December, but he was downgraded to a sporadic play and fourth-line minutes in the latter half of December.

Jagr played his last NHL game, with the Flames, on Dec. 31, 2017. He hit injured reserve on Jan. 14, and, on Jan. 28, it was announced that Jagr’s camp and the organization had negotiated a termination of his contract.

Related: Who’s Never Picked #1 in the Draft?

The union between Calgary and Jagr came to an end due to the nagging injuries – and perhaps some undisclosed details , possibly related to the decrease in playing time. He returned to the Czech Republic and was soon re-injured in a game with his hometown Kladno Knights.

Jagr’s final stat line with the Flames reads one goal and six assists in 22 games. His last NHL point came on Nov. 30, when he registered the primary assist on another Jankowski goal. He went pointless in his final seven games. The Flames also missed the playoffs later that season.

Jagr at Age 48: He’s Still Scoring in the Czech Republic

Unsurprisingly, “The Ageless Wonder” is still doing his thing in the Czech Extraliga (ELH). The now 48-year-old is the president and owner of the Kladno Knights, for whom he also dresses as a player – but only during home games. In the 2019-20 season, he had put up 29 points in 38 games before the ELH paused play amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jagr never officially announced his NHL retirement, but it appears that his days of hockey in North America are over. With 1,921 points, he finished second only to Wayne Gretzky on the NHL’s all-time points list. He also ended up third on the all-time games played list, falling just 23 games behind Mark Messier for second and 34 short of Gordie Howe’s record.

But for a player who played only 22 games with the Flames, Jagr had an eventful few months – and a lasting legacy with the team. Today, if you attend a Flames home game, the odds are that you’ll still see a handful of No. 68 Flames jerseys in the stands. Such was the excitement and meaning attached to the NHL legend’s time with the team in the 2017-18 season.

Jagr’s eventual departure wasn’t the NHL send-off he deserved, but his countless accomplishments and “rock star” status in the hockey world live on.

It would be 'bittersweet' if Jaromir Jagr's NHL career ends in Calgary, superfan says

'it was just a crazy ride as far as it went'.

Social Sharing

Jaromir Jagr may have been placed on regular waivers by the Calgary Flames on Sunday, according to reports, but superfan Trevor Freeman won't be hanging up his mullet and #68 jersey just yet.

Freeman is one of the founding members of the 'Travelling Jagrs,' a group of fans who have been faithfully cheering on their Czech hockey hero for more than a decade.

"It was just a crazy ride as far as it went," Freeman said.

"It's really bittersweet to see it come to an end in Calgary of course … it'll be a bit more effort for us to watch more games and we're not ready for him to be done with the NHL yet."

• 'Travelling Jagrs' dust off mullets for Czech superstar's Alberta debut

Two people with direct knowledge of the move confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that Jagr was on waivers. The team has yet to announce the transaction.

"It was decided a couple weeks ago by the Flames that the end was here and that the experiment was no longer working out for either party," Sportsnet analyst Eric Francis said.

Francis said the 45-year-old didn't have a fighting chance because he got to camp out of shape, and was hit with injury after injury.

The Flames signed Jagr to a $1 million, one-year deal with performance bonuses at the start of the season. He had his debut on Oct. 11, but hasn't played since Dec. 31 due to a lower-body injury.

Francis said it was still a "worthwhile endeavour" for the team.

"There's an argument that could be made that Jaromir Jagr is the greatest Flame of all time," he said. 

Jagr has the second most points in NHL history, and is widely considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time.

Francis said the cost and risk to the team was minimal, and Jagr served as a great mentor to Flames winger Johny Gaudreau.

"He sold a lot of jerseys, he got a lot of people excited about hockey in Calgary at a time when it could certainly use a kick," he said.

That's a sentiment Freeman definitely agrees with.

"If you have a Flames Jagr jersey, there's potential that's the last NHL jersey he'll have scored a goal in," he said.

If Jagr doesn't get claimed by another team, he'll likely head to Europe, as he owns a team in the Czech Republic. 

He'd be wrapping up an illustrious career of 28-years in the NHL, with 1,733 games played, 766 goals, 1,555 assists and 1,921 points.

Freeman said the 'Travelling Jagrs' will continue to be "hockey ambassadors" and will follow Jagr to Europe if that's where he ends up.

"Getting the chance to see a legend play in person is indescribable," he said.

• MORE CALGARY NEWS |  City puts pressure on scrap yard to end explosions
• MORE CALGARY NEWS |  Blowing down the Saddledome and building a new Victoria Park

With files from Terri Trembath and the Associated Press

Related Stories

• 2023 Readers' Choice
• Join Our Newsletters
• Post a Listing
• Your Listings
• Your Profile
• Your Subscriptions
• Your Business
• Payment History
• Sign up for Daily Headlines
• Sign up for Notifications
• Beyond Local

Alberta Jaromir Jagr superfan dons mullet one last time for No. 68's jersey retirement

• Share by Email
• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share via Text Message

Ryan Sellers donned his mullet wig and Florida Panthers jersey once again last weekend for a bittersweet occasion: the retiring of NHL great Jaromir Jagr’s No. 68 jersey.

Sellers, a St. Albert resident, is one of the Travelling Jagrs, a group of Jaromir Jagr superfans who for nearly two decades have cheered on the 52-year-old Czech hockey player while dressed in full Jagr finery.

On Sunday, the group had one more moment in the spotlight in a packed Pittsburgh arena, chanting “It’s Jagr night in Pittsburgh!” to television cameras, playing musical chairs on the ice and hyping up the crowd.

“You should see the amount of joy,” Sellers said. “We got thousands of pictures in the last three days in Pittsburgh … They just love us. And they love what we stand for, which is just basically cheering him on.”

Now the Jagr devotees are at a crossroads. The jersey retirement signifies the closing of Jagr’s NHL career, which spanned nine NHL teams starting with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990 and closing with the Calgary Flames in 2018.

“We're just looking at ourselves right now going, ‘okay — now, what do we do?’” Sellers said. “There's obviously going to be a Hall of Fame induction eventually, so that will be one thing for us to attend … It’s not going to stop … Suddenly, we're just kind of trying to dream and see where it takes us.”

The trip also commemorated Trevor Freeman, a founding Jagrs member who passed in November 2023 from cancer.

Freeman’s father joined the gang in Pittsburgh. The two didn’t always see eye-to-eye on Trevor’s hobby, according to Sellers.

“Family and friends have been tough on us,” Sellers said. “You guys are a grown, adult men. What are you doing putting on outfits and going around with wigs on?”

But once family and friends witness the camaraderie of the Jagrs and the joy the group brings to hockey fans, they “get it,” Sellers said.

For the Pittsburgh trip, Freeman’s father represented his son as the Dallas Jagr.

Sellers’s own career as a Travelling Jagr began roughly 10 years ago. “I was in the right place at the right time,” he said.  

He befriended some Travelling Jagrs who he met through colleagues at a hockey conference for REMAX real estate agents.

Each Jagr wears a jersey that signifies a different period in Jaromir Jagr’s career. Sellers achieved Travelling Jagr status after attending a Florida trip with the group to celebrate Jagr getting signed by the Panthers. Today, he is the Florida Panthers Jagr.

It’s a big commitment. More than simply travelling to the games and picking out great wigs, the Jagrs help drum up excitement for the sport.  

“There's a lot of behind-the-scenes planning, talking to the organizers, trying to figure out agendas and dates,” he said. “We get together at the end of the day to try and figure out a new way to be funny … There's been games where we've paid to be there, but we haven't watched the game because we're on the concourse taking pictures with fans.”

Jagr’s story resonates with many hockey lovers, Sellers said. At just 18 years old, Jagr was the youngest NHL player when he joined the league in 1990. He was faced with an unfamiliar culture and didn’t have a firm grasp of English. His distinctive mullet and love of fast cars excited a growing hockey fan base that found him charming and unique.

“People just loved it and embraced him as being different,” Sellers said.  

These days, the Travelling Jagrs are not as starstruck by the hockey legend. “He knows us,” Sellers said. “He gets us.”

“For the first little bit, he thought we were heckling him … But now he understands that we're there to spread joy. We're there to have fun. And he really shifted gears when he got traded to Calgary and embraced us there.”

Regardless of Jagr’s future in the sport, the Travelling Jagrs don’t plan on hanging up their mullets any time soon.

“It's bigger than just one person, bigger than just the Jagrs,” Sellers said.  “It’s about the fans of one of the greatest players of all time.”

About the Author: Riley Tjosvold

This has been shared 0 times

This story was important to me or our community: view results >.

• Oldest Newest

Sign up for our FREE Daily Headlines Newsletter

More beyond local.

• See a typo/mistake?
• Have a story/tip?

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Inside the Hells Angels' Years-Long Plot to Assassinate Mick Jagger After Concert Tragedy

A new A&E episode of 'Secrets of the Hells Angels' recounts the multiple attempts on the rockstar’s life — and the infamous feud that started it all

• Meredith Hunter was fatally stabbed by a Hells Angels member during the infamous 1969 Altamont concert, where the biker gang was working security
• Afterward, the Hells Angels put a hit on lead singer Mick Jagger, saying he owed them $50,000 in legal fees later incurred because of that night
• Several attempts were made on the rockstar's life, only ending after the biker gang was allegedly paid the $50,000 more than a decade later

As biker gang legend goes, the Rolling Stones allegedly stiffed the Hells Angels out of $50,000 after working security at the infamous, deadly Altamont concert in 1969.

In retaliation, they put a hit on Mick Jagger , with leader Ralph “Sonny” Barger passing word that “he wants to whack Mick Jagger,” recalls former Hells Angels President Charles “Peewee” Goldsmith in an interview with A&E.

In a upcoming episode of Secrets of the Hells Angels , key players recount the years-long assassination plot – and multiple failed attempts – to kill Jagger. The episode airs Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on A&E. (Watch an exclusive clip below.)

One attempt – outlined by an ex-Angel identified as “Butch” and hidden by a screen in archival video of 1983 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony obtained by A&E – was around 1979 or 1980 when he said Angels employed “a pontoon boat, a little rubber raft thing with plastic explosives in it,” which they floated out to Jagger’s yacht then docked at Martha’s Vineyard.

But the pontoon flooded and capsized, and bikers swam back to shore, George Christie, then the Ventura, Calif., chapter president, tells A&E.

Neville Elder/Corbis/Getty 

During a Senate Judiciary hearing into the inner-workings of the Hells Angels, then-Committee Chairman Strom Thurmond of South Carolina noted that in the some 13 years since the feud between the bikers and rockstars began, Jagger had not been killed, to which,  per UPI’s courtroom reporting , Butch responded: “they will some day.”

After that, claims Christie, “Jagger coughed up with the dough – well, you know, somebody coughed up with the dough – because the debt was satisfied.”

“The ironic thing,” Christie adds with a laugh: “They gave us $50,000, and then we wound up fighting over the money.”

The Rolling Stones have never publicly commented on the alleged payment, according to A&E.

Bettmann Archive via Getty

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for  PEOPLE' s free True Crime newsletter  for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage, and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

It started when the rock group hired the Hells Angels – for $500 worth of beer, The New York Times reported – as security for their free, counterculture Altamont Rock Music Concert, which was hyped as the “Woodstock West” and brought together some 300,000 people Dec. 6, 1969.

But the concert ended in tragedy after Meredith Hunter, a Black 18-year-old, was fatally stabbed by Hells Angels in a case that remained open for more than three decades. The Hells Angels claimed they incurred $50,000 in associated legal fees, and believed the Rolling Stones should pay that sum.

In a photograph shot in the ensuing chaos, Jagger, who stopped singing, is depicted gaping at the man’s body, which had been placed on stage. Jagger is shown with his hand covering his mouth, while a group of Hells Angels surround the teenager.

A witness who later testified at the first-degree murder trial told Rolling Stone in a feature published weeks after the deadly concert that the incident was instigated by the biker gang.

Biker Allan Passaro was found not guilty in 1971, after the California jury, who reviewed film of the incident, found that Passaro had acted in self-defense, The New York Times reported from the trial.

In 2005, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office closed the case , saying that Hunter had pointed a gun at the stage, after which Passaro stabbed him.

New episodes of Secrets of the Hells Angels air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/ PT on A&E.