Goaltender Dominik Hasek Engages in a Verbal Controversy with Previous Russian Leader
Spirited Exchanges: Hasek and Medvedev's Bonky Words Exchange
Retired NHL star Dominik Hasek, affectionately known as "The Dominator," has been in a heated tiff with a former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev. This skirmish started due to Hasek's vocal support for Ukraine, a stance that's not exactly popular in Russia.
When Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, chatted with state-owned media outlet TASS, things escalated. He insinuated that Hasek was battling a prejudice against all things Russian, suggesting he should practice extra caution when crossing roads and avoid untrustworthy drinking holes.
Cough Vegedev's idea of a joke? Apparently, it sounded more like a veiled threat to me.
NHL legends like Hasek don't often find themselves smack dab in the middle of international politics. But here we are.
In response, Hasek penned two letters - one to the President and members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the other to the Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). He shared that Medvedev threatened to off him. Furthermore, he underscored the essential role these organizations play in the coming months and offered his cooperation to create rules that keep sports competitions from becoming advertisements for Russia's war, potentially saving lives in the process.
He plans to make these letters public in a jiffy. We'll have to wait and see if the powers-that-be heed his warning.
Meanwhile, Czech leaders like Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský have jumped to Hasek's defense. According to them, Medvedev's threats are unacceptable and mustn't escape notice due to his official position. Lipavský even bashed the threats as primitive and an attempt to intimidate a truth-teller.
Hasek's letters to these organizations are meant to draw attention to this issue and advocate for rules that keep sports clear of Russia's military conflict. Let's see if the hockey community responds with a hefty dose of solidarity.
In case you're wondering, if you remember how Hasek played ice hockey, I probably wouldn't want to get into a spat with him either.
Additional Insights:
Background of Threats
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, currently the deputy head of Russia's Security Council, made threats against NHL legend Dominik Hasek through an assistant, as reported by TASS. These threats came as a response to Hasek's vocal criticisms of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the participation of Russian athletes in international sports competitions, including the NHL[1][2][3]. Medvedev suggested that Hasek suffers from "Russophobia" and should be cautious while crossing roads and not drink beer in unverified places, which were interpreted as veiled death threats. Additionally, Medvedev hinted that Hasek's "suicide can be expected," further escalating the situation[1][2].
Response from Hasek and Czech Leaders
In response to these threats, Dominik Hasek wrote to both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), informing them that Medvedev had threatened to kill him. He emphasized the importance of their upcoming decisions and offered assistance in creating rules to prevent sports events from promoting the Russian war[2][3][4].
Czech leaders also came to Hasek's defense, with Prime Minister Petr Fiala labeling Medvedev's threats as "absolutely unacceptable" and stating they cannot be ignored due to Medvedev's official position[1][3]. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský condemned Medvedev's actions, describing them as primitive and an attempt to intimidate someone for speaking the truth[1].
Hasek intends to publish both letters to the IOC and IIHF to draw attention to the issue and advocate for rules that prevent sports from being used to support the Russian war[2][3][4].
- Dominik Hasek, the retired NHL goalie known as "The Dominator," has alleged that former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, currently the deputy head of Russia's Security Council, threatened him due to his vocal criticisms of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- After the alleged threats, Hasek wrote two letters, one to the President and members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the other to the Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). In these letters, he shared Medvedev's threats and stressed the importance of these organizations' roles in the coming months.
- In response to Hasek's allegations, Czech leaders like Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky have spoken out against Medvedev's threats, describing them as unacceptable and primitive.
- Hasek plans to make these letters public, hoping to draw attention to the issue and advocate for rules that keep sports clear of Russia's military conflict.
- This incident underscores the political complexities that NHL greats can find themselves in, as sports and general-news intersect with international politics and hockey diplomacy.
