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However, not everyone feels the need to down tools and join in the festivities - former National Hockey League (NHL) player Jaromir Jagr is one. Jagr's decision to turn out for the Kladno Knights in the Czech Extraliga on the 20th of December might come as a surprise to many given that the right-wing player is 51 years old and has a net worth in the region of £40 million.

Conventional wisdom would dictate that Jagr would be long retired and enjoying the rewards of a career that has him second to only Wayne Gretzky in terms of points scored in the NHL. The reality is that Jagr has no intention of giving up the game he loves and as his performance for the Knights showed when he assisted a goal, he’s still able to contribute at the top end of ice hockey.

Jagr has, without doubt, enjoyed one of the most remarkable careers in not just professional ice hockey but sports in general. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the numbers that define the Czech player’s career.

A fast start in Pittsburgh

It was in 1987 that Jagr was handed his first professional start when he made his debut for the Kladno Knights. Jagr’s talent on the ice was immediately evident and it wasn’t long before the NHL was on high alert about his miracles just outside of Prague.

There was a subsequent race for his signature which the Pittsburgh Penguins won in 1990 when they drafted the Czech star in. Incredibly, back-to-back Stanley Cup triumphs would follow in 1991 and 1992 for Jagr who had only been in the United States for 24 months.

A goal in the 1992 final against the Washington Capitals still makes Jagr one of the youngest players to score in the NHL’s biggest game.

Looking back, it was the best possible start for Jagr who laid the foundations for greatness during his first two years in Pittsburgh.

The one that got away in 2013

Remarkably, Jagr would wait 21 years before he next played in a Stanley Cup final again in 2013. The Czech’s wait of just over two decades is a record for the longest time between appearances.

Perhaps losing this final in 2013 with the Boston Bruins was Jagr’s only regret as he would never taste Stanley Cup success again. The same can be said for the Bruins who have now gone 12 years without winning the final - fixing this drought has been a problem.

However, that may change in 2024 with the Bruins priced at just 10/1 in the latest sports betting odds to win the Stanley Cup as of the 22nd of December.

Overcoming the transformed New York Rangers will be the Bruins' biggest obstacle in their quest to do what they couldn't when Jagr was a player for them in 2013.

The man who won everything

Of course, Jagr won’t be defined by that loss given that his achievements far outweigh any failures. When he ended his career in North America, he had racked up 1,921 points which puts him second on the all-time scoring list.

Additionally, Jager was also able to complete the rare feat of joining the Triple Gold Cup. To become part of this exclusive club, a player has to win an Olympic gold medal, the Stanley Cup, and the Ice Hockey World Championships.

Having won everything on offer in the NHL, the time would come for Jagr to return home to play for the Knights, the team he bought in 2011.

Jagr would leave as the oldest professional player to play in the NHL, almost four decades after starting his career.

As for what the future holds, the time will eventually come when Jagr says goodbye to a game he began playing professionally in 1987. When that might be is not yet known but what is a certainty is that records will continue to tumble while he is out on the ice.