In September, Hašek turned to the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which, even at his instigation, called on the NHL management to prevent Russian players working in San Jose and Nashville from going to Prague.
But the Czech side was not successful. At that time, the Russian hockey players already had valid visas for the Schengen area, which they entered via Switzerland or Germany, where Predators and Sharks played preparatory duels against Bern and Eisbären Berlin.
During the weekend, 2 matches were played in Prague @NHL. The NHL leadership led by Gary Bettman and Bill Daly did not respect our position @mzvcr , so that Russian players do not play. Until the current leadership of the NHL resigns and the new leadership apologizes to our democratic country, the NHL is no longer welcome in the Czech Republic.
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) October 10, 2022
Which still irritates Hašek. He previously said that with Russian ice hockey players on the ice, the audience at the O2 arena would be watching an advertisement for the Russian war and the killings in Ukraine.
Now the Dominator is asking for an apology from the NHL.
“On the weekend, 2 NHL games were played in Prague. The leadership of the NHL, led by Gary Bettman and Bill Daly, did not respect the position of our State Department that Russian players should not play. Until the current leadership of the NHL resigns and the new leadership apologizes to our democratic country, the NHL is no longer welcome in the Czech Republic,” Hašek wrote on his Twitter.
In the end, Nashville forward Jakov Trenin played both games in Prague, San Jose forward Yevgenij Svečnikov played only in the second game on Saturday.
“We will return to Prague again. I expect that we will continue with the games here,” said NHL Vice President Bill Daly shortly before the start of the opening Prague duel between the hockey players of San Jose and Nashville.
According to behind-the-scenes information, this could happen in a year, even if it is not a competitive match, but “just” a preparation between Sparta Prague and New Jersey.
