Dominik Hasek, the Czech Olympic gold medalist and two-time Stanley Cup champion, says his government should make it illegal for Czech nationals to play with professional teams in Russia because they are supporting Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Commenting after fellow Czech Dmitrij Jaskin signed to play for CKA St. Petersburg in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, Hasek said in a tweet that such a move was "a danger to our country."
"The work of a Czech citizen in the Russian Federation is supporting the Russian regime, the war against Ukraine, and therefore a danger to our country and its citizens. However, I don't blame the player or his agent, but the government and the parliament of the Czech Republic for not having adopted a law that prohibits this," Hasek said.
While Finland and Sweden have told their players that skating with a KHL team will exclude them from being eligible for the national team, the Czechs have not implemented such a restriction.
The 29-year-old Jaskin, who played last season in the National Hockey League for the Arizona Coyotes, was born in the Russian city of Omsk but grew up in the Czech Republic, where his father played professional hockey.
Jaskin has played as both a junior and an adult for the Czech national team. He also previously played in the KHL from 2019 to 2021 for Dynamo Moscow.
The International Ice Hockey Federation has banned national and club teams from Russia and Belarus, which has aided Moscow in its war with Ukraine, from international competition.
Hasek, 57, is the most decorated Czech hockey goalie of all time. He played 16 seasons in the NHL before returning home in 2009 to play with the Czech team HC Pardubice.
A year later, he played one season in the KHL for Spartak Moscow before retiring for good.
Neither Jaskin, nor his agent, have commented on Hasek's statement.