Jagr blast welcomes fellow Czech to Flames
DALLAS Calgary Flames goaltending call-up David Rittich could hardly believe he was sharing the ice with long-haired legend Jaromir Jagr, a hockey hero for any kid from the Czech Republic.
He nearly had a dent on his goaltending mask to remember it by.
“I thought that Steeger (Kris Versteeg) had the best line today when he said, ‘He’s probably waited his whole life to have Jagr take a shot on him, and the first one went right by his ears over the net,’” said Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan after Friday’s morning skate at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. “We’ve got a little Czech invasion going on in there, and maybe Jags is letting him know who the top dog was by whistling one by his ears.”
Or maybe, it was a hockey hello of sorts.
“It was just, ‘Welcome to the league, rookie,’” said Rittich, a million-watt smile making it clear there were no hard feelings after that high heater from his 45-yearold teammate.
“I just moved my head out of the way of the shot. I was like, ‘OK, thank you.’”
This is a story, you can already be certain, that the grinning goaltender will tell his grandchildren one day.
“If somebody told me 10 years ago that I will play or I will be practising with Jagr, I would be like, ‘No way. No chance,’” Rittich said.
Eddie Lack, who opened this season as the Flames’ backup goalie, traded places with Rittich.
The 29-year-old Lack cleared waivers and was dispatched to the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat, while Rittich was recalled to join the big club. Lack has been mostly spotted in a ball-cap this season, limited to two starts and a pair of relief appearances. With an ugly 5.29 goals-against average and an .813 save percentage, he hasn’t exactly made a case he deserves more work.
The plan is for Lack to be between the pipes for the Heat in Saturday’s road meeting with the Tucson Roadrunners. But the Flames didn’t just drop him off in the Arizona desert.
“This isn’t digging a hole, burying a body and trying to get out of town,” said Flames general manager Brad Treliving. “Eddie hasn’t played in a while, and you get rusty. So now it’s a matter of just going to get some games, try to find his game.”
Rittich has posted splendid numbers at the AHL level this fall, with a 5-1 record, 2.17 goalsagainst average, .931 save percentage and two shutouts.
The 25-year-old arrived in Dallas with one period of NHL experience — a memorable mop-up opportunity in the Flames’ regular-season finale last spring.
It’s possible he could be tabbed for his first NHL start as the roadweary crew from Calgary caps a six-game marathon Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.
He’s probably waited his whole life to have Jagr take a shot on him, and the first one went right by his ears over the net.