Zdeno Chara: Ice Hockey Legend in a New Stage
Zdeno Chara, remembered for his imposing presence on the ice, has left an indelible mark on NHL history. With a 24-year career, the Slovak defenseman, with his 2.06 meters in height and 113 kilos, was the tallest player in the history of the league. His most powerful shot, recorded at 175.4 kilometers per hour in the 2012 All-Star Game, and his longevity are aspects that define his legacy. In his 14 seasons with the Boston Bruins, of which he was captain, Chara became the second European captain to win the Stanley Cup, marking a new era of success for the team. This polyglot, who masters seven languages, established a standard of relentless work ethic and a commitment mentality to the team, always promoting respect. Recently, Chara was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, a recognition of his extraordinary career.Three years after his retirement, Chara continues to challenge himself. In August, he completed his first Ironman triathlon in under five hours, adding to his nine marathons completed in 15 months. After taking business courses at Harvard University, Chara delves into the business world and will soon launch his first application, called Castable. In addition, he has maintained his connection with hockey, playing an advisory role with the Bruins since last season.“Growing up in a small town in Slovakia, Trencin, you don’t dream of nights like this. You dream of a piece of ice that doesn’t melt before practice is over. You dream of finding a stick that isn’t broken or skates that still serve you for a couple of years,” Chara commented in his induction speech.
Zdeno Chara
Chara also commented on his current role with the Bruins and the evolution of hockey. “The game is constantly evolving. It will always keep moving forward and there will be some adjustments. The main thing is that I love watching the game and I love being a part of it. I am very happy to be included in the Boston Bruins organization in a mentoring and advisory position with hockey operations. And that’s also something new and great for me, where I offer my experience in my mentoring, my intelligence that I gained during a 25-year career,” he added. When asked how he would like to be remembered, Chara replied that, while he is grateful for the statistics and records, the most important thing is the impact on others. “I am very proud to have built something and created something in the organization, and to leave something behind. I am very proud that we were able to build that culture between 2008 and 2014-15, where we were very, very strong. We were contenders and that culture, that legacy was one of the best, if not the best in the league,” he commented. Chara also spoke about the leadership legacy he passed on to Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, and how he hopes that legacy will continue to live on in the team. When asked what he tells young players about leadership, Chara emphasized the importance of self-discipline, commitment, and teamwork. When talking about the current Bruins season, Chara was not surprised by the team’s performance, highlighting consistency as key in the NHL. Chara also praised coach Marco Sturm, highlighting his positive energy, mentality, and attention to detail. Regarding his relationship with Patrice Bergeron, Chara described him as his best friend, highlighting the importance of their friendship over the years. Regarding his next project, Chara is about to launch Castable, an audio platform that connects fans with celebrities and talents in real time. Chara explained that the idea came from her search for experience in entrepreneurship and that Castable seeks to offer a more immersive experience for fans. Chara visualizes the application being applied to hockey, allowing him to offer commentary and share privileged information with the fans. Regarding the lessons learned in the business world, Chara emphasized the importance of listening, being open to learning, and surrounding oneself with a diverse team. Regarding his athletic goals, Chara does not rule out new challenges, maintaining his focus on training and preparation.“I think it’s a very good thing. As much as you might think: ‘I don’t need to do this, I’m already ready. I had a successful career’, you know what? I’m more of those who say: ‘Hey, why not? I’m going to try this. I’m going to learn a lot’. And learning is invaluable. So I’m investing time, energy and, obviously, some money in it. But in return, I’m getting something incredible, an incredible experience by learning about myself, about others, about business, about the world”
Zdeno Chara
