Hasek Set to Dominate KHL

kaatiya — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:03:05 +0000

Dominik Hasek will suit up with kids half his age when makes his debut for the HC Spartak of the KHL.

Attention all ye graybeards (in sports terms, that’s anyone over the age of, say, 34): Let it be known that one of your own is back. That’s right, Dominik Hasek, at the downright ancient age of 45 is strapping on ye olde pads and returning to hockey.

Well, sort of.

Most NHL fans will recall his retirement from the league in 2008 shortly after helping the Detroit Red Wings return to Stanley Cup glory.

So that’s it for him right?

Well, he did sit out a year, doing whatever it is quirky retired goalies do in their Golden Years. He came out of retirement last year playing for HC Moeller Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga — the team where he got his pro career started. Now — drum roll please — he’s taking on the Kontinental Hockey League. He made it official today at a presser in Russia, donning yet another red-and-white jersey, this time the crimson “C” of HC Spartak of the KHL.

Claiming he wants a new challenge, here comes “The Dominator” (again), set to steamroll — or at least use his patented flip-flopping, rollicking style — against teams in the KHL. I can’t wait to see how he’ll hold up against the tougher competition of the KHL. I plan to check it out myself when Goddess Sasha and I hit Moscow again in November.

Can he still play? I can’t attest to it personally, but Spartak must see something in his play that made the risk of taking an old fellow like Hasek worthwhile. And he did, after all, backstop his Czech league team to the Extraliga championship this year. Perhaps he can do the same for Spartak. If so, could another NHL comeback be far behind?

If so, I daresay all of the over-the-hill, over-30, “old-timers” will be cheering for him. Hasek joins a handful of other like-really-old players we can’t help but marvel at — we marvel at their ability and will to continue on, as well as their apparent pride and unwillingness to let the kids have a shot. On the other hand, if you’ve still got it, baby, flaunt it. All the geezers who woulda, coulda, shoulda will be watching.

Photo: Dominik Hasek by Alexey Sazonov/AFP/Getty Images.

From Russia &etc…

kaatiya — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:14:25 +0000

KHL logo

The Continental Hockey League (KHL) released its schedule for 2009-10 — just in case you happen to find yourself over there. Sergei Fedorov only recently departed the NHL and I already have a hankering for some Feds! Unfortunately when Goddess Sasha and I are in Moscow next year, his team won’t be visiting any of the six local team. Alas!

Anyway, here’s the schedule (pdf) >>

Notes: The home team is listed on the left. I am really hoping to see Richard Zednik again.

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Hasek Set to Dominate KHL

From Russia &etc…