Penguins Recover Stolen Jaromír Jágr Bobbleheads; Distribution Dates Announced | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Sophia Edwards Pittsburgh Penguins fans will get their Jaromír Jágr bobbleheads after all.
The team announced Monday that the truckload of stolen bobbleheads was located and secured, and it has plans to distribute them during Pittsburgh's April 6 home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning and on April 7.
While the bobbleheads—which were initially supposed to be handed out for the March 14 game against the San Jose Sharks—were stolen, the team's announcement explained "a special cargo recovery team negotiated the return of the stolen property to a secure warehouse located in Ontario, California. The truckload arrived in Pittsburgh today."
It won't be as simple as handing the bobbleheads to fans who enter the gates for the April 6 game, though, considering those who attended the March 14 contest may have done so with the expectation of receiving the promotional item.
With that in mind, Pittsburgh's announcement said those fans with a bobblehead voucher from the March 14 game and tickets to the April 6 contest can redeem the voucher inside the stadium to receive the item.
Those who have a voucher but do not have tickets to the April 6 game can receive their bobblehead during a drive-thru pick-up at PPG Paints Arena on April 7.
The situation generated plenty of headlines prior to this resolution.
"We were shocked to be a victim of cargo theft, and we are working closely with local and federal authorities on the investigation," Penguins president of business operations Kevin Acklin said in the team's previous announcement about the stolen merchandise.
"While this unfortunate incident adds to the legend of Jaromír Jágr, who will be in attendance as our guest at tonight's game, we look forward to resolving this theft and delivering the prized Jágr bobbleheads to their rightful homes, with our fans."
That announcement also explained the shipment of bobbleheads was stolen after arriving in California.
It was certainly a twist to the Penguins' continued planned celebration of the legendary player, who had his number retired by the team earlier this season.
Pittsburgh Penguins @penguinsJagr: "To be here with you, hearing the cheers - I don't even have to score, that's beautiful. That never gets old. I'm honored."<a href="">@68Jagr</a> speaks to his fans ⬇️ <a href="">
Jágr played the first 11 seasons of his NHL career in Pittsburgh from 1990 to 2001. He also played for the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames during his lengthy 24-year career.
But his best days came in a Penguins uniform, as he was a two-time Stanley Cup champion, nine-time All-Star, five-time Art Ross Trophy winner and one-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner during his 11 seasons.
In total, Jágr played 1,733 regular-season games and tallied 766 goals and 1,155 assists for 1,921 points during his career. Wayne Gretzky (2,857) is the only player in NHL history with more total points.