PRAGUE — The NHL opened its familiar season in Prague extreme day with two World Order video games between the Buffalo Sabres and Fresh Jersey Devils. Czech hockey legends have been prominently featured. Jaromir Jagr dropped the ceremonial first puck forward of the sport on Friday. Patrik Eliáš, the Devils’ all-time eminent scorer, was once across the crew all day and dropped the puck for the second one sport of the line.
However one Czech hockey admirable was once particularly absent. Dominik Hašek, the Corridor of Status goalie who helped supremacy the Czechs to an Olympic gold medal in 1998 and one of the crucial largest gamers in Sabres franchise historical past, didn’t attend the video games or take part in any promotional fabrics within the lead-up to the video games. Terminating Thursday, Hašek discharged a observation on his X account condemning the NHL for permitting Russian gamers to play games within the league week Vladimir Putin continues Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Friday afternoon, hours ahead of Jagr dropped that ceremonial first puck, Hašek met with The Athletic to speak about his ongoing factor with the NHL.
Expensive voters, expensive hockey lovers,
The pristine season of the NHL will get started the next day to come in Prague.
Which, as an individual for whom human lives are the primary playground at the imaginary scale of values, I can’t stay detached. Sadly, I’ve to shape that this would be the 3rd…
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) October 3, 2024
“My motivation is huge,” Hašek mentioned. “I consider everything I do on this topic to be vitally important. What is happening now in Russia, that is, the Russian imperialist war in Ukraine and other crimes connected with it, is very similar to what Hitler did in the 1930s. And we all know how that turned out. This must not happen again. And that is why I am trying to publicly explain to people all over the world what is important and how to act so that the Russian war of aggression does not spread and ends as soon as possible. And of course, the main motivation is saving human lives. For me, human life always comes first.”
Russia escalated the battle between the 2 countries in February 2022 when it introduced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That era, the NHL discharged a observation condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and pronouncing it had suspended relationships with companions in Russia. Hašek has made his emotions sunlit because the while Russia invaded. He wrote an e mail to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and mentioned he were given just a transient reaction. Within the years since, Hašek mentioned the league has made refuse struggle to have a discussion with him. The NHL declined to remark for this tale.
All the way through that day, Hašek has referred to as for the NHL to pay billions of bucks to Ukraine as reimbursement and was once outspoken about Russian athletes being allowed to participate within the Olympics. Russians taking part within the NHL serves as an commercial for what the rustic is doing and improves morale in Russia, he says.
Hašek additionally ran for senator in Czechia this 12 months. In September, Hašek did not exit occasion the primary spherical of vote casting. He’s taking the downtime to decide his nearest step, however he desires to stick eager about politics.
It wasn’t till 1989, when Hašek was once 24, that the Czech Republic was independent from the Soviet Union. Hašek is in detail usual with month beneath authoritarian rule. He doesn’t need his kids to understand what that’s like. Hašek has a soon-to-be 3-year-old son, Honza, along with his stream spouse, and two grownup kids, Michael and Dominika, along with his ex-wife. Hašek returned to the Czech Republic upcoming retiring from the Detroit Crimson Wings to lift his kids in his house nation.
Hašek additionally performed the overall 12 months of his profession within the KHL again in 2010-11. Putin has been both the high minister or president of Russia since 1999, making him the longest-serving Russian chief since Joseph Stalin.
However week Hašek majored in historical past in faculty, he didn’t turn into serious about politics till upcoming his enjoying profession ended. He has since turn into extra outspoken on sure problems, together with this one.
Many in Czechia proportion Hašek’s fears and perspectives, and for hockey lovers, it extends past the NHL. In 2023, Rytíři Kladno, the Czech Extraliga crew owned through Jaromir Jagr, signed goalie Julius Hudacek, who was once born in Slovakia however had spent the former season enjoying for a Kazakhstan-based crew within the KHL. Fanatics threatened to protest video games, and Kladno discharged Hudacek days next.
That is the second one day the NHL has come to Prague since Russia invaded Ukraine. The San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators performed right here in 2022, and each and every crew had a Russian participant on its roster. Life neither the Devils nor the Sabres introduced a Russian to the World Order, Hašek nonetheless didn’t need to be a part of it. He thinks the NHL wishes to talk publicly at the factor and no longer “bury its head in the sand.”
The NHL’s preliminary observation upcoming Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 mentioned, “We also remain concerned about the well-being of the players from Russia, who play in the NHL on behalf of their NHL Clubs, and not on behalf of Russia. We understand they and their families are being placed in an extremely difficult position.”
The reality the NHL has no longer modified its place since that observation is disappointing to Hašek.
Russia’s battle in Ukraine will most probably turn into a extra eminent NHL storyline as Alex Ovechkin chases Wayne Gretzky’s purpose file. Ovechkin nonetheless has a photograph with Putin as his Instagram profile image and has no longer made any robust statements in opposition to the battle. He hasn’t spoken in regards to the battle since 2022.
“I’m Russian, right?” Ovechkin mentioned in 2022. “Something I can’t control. It’s not in my hands. I hope (the war)’s going to end soon. I hope it’s going to be peace in both countries. I don’t control this one.”
Hašek mentioned he believes most effective Russians who condemn the battle must be allowed to play games within the NHL. Then again, he understands the tough place Russian gamers are in. Hašek lives in a independent nation and isn’t an worker of the NHL, which he says provides him the liberty to talk his thoughts. It is more challenging for many who worry for his or her protection or their community’s protection, Hašek added. And even those that may face process loss or alternative financial consequences in line with their phrases.
Hašek does no longer playground the blame at the person Russian gamers for no longer talking out.
“Rules need to be set so that Russian players have an incentive to come out publicly,” Hašek mentioned. “Some players could make the best peace ambassadors. Unfortunately, the NHL does not help the Russian hockey players one bit.”
The Fresh York Rangers’ Russian celebrity Artemi Panarin has been outspoken in opposition to Putin within the occasion. Hašek additionally cited Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov, a Russian who spoke out in opposition to the battle when he was once a member of the Calgary Flames in 2023. He posted “No War” on his Instagram account with the caption “Stop it!!!” He additionally did a two-hour interview with Russian journalist Yury Dud on YouTube wherein he defined his opposition to the battle. Hašek felt the NHL didn’t do business in him plethora assistance.
“It must be said that this is a topic that people are very afraid to talk about publicly,” Hašek mentioned. “In the Czech Republic, there is great fear of Russia, which our parliament has designated as a terrorist state. With Russia, we have experience in this direction and, unfortunately, also victims. People don’t know how the situation will develop and if Ukraine falls, we are one of the other possible victims.”
Hašek mentioned he wish to pay attention extra ex-players talk out at the matter, as a result of they’re not dependent at the NHL for paintings. He is aware of those aren’t simple conditions to navigate. He admitted to what he now perspectives as a mistake of his personal extreme 12 months.
Terminating season, Hašek got here to Buffalo as a part of an annual consult with to do fund paintings along with his foot, Hašek’s Heroes. Life on the town, he going to a Sabres sport and took part within the get started of the sport through banging the drum to excite the people. He nonetheless loves Buffalo and considers it one of the crucial very best hockey cities in the USA. However he discovered that even taking part in that method went in opposition to what he had spoken about. Days next, he apologized on X.
Remark on my participation within the match 01/18/2024 and to the family and the media inquiries: On my annual consult with (industry, fund) to Buffalo USA, I authorized a call for participation from my pals to the @NHL sport (1/18/2024). On the identical day, (proceed)
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) January 23, 2024
“I consider my participation in the match and its opening as my huge mistake,” Hašek wrote. “Hereby, I want to apologize to all Ukrainian soldiers and all Ukrainian people who are heroically defending not only their homeland, but also the whole of Europe against the imperialist enemy. And further to the fans who supported me and continue to support me and to everyone whom I disappointed with my act. I find this personal failure of mine very difficult to excuse. I will try even harder to fix it. At this moment, I can promise you that a similar situation will not happen again. And that I will fight to the maximum and help defend everything that the Russian state-controlled terrorist regime attacks. And criticize all those who support it with their actions.”
Terminating day, Hašek did meet with Sabres schoolteacher Lindy Ruff and a couple of others he is aware of from his day in Buffalo. He additionally met with the video crew for the Sabres’ site to support them with a venture they’re doing on his upbringing.
“I have no interest in breaking ties,” Hašek mentioned. “I am interested in helping the NHL as much as possible with my behavior, and nothing is changing about that. Otherwise, of course, I will not participate in any of the two matches, nor anything related to the start of this year’s NHL. The reason is clear. I don’t want to be part of an event that is an advertisement for the Russian war.”
(Photograph: Petr David Josek / AP Photograph)
