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) 29 January 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 is a famous Czech former ice hockey goaltender. He played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Many people think he is one of the best goalies ever. Hašek played for the Buffalo Sabres for most of his NHL career. He also played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators.

In Buffalo, he became a top goalie and earned the nickname "The Dominator". His amazing play helped more European goalies get a chance in the NHL. Before him, most goalies were from North America. Hašek won the Stanley Cup twice with the Detroit Red Wings. He was the main goalie for his first win and a backup for his second.

Hašek was a very successful goalie in the 1990s and early 2000s. He won six Vezina Trophies for being the best goalie. He also won the Hart Memorial Trophy twice as the league's most valuable player. This made him 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 only 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 starting goalie to win the Stanley Cup. He also set a record for shutouts in a playoff year.

Hašek was known for his unusual goaltending style. People called him a "flopper" because of how he moved. He was great at staying focused, moving his feet quickly, and being very flexible. He made many unique saves, sometimes even covering the puck with his blocker instead of his trapper. Hašek holds the record for the highest NHL career save percentage (0.9223). He is also seventh in goals against average (2.202). He is in the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, and the IIHF Hall of Fame. His jersey number was retired by the Buffalo Sabres and HC Pardubice. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' of all time.

Early Hockey Days

Hašek started playing hockey when he was six years old in his home country, Czechoslovakia. He explained that he didn't even have real skates at first. He used blades that screwed onto his shoes. But he was tall, and an older team needed a goalie. So, he joined them and fell in love with the game.

In 1980, Hašek joined the top hockey league in Czechoslovakia. He played for his hometown team, HC Pardubice. He was only 16, making him the youngest player ever to play professionally in that league. He helped his team win two league titles in 1987 and 1989. The next year, he played for an army team, Dukla Jihlava.

Joining the NHL

After becoming well-known and playing for the Czechoslovak national team, Hašek entered the NHL draft. The Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in 1983. At that time, NHL teams were careful about drafting players from behind the Iron Curtain. 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, as the 17th goalie chosen. He 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. He won the Golden Hockey Stick award three times. He was also named the league's Goaltender of the Year for four years in a row. His career in America began with the Indianapolis Ice in the IHL. He finally made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks 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. He also spent time with the Indianapolis Ice. 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 this time, 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 play caught the attention of the Sabres.

Buffalo Sabres (1992–2001)

After the Stanley Cup Finals, Chicago traded Hašek to the Buffalo Sabres on August 7, 1992. He was traded for goalie Stéphane Beauregard and a future draft pick. In Buffalo, he started as the backup to Grant Fuhr. When Fuhr got injured in the 1993–94 season, Hašek became the main goalie. He quickly became one of the best. In 1994, he won his first Vezina Trophy and was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy. He also shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Fuhr. Hašek played 58 games with a league-best 1.95 goals against average (GAA) and a .930 save percentage. He won the Vezina Trophy again in 1994–95.

Hašek had a conflict with his coach, Ted Nolan, in the 1996–97 season. This caused some tension within the team. During the playoffs, Hašek left a game due to a knee injury. Some people, including a journalist, questioned if he was truly injured. Hašek reacted strongly to the journalist and was suspended for three games and fined. Even without Hašek, the Sabres won that playoff series. However, they lost the next series.

The general manager was fired, and Hašek said the team would be better without Nolan. Even though Nolan won an award for best coach, he left the team. Many fans were upset and blamed Hašek for Nolan's departure. For the start of the next season, fans booed Hašek loudly. But as he played incredibly well, the booing stopped. 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. He won the Lester B. Pearson Award, Hart Trophy, and Vezina Trophy again. This made him the first goalie to win the Hart Trophy twice. He signed a big contract, becoming the highest-paid goalie at the time.

In 1998–99, Hašek had his best GAA (1.87) and save percentage (.937). He won his third Vezina Trophy in a row, and fifth overall. The Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Finals against the Dallas Stars. The series was very close. The final game went into triple overtime. The Stars won with a controversial goal by Brett Hull. His skate was in the goal crease, which was against the rules at the time. The goal was allowed, making the Sabres very angry. 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 was bothered by a groin injury. He missed 40 games. He didn't win any major awards that year. The Sabres lost 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 won their first-round playoff series. They then played a seven-game series against the Penguins, losing in overtime in the final game.

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 lower their costs and sent Hašek to a team that could win the Stanley Cup. In his first season with Detroit, Hašek won 41 games and helped the Red Wings have the best record in the league. In the playoffs, he led the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup. He set a record for most shutouts in a playoff year with six.

After winning the Stanley Cup, Hašek announced he was retiring to spend time with his family. However, after Detroit lost in the playoffs the next season, he wanted to play again. This caused a tricky situation for the Red Wings, who already had other goalies.

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 groin surgery.

Ottawa Senators (2005–2006)

After his contract with the Red Wings ended, Hašek wanted to play for another team that could win the Stanley Cup. He joined the Ottawa Senators on July 6, 2004.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Hašek played in a special tour called the Primus Worldstars. He played well for the Senators until the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He reached 300 career wins during the season. His GAA and save percentage were among the best in the league. At the Olympics, he injured his right leg in the first game. This injury made him miss the rest of the season and playoffs. The Senators decided not to re-sign him.

Second Time with the Red Wings (2006–2008)

Hašek 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 won 38 games and had a 2.05 GAA. He helped the Red Wings get the best record in their conference. He also set a personal record by not allowing a goal for over 181 minutes. To keep him healthy for the playoffs, the team decided he wouldn't play on back-to-back nights.

In the 2007 playoffs, Hašek helped the Red Wings win their first series. They then lost to the Anaheim Ducks, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. Hašek thought about retiring again in 2007. But he signed another one-year contract with Detroit.

In the 2007–08 season, Hašek shared the starting goalie role with Chris Osgood. The coach announced Hašek would start the 2008 playoffs. However, after a few games, Osgood took over as the main goalie. Hašek was disappointed but remained professional and supported his teammates. The Red Wings went on to beat the Penguins and 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 didn't have the motivation for another year. He and Osgood won the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals as a team that season.

Later Years 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 to claim the title. For the 2010–11 season, Hašek signed with HC Spartak Moscow in the KHL.

On October 9, 2012, Hašek announced his second retirement. The Buffalo Sabres retired Hašek's number 39 jersey on January 13, 2015. This made his number the seventh to be retired in Sabres history. On January 27, 2017, Hašek was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

International Play

Hašek in goal for the Czech Republic during the gold medal game of the 1998 Winter Olympics

Hašek's most famous international moment 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. Only two of those goals came in the medal rounds. In the semifinals against Team Canada, Hašek stopped many famous players in a dramatic shootout win. He then shut out the Russian team 1–0 in the final game. He was named the best goaltender in the Olympics. After winning gold, he said he saw his whole career flash before his eyes.

His amazing play made him very popular in the Czech Republic. People even chanted "Hašek to the castle!" This was a joke about him becoming president. Hašek called the president, Václav Havel, and jokingly told him his job was safe. An asteroid was even named after him in 2003.

At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Hašek played for only a short time. He injured his right leg. Even without him, the Czech team won the bronze medal. Hašek also received a medal.

Playing Style

Hašek showing his flexibility during warm-ups before a 2006 game. His flexibility was a key strength.

Hašek had a very unusual goaltending style. He was incredibly flexible. People joked that he had "a Slinky for a spine". To block shots at the bottom of the net, Hašek would often drop down. His "flopping" style meant he moved around a lot in the crease. 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. Most goalies use their glove hand for this.

When people talked about his unique style, Hašek explained: "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 drew many fans to games. Because he was so flexible, 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 goaltender mask.

Personal Life

Dominik Hašek and his former wife Alena have a son named Michael and a daughter named Dominika. 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. He played for the Czech Republic football team AC Sparta Prague and later became a coach. Hašek is a fan of professional wrestling.

Hašek is known for his education. He earned a university degree in history and the Czech language. This qualified him to be a teacher. In May 2001, Hašek started the Dominik Hašek Youth Hockey League. 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 is known for his sense of humor. He often jokes about looking like Cosmo Kramer from the TV show Seinfeld. He was in a MasterCard commercial that showed off his flexibility.

Views on Politics

After retiring from hockey, Hašek became interested in politics. He has followed Czech politics closely. In 2019, he spoke at a rally against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. He supported Petr Pavel in the 2023 Czech presidential election. In 2024, Hašek said Pavel was "doing an excellent job." He praised Pavel for his pro-Western views.

Hašek ran for the Czech Senate in 2024. He finished third in his district.

Hašek has also shared his views on American politics. He has criticized former President Donald Trump. He supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Hašek has spoken out strongly. He believes the NHL and Olympics should ban Russian players unless they speak 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 an "honorary Fella" of the pro-Ukrainian social media group NAFO.

His strong views on the Russo-Ukrainian War have caused tension with other players. He urged fellow Czech player Libor Šulák not to play in the KHL. He also criticized Czech lawmakers for not stopping Czech citizens from working in Russia. Former Red Wings teammate and Russian politician Viacheslav Fetisov demanded Hašek return money he received while playing in Russia. Hašek replied that Fetisov "gave the green light" to Russian war crimes in Ukraine. In 2024, he questioned if Russian player Pavel Datsyuk should be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame during the war. He felt it was wrong unless Datsyuk condemned the war. When Alexander Ovechkin set a goal-scoring record in 2025, Hašek called Ovechkin "a huge advertisement for the aggressive Russian war."

Legacy and Records

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. He is the only goalie to win the Hart 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 with 13 in 1997–98. He also has the lowest goals against average in a single season with 1.87 in 1998–99. During the Detroit Red Wings' Stanley Cup win 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:

• Highest career save percentage: .922
• Most games played by a European-born goaltender: 735
• Most shutouts: 81 (6th all-time)
• Lowest goals against average: 2.20 (7th all-time)
• Most wins: 389 (11th all-time)

In the regular season, he was the first European goalie to lead the NHL in GAA (1993–94). He was also the first goalie since 1974 to have a GAA below 2.00 (1993–94). He holds the record for most shutouts in one month (six in 1997–98).

In the playoffs, he is second all-time for most shutouts in one season (6). He is third all-time for most career shutouts (15). He is tenth all-time for most wins (61).

One of his most impressive games was on April 27, 1994. Hašek made 70 saves in a four-overtime shutout. This set a record for the most saves in a game without allowing a goal. This record still stands today.

Influence

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

Career Statistics

International Play Statistics

Awards and Honors

NHL Awards

Czechoslovak and Czech Awards

International Awards

See also

In Spanish: Dominik Hašek para niños

• List of NHL statistical leaders