Aaron Ekblad won’t be the only Florida Panthers player representing the Sunrise-based club at this year’s IIHF World Championship. Jaromir Jagr announced he has ended his brief retirement from international play and will suit up for the host team. This year’s tournament will take place in the Czech cities of Prague and Ostrava, starting on May 1.
Jagr, who joined the Panthers from the New Jersey Devils after a trade deadline deal, finished with 18 points (6G/12A) in 20 games with his new club. The 43-year-old enjoyed playing on a line with young guns Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov and with the Cats missing the playoffs, looks to want to keep the good times, and his good play, rolling.
Last year, Jagr played for the Czech team that finished fourth at the tournament, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists in 10 games.
The Czechs will play in Group B, with Ekblad’s Canada squad, and open the tournament with a game against Sweden.