former nhl star Dominik Hasek The league on Saturday allowed the son of Washington Capitals center Alex Ovechkin to skate on the ice at the All-Star Game over the weekend.
Hasek tweeted a photo of Ovechkin’s 4-year-old son, Sergei, skating on the ice at the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, trying to hit Roberto Luongo, who was in goal. East Buffalo Saber and detroit red wings Starr wrote of the NHL having “sunk to rock bottom”.
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Red Wings hockey goalie Dominik Hasek announces his retirement during a news conference on June 9, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan.
(Reuters / Rebecca Cook)
“Letting Ovechkin’s son perform on the ice at the NHL All-Star is spitting in the face of nearly 500 killed, thousands injured and tens of thousands of kidnapped Ukrainian children,” he tweeted. “The NHL and Gary Bettman must pay for this heinous act!”
The NHL did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Ovechkin, his son and Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby skated together Friday night during a skills event.
“It was great. Everyone enjoyed it. Obviously, Sergei was always smiling,” Ovechkin later said via ESPN. “It’s a special moment. It’s great for the sport and for both of us. And for Sergei as well.”
Former Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo attempts to block a shot on goal by Sergei Ovechkin, son of Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, at the NHL All Star Skills Showcase, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Sunrise, Florida.
(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
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Ovechkin is only 82 goals away from breaking the mark set by Wayne Gretzky.
Hasek’s stance stems from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. The Capitals star was taking a hard line on comments about the war. He said the situation was difficult last year” because he had friends in both Russia and Ukraine.
“Please, no more war,” Ovechkin said on February 25, 2022. “It doesn’t matter who’s at war — Russia, Ukraine, different countries — I think we live in a world, like, us in peace and a great world.”
Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals stands on the ice during the NHL All Star Skills Showcase, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Sunrise, Florida.
(AP Photo/Lynn Sladky)
Hasek called NHL to suspend Russian players last year about the war.
The former NHL goalkeeper is from the Czech Republic. He was a six-time NHL All-Star and Vezina Award winner. He won two Stanley Cups during his career.
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He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.