Zdeno Chara is getting the band back together next week, all the way across the world in his hometown.
On Friday, August 21, 21 Boston Bruins of the past and present, along with more NHL alumni, will gather at the Pavol Demitra Ice Hockey Stadium in Trenčín, Slovakia, for “Zee’s Final Shift.” The game next week will serve as a farewell for the longtime Bruins captain and Hockey Hall of Famer.
The game is similar to Marian Hossa’s farewell game in 2023, which was also hosted at the Demitra Ice Hockey Stadium in Trenčín. Chara took part, and three years later, it’s his turn to host, with Hossa suiting up for Team World.
The game begins at 12:00 PM ET (6:00 PM CEST), and it will be televised on the Slovakian outlet JOJ ŠPORT ($). There will also be more content and “behind-the-scenes footage” on the game’s Instagram account.
The first player, aside from Chara, to be announced for the game was none other than Patrice Bergeron. For 14 seasons, the two worked closely as part of the leadership group that defined the room and established the longstanding culture in Boston, and ultimately helped to lift the Stanley Cup in 2011.
Bergeron and Chara are two of 13 from the 2011 Stanley Cup team heading to Trenčín, including all six defensemen who dressed during the Stanley Cup Final. Chara and Tomas Kaberle are dressing for Team World, while the other four make up Team Boston’s blue line alongside Ray Bourque.
Head coach Marco Sturm will lace up the skates, as will assistant coach Chris Kelly and development director Adam McQuaid.
Chara’s agent, Matt Keator, will stand behind the bench with 2011 Conn Smythe winner Tim Thomas.
David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand were slated to be the two active NHLers in the game, but Marchand pulled out of the game due to a recent surgery. Pastrnak is still playing, while Marchand was replaced by Jozef Stumpel.
On the other end of the ice, former Bruins Jaromir Jagr (2013), Miroslav Satan (2009-10), and Aaron Ward (2007-09) will dress for Team World. Some of Chara’s teammates from Long Island will be making the trip, as will some Czech and Slovak hockey legends. Robert Reichel (Lukas’ uncle) and Zigmund Palffy played with Chara during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, the first two of Chara’s NHL career.
Petr Cech, the longtime Premier League goalkeeper, turned to the skates after his soccer career, and he will be between the pipes for Team World.
Blackhawks legend Duncan Keith was also announced to Team World, but his name was not on either of the rosters posted by the game’s Instagram account.
Team Boston
Forwards: Patrice Bergeron, Chris Kelly, Milan Lucic, Dan Paille, David Pastrnak, Mark Recchi, Michael Ryder, Jozef Stumpel, Marco Sturm
Defensemen: Ray Bourque, Johnny Boychuk, Andrew Ference, Adam McQuaid, Dennis Seidenberg
Goaltender: Jaroslav Halak
Coaches: Tim Thomas, Matt Keator
Team World
Forwards: Anze Kopitar, Marian Hossa, Thomas Vanek, Jaromir Jagr, Robert Reichel, Jakub Voracek, Miroslav Satan, Zigmund Palffy, Michal Handzus
Defensemen: Andrej Sekera, Radek Hamr, Aaron Ward, Tomas Kaberle, Zdeno Chara
Goaltender: Petr Cech
Coaches: Peter Bondra, Jergus Baca, Marian Gaborik