Just 120 games shy of the 1,000-game milestone, veteran NHL defenceman Jaroslav Spacek retired from professional hockey Monday after 13 seasons in the league.
The 38-year-old Spacek, enduring the second lockout of his career, was an unrestricted free agent following a 2011-12 season during which he played 12 games for the Montreal Canadiens and, following a trade for Tomas Kaberle, his final 34 games for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Jaro Spacek. Beauty! Spaco man. All the best brother. It was a pleasure.
— Michael Cammalleri (@MCammalleri13) November 20, 2012
A fifth-round draftee of the Florida Panthers in 1998, Spacek also spent time with the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres, accumulating 82 goals, 273 assists, and 618 penalty minutes.
Spacek was an integral part of the surprising 2006 Oilers squad that pushed the Hurricanes to a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup finals. The Czech native scored a career-high 14 points in that playoff run. He also helped the Sabres reach the Eastern Conference finals in 2007.
Congrats to Jaro Spacek on a great career! One of the best guys I have ever played with, proud to call him a friend! #SpacoSpacoMan
— Thomas Vanek (@T_Vanek26) November 20, 2012
Spacek, who played 47 games in the Czech Elite League during the 2004-05 lockout, had not been playing professionally this season.