NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils retired career scoring leader Patrik Elias' No. 26 jersey in a ceremony before their game against the New York Islanders on Saturday night.
The 41-year-old former Czech forward played his final game in 2016, finishing a 20-year career in New Jersey with two Stanley Cup championships and most of the team's scoring records.
"For someone growing up in Eastern Europe, in a communist country, there's no way I could have ever dreamed of this day," said Elias, whose eyes welled with tears during his speech that was interrupted several times by chants of "Paddy!