Dominik Hašek facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dominik Hašek
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2014
Hašek with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008
Born	(1965-01-29) January 29, 1965 (age 60) Pardubice, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	166 lb (75 kg; 11 st 12 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	HC Pardubice HC Dukla Jihlava Chicago Blackhawks Buffalo Sabres Detroit Red Wings Ottawa Senators HC Spartak Moscow
NHL Draft	199th overall, 1983 Chicago Black Hawks
Playing career	1980–2011
Medal record Men's ice hockey Representing  Czech Republic Winter Olympics Gold 1998 Nagano Bronze 2006 Turin Representing  Czechoslovakia World Championships Silver 1983 West Germany Bronze 1987 Vienna Bronze 1989 Stockholm Bronze 1990 Berne / Fribourg World Junior Championships Silver 1982 Minnesota Silver 1983 Leningrad Silver 1985 Helsinki/Turku

Dominik Hašek (born January 29, 1965) is a famous Czech former ice hockey goaltender. He is known as one of the best goalies of all time. Hašek played most of his career for the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League (NHL). He also played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators. He played 16 seasons in the NHL before finishing his career in Europe. Fans nicknamed him "The Dominator" because of his amazing play. His success helped more European goalies get a chance in the NHL. He won the Stanley Cup twice with the Red Wings. He was the main goalie for one win and a backup for the other.

Hašek was one of the top goalies in the 1990s and early 2000s. He won six Vezina Trophies between 1993 and 2001. This award goes to the best goalie in the NHL. In 1998, he won his second Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the league's most valuable player. He was the first goalie to win this award more than once. At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, he led the Czech national ice hockey team to their first Olympic gold medal. This made him a hero in his home country. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky even called him "the best player in the game." In 2002, Hašek became the first European-trained starting goalie to win the Stanley Cup. He also set a record for shutouts in a playoff year.

Hašek was known for his unique and unusual style of goaltending. People called him a "flopper" because of how he moved. He was great at concentrating, moving his feet quickly, and being very flexible. He made many saves in unconventional ways, like covering the puck with his blocker instead of his trapper. Hašek has the highest career save percentage in NHL history (0.9223). He is also seventh in goals against average (2.202), which is the best in the modern era. He holds the third-highest single-season save percentage (0.9366 in 1998–99). This record was later broken by Tim Thomas and Brian Elliott. Hašek is the only goalie to face the most shots per 60 minutes and have the highest save percentage in one season. He did this twice with the Sabres.

When he first retired, he was the oldest active goalie in the NHL at 43. He was also the second-oldest active player after his teammate Chris Chelios. Hašek announced his retirement in June 2008. But in April 2009, he decided to play again. He signed with HC Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga. In June 2010, he joined Spartak Moscow in the KHL for his final season. Hašek officially retired in October 2012. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014. His number 39 jersey was retired by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015 and by HC Pardubice in 2013. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' ever.

Early Hockey Days

Hašek started playing hockey at age six in his home country, Czechoslovakia. He remembers:

They held a tryout for 5-year-old boys and my father took me there. I didn't even have real skates. I had those blades that you screwed onto the soles of your shoes, but I was tall, and the 9-year-olds didn't have a goalie, so they put me in with them and that's where I fell in love with the game of hockey.

In 1980, Hašek joined the top hockey league in Czechoslovakia with his hometown team, HC Pardubice. He was only 16, making him the youngest player to play professionally. He helped his team win two league titles in 1987 and 1989. The next year, he played for an army team, Dukla Jihlava. After becoming a star player and joining the Czechoslovak national team, Hašek entered the NHL draft. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1983. At that time, NHL teams were careful about drafting players from behind the Iron Curtain (countries controlled by the Soviet Union). These players were often not allowed to leave their countries to play in the NHL. Because of this, Hašek was picked in the 10th round (199th overall). He was the 17th goalie chosen. Hašek didn't even know he had been drafted until months later.

Hašek played for Czechoslovakia in the 1988 Winter Olympics. He played against Finland and Canada. His team finished sixth overall.

Until 1990, Hašek played in Czechoslovakia for HC Pardubice and Dukla Jihlava. He won the Golden Hockey Stick award three times. This award goes to the most valuable player in the Extraliga. He was also named the Extraliga's Goaltender of the Year four times in a row. His career in North America began with the Indianapolis Ice in the IHL. He played there for parts of two seasons. His NHL debut with the Blackhawks finally happened in the 1990–91 season. This was seven years after he was drafted.

NHL Career Highlights

Chicago Blackhawks (1990–1992)

In Chicago, Hašek was the backup goalie to Ed Belfour. He played only 25 games over two seasons with the Blackhawks. He also spent time with the Indianapolis Ice in the IHL. On November 6, 1990, Hašek made his first NHL start. It was a 1–1 tie against the Hartford Whalers.

His first win came on March 8, 1991, against the Buffalo Sabres. On January 9, 1992, he got his first shutout against the Toronto Maple Leafs. During his time with the Blackhawks, his goalie coach was Vladislav Tretiak. Hašek played in Game 4 of the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Even though the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, Hašek's performance caught the attention of the Sabres. They had thought about trading for him earlier that season.

Buffalo Sabres (1992–2001)

After the Stanley Cup Finals, Chicago decided to keep Belfour. They traded Hašek to the Buffalo Sabres. In Buffalo, he was first the backup goalie to Grant Fuhr. When Fuhr got injured in the 1993–94 season, Hašek became the main goalie. He quickly became one of the best goalies in the league. In 1994, he won his first Vezina Trophy. He was also a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy. He shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Fuhr. Hašek played 58 games with the best goals against average (1.95) in the league. He also had seven shutouts and a .930 save percentage. He won the Vezina Trophy again in 1995 and was a Hart finalist.

Hašek's success in the 1996–97 season was affected by a disagreement with his coach, Ted Nolan. This caused some tension within the team. During the playoffs, Hašek left a game due to a mild knee sprain. Some people wondered if he was avoiding playing. A journalist wrote about this, and Hašek reacted strongly. He received a three-game suspension and a fine. The Sabres still won that series with their backup goalie. However, Hašek did not play in the next series, which Buffalo lost.

The team's general manager was fired due to his disagreements with Nolan. Hašek had supported the general manager. Nolan, despite winning an award for best coach, was only offered a short contract and left the team. Many fans were upset and blamed Hašek for Nolan's departure. At the start of the next season, fans booed Hašek. But as the season went on, he played incredibly well. He set a record with seven shutouts in December. He won the Vezina, Lester B. Pearson Award, and Hart Trophy again. He became one of the few goalies to win the Hart Trophy.

In the 1997–98 season, Hašek played a career-high 72 games. He set a team record with 13 shutouts. Six of these shutouts came in December, tying an NHL record for one month. He won the Lester B. Pearson, Hart, and Vezina Trophies again. He was the first goalie to win the Hart Trophy twice. He donated his award money to a charity in Buffalo. After the season, he signed a large contract, making him the highest-paid goalie at the time.

In 1998–99, Hašek had his best career goals against average (1.87) and save percentage (.937). He won his third Vezina Trophy in a row, and fifth overall. The Sabres made it to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Dallas Stars. The series was very close. The final game went into three overtimes. Hašek made 50 saves. The Stars won with a controversial goal that many Sabres fans felt should not have counted. After the season, Hašek thought about retiring due to injuries and wanting to spend more time with his family.

In the 1999–2000 season, Hašek had a groin injury. He missed 40 games and did not win any major awards. The Sabres were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. In 2000–01, his last season with Buffalo, Hašek won his sixth Vezina Trophy. He also won his second William M. Jennings Trophy. The Sabres made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing a tough seven-game series.

First Time with the Detroit Red Wings (2001–2002; 2003–2004)

Before the next season, Hašek was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. This trade helped the Sabres manage their team budget and sent Hašek to a team that could win the Stanley Cup. In his first season with Detroit, Hašek had a career-high 41 wins. He helped the Red Wings have the best record in the league. In the playoffs, he led the Wings to win the Stanley Cup. He also set a record for most shutouts in a playoff year with six.

That summer, Hašek announced his retirement to spend time with his family. However, after Detroit lost in the first round the next season, he wanted to play again. This created a challenge for the Red Wings, who had signed another goalie.

In the 2003–04 season, Hašek injured his groin after only 14 games. He decided not to play for the rest of the season. He even refused to take his salary while he was injured. In April 2004, he had surgery and recovered in his hometown.

Ottawa Senators (2005–2006)

After his contract with the Red Wings ended, Hašek wanted to play for a team that could win the Stanley Cup. He specifically mentioned the Ottawa Senators. In July 2004, the Senators signed Hašek to a one-year deal.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Hašek played in a special tour called the Primus Worldstars. He played in several countries against all-star teams.

Hašek played very well for the Senators until the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. During the season, he reached 300 career wins. His goals against average and save percentage were among the best in the league. At the Winter Olympics, he injured his right leg muscle in the first game. This injury forced him to miss the rest of the regular season and playoffs. He later said he would play for a lower salary if he was re-signed.

After the Senators were eliminated in the playoffs, they decided not to re-sign Hašek.

Return to the Red Wings (2006–2008)

Hasek with the Red Wings in October 2006

On July 31, 2006, at age 41, Hašek rejoined the Red Wings. He signed a one-year contract. He had 38 wins and a 2.05 goals against average. He helped the Red Wings become the top team in their conference. He also broke his own record for not allowing a goal for 181 minutes and 17 seconds.

The team decided Hašek would not play on back-to-back nights to keep him healthy for the playoffs. He did play consecutive nights in the playoffs and helped Detroit win their first series. In the next round, he played well, helping the Red Wings reach the conference finals. However, Hašek and the Red Wings lost to the Anaheim Ducks.

Hašek thought about retiring again in 2007. But he signed another one-year contract with Detroit. During the 2007–08 season, backup goalie Chris Osgood started playing more. The team decided to use both goalies. Detroit's coach announced Hašek would start in the 2008 playoffs. But after a few games, Osgood became the main goalie for the rest of the playoffs. Hašek was disappointed but remained professional and supported his teammates. The Red Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup.

On June 9, 2008, Hašek announced his retirement from the NHL. This was just five days after winning his second Stanley Cup. He said he no longer had the motivation for another NHL season. He and Osgood shared the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals against in the season.

Final Years in Europe and Retirement

In April 2009, Hašek came out of retirement again. He signed a one-year contract with HC Moeller Pardubice, his first club. In the 2009–10 season, he led his team to win the Czech league title. Hašek had three shutouts in the playoffs. His team lost only one game before winning 12 in a row. For the 2010–11 season, Hašek signed with HC Spartak Moscow in the KHL.

In May 2012, there were reports that Hašek might play for Piráti Chomutov in the Czech Extraliga. There were also rumors he might return to the NHL. However, the start of the 2012–13 NHL season was delayed by a lockout. Hašek announced his retirement on October 9, 2012.

The Buffalo Sabres retired Hašek's number 39 jersey on January 13, 2015. It was the seventh number retired in Sabres history. In 2017, Hašek was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' during the All-Star Weekend.

International Play

Hašek in goal for the Czech Republic during the gold medal game

Hašek's most famous international performance was at the 1998 Winter Olympics. He led the Czech national team to the gold medal. He only allowed six goals in the whole tournament, with only two in the medal round. In the semifinals against Team Canada, Hašek stopped every shot in a dramatic shootout. He then shut out the Russian team 1–0 in the final game, stopping 20 shots. He was named the best goalie in the Olympics. After winning gold, he said:

When the game ended, I just threw my stick. I was so happy. When I saw the flag go up, I saw my whole career flash before my eyes from the first time my parents took me to a game until now.

His play made him incredibly popular in the Czech Republic. People even chanted "Hašek to the castle!" (referring to the president's office). Hašek jokingly told the president that his job was safe. An opera called Nagano was even created about the Czech team's win. In 2003, scientists named an asteroid (8217 Dominikhašek) after him.

At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Hašek played for only nine minutes before injuring his leg. Even without him, the Czechs won the bronze medal with their backup goalie. Hašek also received a medal.

Playing Style

Hašek displaying his flexibility in warm-ups before a 2006 game. Hašek's flexibility is credited as one of his strengths.

Hašek had a very unusual goaltending style. He was incredibly flexible. People joked that he had "a Slinky for a spine." To cover the bottom of the net, where most goals are scored, Hašek would drop down on almost every shot. His "flopping" style meant he used every part of his body, even his head, to stop the puck. Sometimes, Hašek would drop his stick and cover the puck with his stick hand, which is different from most goalies who use their glove hand. He explained his style by saying:

They say I am unorthodox, I flop around the ice like some kind of fish. I say, who cares as long as I stop the puck?

Hašek's unique style attracted many fans. Because of his flexibility, he could make difficult saves that other goalies couldn't. An opposing coach once called them "miracle saves." These saves included toe-stops and a move called the "Hašek roll." Hašek was also known for his strict training. He lost a lot of weight in 2006 to become even more flexible. Hašek was one of the last goalies to wear a helmet-and-cage combo instead of a full goalie mask.

Personal Life

Dominik Hašek and his former wife Alena have a son named Michael (born 1990) and a daughter named Dominika (born 1995). Dominika is the lead singer of the band We Are Domi. Her band represented the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. In November 2012, Hašek announced his divorce after 23 years of marriage.

In his free time, he enjoys playing squash and inline hockey. When he was younger, Hašek played competitive football as a midfielder. He was also a junior tennis champion. His brother Martin is also an athlete who played and coached football. Hašek is a fan of professional wrestling.

Hašek stands out among Czech athletes because of his education. He earned a university degree in history and the Czech language. This qualified him to be a teacher. In 1998, he launched his own sportswear brand called Dominator Clothing. He also founded the Dominik Hašek Youth Hockey League in 2001. He donated over $1 million to help kids in Buffalo play hockey. He also organized a charity hockey game in Prague in 1998. The money went to hospitals in the Czech Republic.

Hašek was known for his sense of humor. He often joked about looking like a character from the TV show Seinfeld. He was also in a MasterCard commercial that showed off his flexibility.

Politics

After retiring from hockey, Hašek became interested in politics. He has considered running for president of the Czech Republic. He has spoken out against certain politicians. For example, he criticized Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. He supported Petr Pavel in the 2023 Czech presidential election. Hašek praised Pavel for his pro-Western views.

He ran for the 2024 Czech Senate election but did not win.

Hašek has also criticized American president Donald Trump. He called Trump "unpredictable." In 2020, after Trump commented on a police incident, Hašek called his words "disgusting." He supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Hašek strongly supported banning Russian players from the NHL and Olympics. He believes they should only play if they speak out against the war. When the Sabres played in Prague in 2024, Hašek did not attend. He said he refused to "be part of an event that is an advertisement for the Russian war." He has visited Ukrainian cities that were freed from occupation. He is also part of a pro-Ukrainian social media group called NAFO.

His strong views on the Russo-Ukrainian War have caused tension with other players. He urged a fellow Czech player not to play in the KHL. He also criticized Czech lawmakers for not banning citizens from working in Russia. A former Russian teammate demanded Hašek return money he earned in Russia. Hašek replied that his former teammate supported "Russian war crimes." In 2024, he questioned if another Russian teammate should be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame during the war.

Legacy

Milestones

Hašek earned his 300th NHL win on October 15, 2005. He became the 22nd goalie to reach this milestone. He is the oldest goalie in NHL history to have a 30-win season. In 1997, he became the second goalie to win the Lester B. Pearson Award for most outstanding player. He is the only goalie to win the Hart Memorial Trophy twice. He was only one Vezina Trophy away from tying Jacques Plante's record of seven.

Records

In nine seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Hašek set over 25 team records. These include most games played, wins, shutouts, and lowest goals against average. He also holds the Sabres' record for most shutouts in a single season (13 in 1997–98). He has the lowest goals against average in a single season (1.87 in 1998–99). During the Detroit Red Wings' championship in 2002, Hašek set team records for most games played, minutes played, wins, and shutouts in a playoff year. He holds several important NHL records:

One of Hašek's most impressive single-game performances was on April 27, 1994. He made 70 saves in a four-overtime shutout. This set a record for the most saves in a game without allowing a goal, which still stands.

Influence

In 2023, famous soccer goalie Petr Čech said Hašek was one of his biggest sports idols.

Career Statistics

_{Bolded numbers indicate season leader}

Regular season and playoffs

International

Bolded numbers indicate tournament leader

Sources:

Awards and Honors

NHL Awards

Czechoslovak and Czech Awards

International Awards

See also

In Spanish: Dominik Hašek para niños

• List of NHL statistical leaders