Former NHL star Dominik Hasek on Saturday questioned whether the league would allow Washington Capitals center Alex Ovechkin’s son to ice skate at the All-Star Game over the weekend.
Hasek tweeted a photo of Ovechkin’s 4-year-old son, Sergei, ice skating at the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, and trying to get past Roberto Luongo, who was in goal. The former Buffalo Sabers and Detroit Red Wings star wrote that the NHL «sank to the bottom.»
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Red Wings hockey goalie Dominik Hasek announces his retirement during a news conference in Detroit, Michigan on June 9, 2008.
(Reuters/Rebecca Cook)
«Letting Ovechkin’s son perform on the ice at the NHL All-Star is spitting in the face of approximately 500 dead, 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 the skills event.
«It was great. Everyone enjoyed it. Obviously Sergei was always smiling,» Ovechkin said afterwards, via ESPN. «That’s a special moment. It’s great for the game and great for both of us. And also for Sergei.»
Former Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo tries to stop a shot on goal by Sergei Ovechkin, 4, son of Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin, during the NHL All Star Skills Showcase, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Sunrise, FL.
(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
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Ovechkin is just 82 goals away from breaking the mark set by Wayne Gretzky.
Hasek’s stance grew out of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. The Capitals star had been walking a tightrope by commenting on the war. He said that last year the situation was difficult because he had friends both in Russia and in Ukraine.
«Please, no more war,» Ovechkin said on February 25, 2022. «It doesn’t matter who is at war: Russia, Ukraine, different countries, I think we live in a world in which we have to live.» in peace and in a big world».
Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin stands on the ice during the NHL All Star Skills Showcase, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Sunrise, Florida.
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Hasek asked the NHL to suspend Russian players last year over the war.
The former NHL goaltender 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.