Czech ice hockey forward Jaromír Jágr became the most productive European in National Hockey League history Nov. 26. The captain of the New York Rangers scored a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He finished the game with 1,468 points (603 goals, 865 assists). Days earlier, he passed Finland's Jarri Kurri to become the top European goal scorer. Jágr is currently the 12th most productive player overall in NHL history.

GOALIE

Star soccer goalkeeper Petr Čech has returned to light practicing and could make a comeback to the English Premiership in February, his agent, Pavel Zíka, said Nov. 28. Čech, who plays for London-based powerhouse Chelsea FC, suffered a skull fracture in a game in Reading Oct. 14 when he collided with Reading striker Stephen Hunt. Čech underwent successful surgery in Oxford, and recovered in Dubai.

UEFA

FK Mladá Boleslav is the only Czech soccer club with a chance of advancing in the UEFA Cup. Mladá Boleslav drew 0-0 with France's Paris Saint Germain in a Nov. 30 game in Mladá Boleslav. The club needs to beat Hapoel in Tel Aviv, Israel, in the final round Dec. 13 in order to advance.

RECORD

Driver David Vršecký will attempt to set a new trailer-truck speed record on a closed highway between Prague and Hradec Králové Dec. 8. Vršecký currently holds the highest speed of 281 kilometers (174 miles) per hour, which he set on a track in Dubai in 2003. He said he would attempt to reach 300 kilometers per hour.

PROPOSAL

On Dec. 1, Baník Ostrava soccer club owner Tomáš Petera proposed hiring professional referees for the country's top-flight Gambrinus liga. He also suggested that the league implement a salary cap on players. Currently, referees are paid 15,000 Kč ($706) per game, but Petera wants to pay a consistent core of officials a monthly sum of 150,000 Kč each.

VOLLEYBALL

The men's national volleyball team finished 13th out of 24 countries at the World Championship in Nagano, Japan, Nov. 29. The team won three of its nine games in the tournament. It defeated Germany 3-1 in its final match.

FINES

The Regional Court in Ostrava levied strict sanctions against four soccer officials involved in a corruption scandal in the country's first and second divisions in 2004. Referee Václav Zejda faces the toughest sanction, receiving a seven-month imprisonment and a 130,000 Kč fine.

APPOINTMENT

Former national soccer team midfielder Luboš Kubík was appointed to coach England's fourth division Torquay United. Kubík, who in the past played in Italy and with the Chicago Fire in U.S. Major League Soccer, became the first Czech to coach an English side.

OLYMPICS