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Hockey icon faces threat to stop stars from playing in Russia
Czech legend Dominik Hasek claimed that players joining the KHL are signaling support for Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Former hockey star Dominik Hasek said his fellow Czech players should be banned from performing for Russian-based clubs in the KHL, claiming this is complicity in Russia’s actions in Ukraine and that a 15-year prison sentence would serve as a deterrent.
Hasek, 57, is one of his country’s most successful ice hockey exports, he has crowned a two-time Stanley Cup Champion in the NHL before retiring after a single season with HC Spartak Moscow in the 2010-11 season.
However, Hasek recently condemned the judgment of Czech international (and Russian-born) Dmitry Jaskin to return to the KHL with SKA Saint Petersburg after a year in the NHL for the Arizona Coyotes.
Jaskin joins fellow Czechs Libor Sulak and Rudolf Cerven in making similar moves into the KHL, but Hasek wrote on his Twitter account that he is far from happy with the trio’s actions – especially after the KHL experienced a surge in foreign player has left the Russian teams since February.
“I am very sorry. The work of a Czech citizen in the Russian Federation is a support of the Russian regime, the war in Ukraine and therefore a danger to our country and its citizens.” Hasek wrote by translation.
“However, I do not blame the player or his agent, but rather the government and parliament of the Czech Republic for not passing a law prohibiting this.
“It is the duty of the government of the Czech Republic to protect us from this behavior. Our lives are at stake! Don’t bury your head in the sand!!!”
He added, “So I think that, for example, 15 years in prison for working in an enemy country in the Russian Federation would be very helpful. It would certainly increase the protection of us and our allies and probably save many lives.”
Several figures who were formerly in the KHL have expressed their opposition to the conflict in Ukraine.
Finnish team Jokerit announced shortly after the start of the military campaign in late February that they would be withdrawing from the league for the remainder of the season. Days later, Latvia’s Dinamo Riga announced a similar move.
Former goalkeeper Hasek, meanwhile, has consistently been a prominent critic of Russia’s military deployment in Ukraine and previously requested the suspension of all Russian players in the NHL.
The NHL announced in March that it would cut ties with its Russian business partners while removing all official ties to the KHL.
Elsewhere, ice hockey authorities in Latvia, Finland, and Sweden have said they will not consider players for national team duty if they play for Russian clubs.
