Dominik Hasek threatens the NHL and Gary Bettman
Hasek has gone a step further this week, openly threatening to harm the NHL's business if it does not comply with his demands.
The San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators will open the 2022-2023 regular season with a game in Prague, Hasek's native Czech Republic's capital city.
Hasek made it plain that if any Russian players were still allowed in the NHL at this time, he will personally launch a campaign to ensure that the NHL's showcase in the Czech Republic is a flop.
From Hasek (translated from Czech with the help of Google Translate):
The NHL San Jose Sharks - Nashville Predators match should take place in Prague in October. If the NHL (given the situation) wants to allow any Russian player to play in this match, I will consider it an inexcusable act. If that were the case, I will do everything I can to ensure that this match does not take place in our country. I will appeal to the government of the Czech Republic, the event organizers, potential partners and the public. In the event that it is still held, so that it is ignored by as many public as possible and condemned worldwide.
Let us realize that with the public participation of Russian athletes in events, we are doing a huge advertisement for the Russian country and its actions. That is, the aggression of the Russian army against a democratic country, the killing of tens of thousands of Ukrainians and the commission of crimes against humanity. The NHL match in Prague should be a celebration of world hockey and must not become an advertisement for Russian crimes in Ukraine. That would be disrespect from the NHL for the Ukrainian country and its people. And it must not happen!
Ukraine does not deserve it, nor do NHL fans and players. And that includes the Russian ones, for whom I also want the best with this attitude. Not even the most beautiful game in the world is more than human life. I believe the NHL will make the right decision.
Let us realize that with the public participation of Russian athletes in events, we are doing a huge advertisement for the Russian country and its actions. That is, the aggression of the Russian army against a democratic country, the killing of tens of thousands of Ukrainians and the commission of crimes against humanity. The NHL match in Prague should be a celebration of world hockey and must not become an advertisement for Russian crimes in Ukraine. That would be disrespect from the NHL for the Ukrainian country and its people. And it must not happen!
Ukraine does not deserve it, nor do NHL fans and players. And that includes the Russian ones, for whom I also want the best with this attitude. Not even the most beautiful game in the world is more than human life. I believe the NHL will make the right decision.
Credit: HF
| POLL | ||
Do you think Russian players will be banned in Czech? | ||
| Yes | 582 | 52.9 % |
| No | 518 | 47.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
