Hockey Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek has criticized Alex Ovechkin after the Washington Capitals captain appeared in a promotional video for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In the clip, Ovechkin was shown standing behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a campaign ad for United Russia, the political party backed by Putin. The appearance drew widespread backlash on social media given Ovechkin’s long-standing ties to Putin and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Reacting to the clip, Hasek took to X and slammed Alex Ovechkin:
“How will Canada respond to this? Will it allow this public supporter of Russia’s imperialist war and other Russian crimes to make public appearances—play in the NHL—on its Canadian soil? Do Canadians value Ukrainian and Russian lives less than the game of hockey itself?” Hasek wrote.
After the backlash, the Washington Capitals said in a statement that Alex Ovechkin was asked to participate in the campaign ad while he was back in Russia this summer.
Former NHL referee slams Dominik Hasek over criticism of Donald Trump
Former NHL referee Tim Peel recently pushed back against Hasek’s ongoing criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump regarding his handling of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Hasek shared a clip of the attacks and once again criticized Trump:
“Bin Laden killed about 2,606 people, and Obama took him out. Putin has murdered millions of people, and U.S. President Trump hasn’t even come close to that. He even calls Putin a friend,” Hasek wrote on X.
In response, Peel criticized Hasek and called him a “loser.”
“You’re such a loser Dom. I had heard you were a bad teammate when I refereed you, now it all makes sense,” Peel wrote.
Hasek has been a vocal opponent of the invasion and has argued that any Russian citizen who does not officially condemn the war effectively serves as an advertisement for it. He believes such individuals should face restrictions on public appearances in EU and NATO countries.
He has also frequently criticized Trump for failing to keep his promise of ending the war after returning to power in 2024.
Edited by Abhishek Dilta
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