Former teammates share love for Voracek as he's forced to contemplate career

VOORHEES, N.J. — Kevin Hayes knew nothing about Jakub Voracek before arriving to the Flyers in the summer of 2019.

A couple of days ago, he was inviting Voracek to his wedding in August.

It didn't take long for the two players to connect in Philadelphia. Hayes is a family-oriented, fun-loving person. And Voracek is a guy who goes out of his way for his teammates. Jokes about them, cares for them and plays for them.

When Hayes reached out to him for an address to send a wedding invitation, Voracek broke some difficult news.

He told Hayes he wouldn't be playing hockey for a while.

He might not ever play again.

Voracek, a decade Flyer now with the Blue Jackets, is out long term because of a concussion he suffered in early November. He told reporters Monday that he has sustained seven to eight documented concussions throughout his career. The 33-year-old winger addressed the media in Columbus, Ohio, announcing his chances of playing again this season as "very slim."

"As of now, I don't see myself playing in the near future," Voracek said, via Bailey Johnson of the Columbus Dispatch. "I'll do everything in my power to try to get back on the ice. I had a lot of head injuries in the past, and that's something I have to think about and be smart about."

Hayes and Voracek were teammates for two seasons. 

"We hit it off pretty well," Hayes said Tuesday. "Sat next to each other on the plane. He's a funny, funny, outgoing person. He made my transition here a lot easier. Would go to his house after games. It was a lot of fun to play with him.

"Jakey was a great teammate, he was very honest and a very loyal person. I appreciated that from him."

In Philadelphia, when Voracek heard it from fans, he'd sometimes give it right back. He was refreshingly forthright during his 10 years with the Flyers. What this type of city could appreciate was his track record of seldom missing games.

"That's a different type of toughness I feel like," James van Riemsdyk said. "There's the openness of fighting and things like that or other ways to play tough, but part of it is being there for every practice, being there for every game, being reliable. That's a totally different type of toughness and it maybe goes underappreciated. You can always rely on him to be out there for practice, play in all the games."

Voracek played four seasons with van Riemsdyk in Philadelphia. He played a role in van Riemsdyk's return to the Flyers during the summer of 2018.

Knowing what Voracek is enduring right now, van Riemsdyk has chatted with his old teammate a couple of times recently.

"It's tough news to hear," van Riemsdyk said. "He was someone who was just so reliable and durable over the course of his career. He never really missed games ever. He must be feeling things pretty strongly to kind of be able to take a step back like this, so you feel for him. Stuff with head injuries is always tough, so you feel for him in that way, too.

"Just want him to, hockey aside, feel healthy and be able to live a normal life."

As a father of two, van Riemsdyk hopes Voracek can focus on family and do what's right for his health.

"He's played a long time, he's had a ton of success," van Riemsdyk said. "At this stage, where you have kids and stuff like that, your priorities start to shift a little bit in that sense. That's the most important thing.

"You just hope that it's not to a place where it's too bad for him and that he's able to feel a little bit better. We'll see over the course of the next little bit here if he's able to progress and see where he's at."

Ivan Provorov caught up with Voracek last month when the Flyers played the Blue Jackets twice in Columbus.

"I can only wish him health and luck," Provorov said. "I think he should take his time and do whatever is necessary to heal. You want to get on the ice, you've been playing hockey for such a long time, but at the end of the day, you've still got family, you've still got kids, you've still got at least two-thirds of his life left away from hockey. You can't overlook that."

Provorov, like Voracek, is someone who prides himself on never missing games. He played five seasons with Voracek. 

"When it came to game time, Jake gave you everything he had," Provorov said. "Whether he wasn't feeling good or anything like that, when it came to game time, he definitely hated to lose, which is the right way to play, the right way to be.

"But I think this situation is slightly different when it comes to your long-term health. I think you've got to try to put that competitiveness kind of on the backside."

Scott Laughton had lunch with Voracek before one of the Flyers' two games in Columbus.

"He played through anything," Laughton said, mentioning Voracek and Michael Raffl as tough competitors. "They both played through everything. Didn't matter if it was a high ankle sprain, a broken foot, they were playing. It kind of just tells you their pain tolerance and what they went through on a day-to-day basis to be able to strap 'em up.

"He played through a ton for us. Played through a ton probably before I got here, too."

Laughton is in his 10th season with the Flyers' organization. He had parts of eight years alongside Voracek, who was known to look out for his younger teammates. He made sure Carter Hart had an apartment and bed when the 20-year-old goalie took the NHL jump.

"I think he was unbelievable with young guys, bringing them in, giving guys apartments and letting them live there — things like that that go a long way," Laughton said. "Bring guys around the city and show them how to live pretty much. Got Carter a bed and kind of showed him the ropes.

"Just a great human being and a guy that really cares about his teammates and would do anything for you. For sure one of the best teammates I've had and a lifelong friend that I'll have."

Voracek finished with 604 points over 727 games in Philadelphia. His 427 assists rank fifth all-time in Flyers history, while his totals in points and games each rank 10th.

He has played 1,058 games in his NHL career.

"Maybe sometimes when he shouldn't have," Hayes said. "He played the game the right way. If he himself thought he was OK to play, he played. And he never missed any games. It shows. He has a crazy amount of points, a lot of games and he's a terrific player."

When they chatted, Hayes thanked Voracek for all he has done.

"I told him that he could use my wedding as a chance to talk about memories with everyone," Hayes said.

"He's an amazing player, an unbelievable passer and an even better guy. I'm happy I got to play with him and I wish him nothing but health. Hopefully something turns where he can play."

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