NHL legend Dominic Hasek took aim at Alex Ovechkin in a Twitter thread. (Photos via Getty)
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine escalates, many companies and countries are boycotting Russian goods or preventing major sporting events from taking place in the country. A Hockey Hall of Famer wants the practice to be taken to the next level and asked the NHL to suspend all contracts of Russian players.
Dominic Hasek, an all-time great and arguably the best goalscorer to ever play the game, took to Twitter on Saturday morning to share his thoughts on a certain Russian star seeking peace.
“What!? Not only an alibist, a chicken sh-t, but also a liar! Every adult in Europe knows very well that Putin is a mad killer and that Russia is waging an aggressive war against a free country and its people, Hasek reacted to Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin in a tweet, expressing hope for an end to the conflict.
As a central and prominent figure in Russian sports, Ovechkin was asked Friday about his opinion on the offensive.
“It is a difficult situation. I have a lot of friends in Russia and Ukraine. And it is hard to watch the war. I hope that it will end soon and there is going to be peace all over the world,” Ovechkin said.
“Please, don’t go to war any more. It doesn’t matter who’s at war – Russia, Ukraine, different countries – I think we live in a world, like, we have to live in peace and a great world. “
Following a plea for peace, Ovechkin, who has campaigned for Vladimir Putin in the past, said he still supports his president, but insisted he is an athlete and not into politics.
This sparked a response from Hasek, who went even further to demand the NHL immediately suspend all contracts of Russian players, saying they represent the country and its actions.
“The NHL must immediately suspend the contracts of all Russian players,” Hasek wrote. “Every athlete represents not only himself and his club, but also his country and its values and actions. It is a fact. If the NHL does not do this, it has an indirect co-responsibility for the dead in Ukraine .
“I would also like to write, that I am deeply sorry for the Russian athletes who condemn Putin and his Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, at this time I also consider his boycott to be a necessity.”
Whether the league actually takes the appeal of its alumni seriously and suspends dozens of active Russian players in the league for foreign attack still remains to be seen.
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