Jagr still enjoying hockey as he nears 50th birthday

Jaromir Jagr jokes that when he was 30, teammates would laugh at him when he said he wanted to play professional hockey in his 50's.

«Well, when you're 30 and saying you're going to play until 50, some other people are laughing because they don't really know,» Jagr said to NHL.com. «And I knew it. I'm built differently.»

Jagr, who will turn 50 on Tuesday, is currently the owner, president and player with Kladno in the Extraliga. Playing in the top league in the Czech Republic, he is still producing offensively with eight goals and 19 points through 35 games. The reason he keeps playing? Because he still loves the game.

«First of all, I love it,» he said. «I love it for a lot of different reasons. It doesn't have to be necessarily you play the game, but it's being around the guys, helping the people be on the ice.»

The soon to be 50-year-old (his birthday is February 15th) is an NHL icon, having played in the league until he was 45. In 1733 career games, Jagr posted 766 goals and 1921 points. While his time in the NHL is no longer, it doesn't sound like he is ready to hang up the skates just yet.

MUST READ

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Vancouver Canucks' Contract Offer to Brock Boeser Leaks Publicly

Feb 28  |  By Tom Banks Montreal Canadiens Star Undergoes Season-Ending Knee Surgery

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Philadelphia Flyers Officially Looking to Trade Former 39-Goal Scorer

Feb 28  |  By Daniel Lucente Evander Kane May Be in His Final Days in Edmonton After Friedman Reveals New Information

Feb 28  |  By Jack Sutherland Maple Leafs Forward Pulls Back Trade Request

Feb 27  |  By Jack Sutherland Brad Marchand Goes Viral for Passionate Video Ahead of Four Nations Faceoff Final

Feb 27  |  By Jack Sutherland David Pastrnak's Latest Comments Suggest Bruins Will Be Big Sellers at the Deadline

Feb 27  |  By Julien Trekker 6-Foot-6 Winger Linked to the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline

MORE STORIES