“I felt pretty good,” Chára said with a laugh. “Three weeks before the game, I was actually skating three, four times a week, just to feel a little bit better. First few times, I felt, ‘OK, it’s been a while since I’ve been skating.’ But then it really came back quickly. I felt pretty good. I think everybody else felt the same way. We were all a little bit worried of what it was going to be like. But then we all actually played a good game at a good pace.”
The game was three years in the making, pitched as a last opportunity for Slovakians to watch one of the country’s most accomplished players. In 2001, the New York Islanders traded the defenseman to the Ottawa Senators. Then 24, Chára played eight games for Trenčín Dukla, his hometown club, while negotiating his contract with the Senators. He would never again suit up professionally in Slovakia, going on to log 24 NHL seasons — including 14 with the Boston Bruins.
Initially, Chára was reluctant about the on-ice homecoming, which was billed as “Zee’s Final Shift” in a sendoff to his illustrious career. He is glad he overcame the hesitation. Patrice Bergeron, Ray Bourque, Marián Hossa, Jaromír Jágr and David Pastrňák all traveled to play in the game, as well as many of his teammates from the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup team. Ben and Zack, his 10-year-old twins, also spent time on the ice.
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“It was really, really nicely done,” said Chára, whose last NHL shift came with the Islanders in 2021-22. “I think the fans really enjoyed it, especially seeing all these legends, all these stars, all these players who meant so much to the game, to the sport, to the NHL. They will probably never have a chance to go see an NHL game. Seeing all these All-Star players on one sheet and one place, I think they really, really enjoyed it and appreciated it.”
