Jagr is exactly what a pro hockey player should be

In a sport where players are told to blend in, the Czech star is a delightful exception

It is the kind of video hockey that could be of more use.

The type that shows a player having fun with fans, celebrating a relationship that, quite frankly, makes the whole world of sports successful.

In the same weekend in which a video of an NFL assistant coach snorting what appears to be cocaine cost him his job, Jaromir Jagr was part of a viral video everyone can appreciate.

In the midst of an in-house first intermission interview with 14 members of the Travelling Jagrs Saturday night, Jagr made a cameo few fans will ever forget.

As Flames TV host Ryan Leslie questioned “Dallas Jags” Trevor Freeman about the group of childhood friends from Bowness who’ve long attended games in various Jagr uniforms, Jagr came upon the scene.

He had just wrapped up a Hockey Night in Canada interview down the hall and giddily approached the unsuspecting group from behind.

The interview, being shown live on the Saddledome’s Jumbotron, drew surprised cheers not only from the mulleted impersonators but from the thousands of fans still in their seats.

The massive grin on Jagr’s face matched those on the lads surrounding him.

It quickly turned to laughter when Jagr suggested the Travelling Jagrs were the reason he chose Calgary as a free agent last week.

“That’s why I signed,” he chuckled.

“The new guy!,” he added as he held a cardboard cut-out of himself in front of his face.

Keep in mind, the Flames had just played their fourth consecutive lacklustre period to open the season and were down 3-1 to the Jets.

Yet, here was the temporary new face of the franchise yukking it up, giving fans reason to smile as only Jagr can.

Unlike most pro athletes today, Jagr realizes the NHL is in the entertainment business after all. Then came the killer line. “I’m going to try to play, but if I’m no good I’ll stay here all year and party,” he added, prompting a roar from the assembled Jagrs.

The visit wasn’t completely organic as Jagr arrived with a signed Flames jersey and clearly planned the drop by.

No matter, it was a shock to the group.

It provided tremendous levity as the game’s second-most prolific scorer of all time clearly embraced hangin’ out with the boys.

So infectious was the video, the NHL shared it on its twitter feed for six million followers.

“What a night for the guys,” said Tylor Keller, the “Rangers Jags.”

“The Flames scored five goals after that and even though he wasn’t playing he gave fans something to cheer for.”

While each of the Travelling Jagrs fell in love with Jagr for different reasons, Keller says he sees “The European Gretzky” as inspirational, among other things.

“I’m 38 years old and I’m trying to not play senior hockey right now and I have no excuse when a guy like him is playing at 45,” said Keller, a realtor in Camrose.

“Thing is, when it’s over it’s over, which was why it was so stressful for him and us that he wouldn’t get signed again.”

Keller is a former Mount Royal College centre who played three years in the Southern Professional League and has spent the last five years playing for Brian Sutter’s Innisfail Eagles Senior AAA squad.

“Brian calls me every week and I can’t say no,” said Keller, who drives two hours for the games.

“He even talked about Jags before a playoff game last year against Stony Plain. Everybody loves his story.”

They love him for many reasons, but as he demonstrated again Saturday, he’s a character. Hockey’s only rock star. In a hockey culture in which players are taught to blend in and be beige, he’s a delightful exception.

Eccentric, playful, entertaining and occasionally quite philosophical in front of the media, Jagr is a breathe of fresh air in a sports world largely devoid of personalities.

Of course, he might not have been able to get away with being himself if he wasn’t one of the game’s greatest.

While inspiring people like Keller to keep playing, the hope is he inspires athletes to lighten up, embrace the spotlight and roll with it.

Like Jagr did Saturday, putting smiles on the faces of everyone lucky enough to be watching.

I’m 38 years old and I’m trying to not play senior hockey right now and I have no excuse when a guy like him is playing at 45.