Slovakia's Zdeno Chara speaks during his 2025 induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame in Stockholm, Sweden.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN
When you talk about figures who “loom large” in international and NHL history, Zdeno Chara inescapably comes to mind – both physically and metaphorically.
Now 48, the legendary 205-cm defenceman from Trencin, Slovakia played at more than 115 kg at his peak. But he brought skill, intensity, and great people skills as well as size to the table. The three-time Olympian’s 2025 induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame reflects his massive contributions, including two IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship silver medals (2000, 2012) in six tournaments. From 1997-98 to 2021-22, Chara played a whopping 1,680 NHL games – an all-time record for blueliners – with four clubs, captaining the Boston Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup and winning the 2012 Norris Trophy.
IIHF.com caught up with “Big Zee” after the induction ceremonies in Stockholm.
On his feelings about being inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame
It’s a tremendous honour and privilege, and I’m so grateful. It's hard to really honestly describe it in words. There's so much behind it and so many people to thank, too, teammates and coaches. I’m trying to gather all the feelings and thoughts. It’s about calming my mind and just being grateful for this induction and this recognition. You don't play hockey because of that, you just try to be the best you can.
There are some wins, some losses, some great memories. This is recognition you’re earning, not something you’re winning. So I wouldn't be accepting this if I didn’t have people that were with me, supporting me and always behind me over the past 30 years.
On what comes to mind at a special time like this
It's honestly the first moments I started playing hockey in my youth, how it all started, and how it all felt when I played. Those memories of skating at the rink in the dark or playing outdoor hockey with my friends. These little things, like learning how to lift the puck when you shot, when you learned how to stop on your skates. You reflect so much more on what the game is all about.
People always think it's about winning and trophies and medals and Stanley Cups, but when you’re getting this type of recognition, you're looking back what is actually happening to you as a human being while you’re proceeding to these milestones and goals. How you’re growing, how you’re changing, how you’re becoming a man, a human being. That's what I'm looking at – what it really meant.
On winning Slovakia’s first medal in 2000
I think it was a very unique and new experience for all of us. That was the first medal for our country after the separation [of the former Czechoslovakia], and I don't think that many of us knew what it meant. We knew it was success. It was a huge celebration back in Slovakia, but we didn't recognize or really know how big it would be until we landed home and came out on the street. We went to the square [in Bratislava], and there were thousands and thousands of people greeting us.
You realized that when you play for Slovakia, you're playing for the whole country, for every single person. Because of the sport, because of the success in St. Petersburg, you could sense that people were just happy in the streets. People were smiling. It just changed the whole dynamic of the nation. The whole country was celebrating. That made me realize what it really means when you make something happen and you have that effect, that positive impact on people.
On taking up endurance sports from the Boston Marathon to the Kalmar Ironman
Obviously, you lose a lot of weight. I probably lost 30 pounds. You don't use the same muscles as in hockey, and you don't need that weight to carry with you. But I still love waking up every day and doing the hard work that's required to compete the Ironmans and marathons. It's going to be part of me forever, hopefully, as long as I can do it. It's just a standard that I set for myself to do something, to be committed, to have this discipline every day, to do it. I love the endurance, the long-distance stuff.
On his hopes and concerns about the future of hockey in Slovakia
There's a lot of things happening, and to be honest, I hope it's gonna be positive. I hope there's going to be more rinks. I hope hockey is going to be more affordable for families. I have no idea. There are too many things where other people make the decisions. I see the trend right now that not everybody can afford to play hockey. It's just becoming very expensive, too expensive.
Even kids who want to play hockey, they don't have hockey rinks to do it, because it's just overwhelmingly overbooked by commercial use. I understand that it's a business, and the hockey arenas have to support their financial costs, but there's not enough open ice for youth to practice, to train. Obviously more arenas and opportunities would help. But it's not fair when you ask parents to go buy a hockey stick for a 10-year-old at 300 EUR. That's unsustainable and will eventually hurt the sport.
On whether he wakes up missing the game of hockey
Not really. I’m at peace, and I was at peace retiring. I knew it was the right time. I knew I had a good, long, long run. I played 25 years professionally. I still love it. I still have passion for the game, but I'm not waking up missing the game.
I'm waking up maybe at times when I'm missing the locker room, the camaraderie, the daily routine of getting ready for practice and getting ready for the games and seeing my teammates at dinner, breakfast, or lunch. But you know, I owe so much to the game. I will always be a fan of the game. Still, as far as playing, I had so much fun and so many years that I was at peace. When I retired, I was like, “OK, I’m walking away from the game because it's time.”
Now 48, the legendary 205-cm defenceman from Trencin, Slovakia played at more than 115 kg at his peak. But he brought skill, intensity, and great people skills as well as size to the table. The three-time Olympian’s 2025 induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame reflects his massive contributions, including two IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship silver medals (2000, 2012) in six tournaments. From 1997-98 to 2021-22, Chara played a whopping 1,680 NHL games – an all-time record for blueliners – with four clubs, captaining the Boston Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup and winning the 2012 Norris Trophy.
IIHF.com caught up with “Big Zee” after the induction ceremonies in Stockholm.
On his feelings about being inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame
It’s a tremendous honour and privilege, and I’m so grateful. It's hard to really honestly describe it in words. There's so much behind it and so many people to thank, too, teammates and coaches. I’m trying to gather all the feelings and thoughts. It’s about calming my mind and just being grateful for this induction and this recognition. You don't play hockey because of that, you just try to be the best you can.
There are some wins, some losses, some great memories. This is recognition you’re earning, not something you’re winning. So I wouldn't be accepting this if I didn’t have people that were with me, supporting me and always behind me over the past 30 years.
On what comes to mind at a special time like this
It's honestly the first moments I started playing hockey in my youth, how it all started, and how it all felt when I played. Those memories of skating at the rink in the dark or playing outdoor hockey with my friends. These little things, like learning how to lift the puck when you shot, when you learned how to stop on your skates. You reflect so much more on what the game is all about.
People always think it's about winning and trophies and medals and Stanley Cups, but when you’re getting this type of recognition, you're looking back what is actually happening to you as a human being while you’re proceeding to these milestones and goals. How you’re growing, how you’re changing, how you’re becoming a man, a human being. That's what I'm looking at – what it really meant.
On winning Slovakia’s first medal in 2000
I think it was a very unique and new experience for all of us. That was the first medal for our country after the separation [of the former Czechoslovakia], and I don't think that many of us knew what it meant. We knew it was success. It was a huge celebration back in Slovakia, but we didn't recognize or really know how big it would be until we landed home and came out on the street. We went to the square [in Bratislava], and there were thousands and thousands of people greeting us.
You realized that when you play for Slovakia, you're playing for the whole country, for every single person. Because of the sport, because of the success in St. Petersburg, you could sense that people were just happy in the streets. People were smiling. It just changed the whole dynamic of the nation. The whole country was celebrating. That made me realize what it really means when you make something happen and you have that effect, that positive impact on people.
On taking up endurance sports from the Boston Marathon to the Kalmar Ironman
Obviously, you lose a lot of weight. I probably lost 30 pounds. You don't use the same muscles as in hockey, and you don't need that weight to carry with you. But I still love waking up every day and doing the hard work that's required to compete the Ironmans and marathons. It's going to be part of me forever, hopefully, as long as I can do it. It's just a standard that I set for myself to do something, to be committed, to have this discipline every day, to do it. I love the endurance, the long-distance stuff.
On his hopes and concerns about the future of hockey in Slovakia
There's a lot of things happening, and to be honest, I hope it's gonna be positive. I hope there's going to be more rinks. I hope hockey is going to be more affordable for families. I have no idea. There are too many things where other people make the decisions. I see the trend right now that not everybody can afford to play hockey. It's just becoming very expensive, too expensive.
Even kids who want to play hockey, they don't have hockey rinks to do it, because it's just overwhelmingly overbooked by commercial use. I understand that it's a business, and the hockey arenas have to support their financial costs, but there's not enough open ice for youth to practice, to train. Obviously more arenas and opportunities would help. But it's not fair when you ask parents to go buy a hockey stick for a 10-year-old at 300 EUR. That's unsustainable and will eventually hurt the sport.
On whether he wakes up missing the game of hockey
Not really. I’m at peace, and I was at peace retiring. I knew it was the right time. I knew I had a good, long, long run. I played 25 years professionally. I still love it. I still have passion for the game, but I'm not waking up missing the game.
I'm waking up maybe at times when I'm missing the locker room, the camaraderie, the daily routine of getting ready for practice and getting ready for the games and seeing my teammates at dinner, breakfast, or lunch. But you know, I owe so much to the game. I will always be a fan of the game. Still, as far as playing, I had so much fun and so many years that I was at peace. When I retired, I was like, “OK, I’m walking away from the game because it's time.”