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Dominik Hasek has been obvious about Russia’s invasion on Ukraine, and of course it has been received blowback from the country’s leaders.
But it has reached the point where the legendary NHL goalkeeper has said that former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has issued death threats against him.
Hasek, currently a resident of the Czech Republic, said in an X post that he sent “official letters” to both officials of the international Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation to “inform them that … Medvedev threatened to kill me.”
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Detroit Red Wings -goalkeeper Dominik Hasek (39) stops in the first period of the game against Chicago Black Hawks at Joe Louis Arena. (Leon Halip -usa Today Sports)
“In addition, I point out, among other things, how important their decisions will be in the coming months and again offer help to create rules so that sports competitions are not an advertisement for the Russian war and people do not die because of them,” Hasek said. “I consider both letters very important not only for the IOC and IIHF, but for the whole sports and also the non-sports community. Therefore, I will publish them in a few days.”
Medvedev, who is currently depending on Russia’s Security Council, president of President Vladimir Putin, said through his assistant that Hasek suffered from “Russophobia”, should be careful while crossing roads and should not drink beer in non -verified places.
Hasek has been a vocal critic of the war and the participation of Russian athletes at international competitions and leagues, including the NHL, saying that only promoting the war against Ukraine and enabling human suffering.
The Hall of Fame goalkeeper Dominik Hasek from Buffalo Sabres is introduced during ceremonies to pull his number 39 before their match against Detroit Red Wings on January 13, 2015 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Shortly after the invasion, Hasek spoke for the NHL and the Olympics to ban Russians from playing unless they spoke against the war. Recently, when Alex Ovechkin was on his way to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, he called Ovechkin, a long -time supporter of Putin, a “huge advertisement for the aggressive Russian war and other Russian crimes.”
In a later post written in Russian, Hasek thanked those who support him.
“I would like to thank everyone without exception, which supported me for the repeated threats of the former Russian President Medvedev. I value it a lot. It also gives me strength to continue this very important work whose main purpose is to save human life. His words are contempt for human life and I am very glad you condemn such actions. Thank you again,” he released.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on X that such threats are “absolutely unacceptable.” He added that they were not surprising but cannot be ignored because Medvedev is not a private person.
“Medvedev is behaving again as a primitive,” said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský on Wednesday. “This time the NHL legend Dominik Hasek simply attacked to speak the truth – the truth of Russia’s war and abuse of sports in promoting it. Such a threat can be normal in Putin’s Russia, not in the civilized world!”
January 13, 2015; Buffalo, Ny, USA; Buffalo Sabre’s former goalkeeper Dominik Hasek waves to the crowd as he takes the ice during his ceremony to retire his number before a game against Detroit Red Wings in the First Niagara Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-usa Today Sports)
In his comments on the post, Medvedev said Hasek’s suicide can be expected.
Hasek was a six-time NHL All-Star and Vezina Award winner. He won two Stanley Cups during his career.
