Detroit Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Tuesday, admitting to a recent blackjack conviction in his native Czech Republic.
“I am announcing my retirement today because I do not want the NHL or any other team to be put in a difficult position because of my situation,” said Hasek, 42. “It has been an honor and a privilege to play in the best league in the world for so many years.”
Hasek, who spent 10 of his 18 NHL seasons with Detroit, won six Vezina Trophies as the league’s top goaltender and was a two-time MVP. He helped lead the Red Wings to Stanley Cup championships in 2002 and 2008.
In July, a Prague court convicted Hasek of cheating at blackjack and sentenced him to five months in prison. He is appealing the verdict.
“While I am still fighting this legal battle, I do not want my situation to become a distraction for the Red Wings or any other team I might play for,” he said. “I love this game too much.”
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said he was disappointed that Hasek was retiring but appreciated all he had done for the club.
“Dominik’s contributions to our organization will never be forgotten,” Holland said. “He will always be part of the Detroit Red Wings family.”
Detroit Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek had strong words denying a new blackjack bust against him.
“There is no truth to the rumors,” said Hasek. “I’ve never been convicted of a crime in my life and I’m not going to start now.”
The denial comes after reports surfaced that Hasek was part of a blackjack ring that was shut down by casino security.
“I can assure you that I was not involved in any illegal activity,” said Hasek. “I was simply playing blackjack like everyone else in the casino.”
Hasek says he plans to fight the allegations and vows to clear his good name.
In what could be considered a shocking development, Detroit Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek has admitted to a new blackjack bust. In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, the future hall of famer said that he had been playing blackjack at the MGM Grand in Detroit and had lost over $200,000.
This is not the first time that Hasek has been in the news for his blackjack exploits. In February of this year, he was banned from casinos in the Czech Republic after being caught counting cards. This latest admission will no doubt bring more scrutiny to his gambling habits.
Hasek is not the only high-profile NHL player to have been caught up in gambling controversies. Earlier this year, Jaromir Jagr was fined by the NHL for betting on hockey games. And in 2007, Rick Tocchet was charged with money laundering and illegal bookmaking activities.
Hasek has not commented on whether he will face any disciplinary action from the Red Wings or the NHL for his admitted gambling losses.
Former NHL goaltender Dominik Hasek, who played for six teams during his 16-year career and is best known for his time with the Buffalo Sabres, was caught playing blackjack at a casino in the Czech Republic for the third time this year.
Hasek, 52, was banned from the casino in question and had his winnings confiscated after he was caught counting cards on July 2nd. This is not the first time that Hasek has been caught counting cards; he was also caught doing so in February and April of this year.
Hasek has acknowledged that he knows how to count cards and admitted that he did so at the casino in question, but he denies any wrongdoing. “I was just playing normally,” he said. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The Czech Republic’s gambling laws are much less strict than those of other countries, which may be why Hasek has been repeatedly caught counting cards at casinos in his home country. In the United States, for example, card counting is considered cheating and can result in a player being banned from a casino.
In a stunning turn of events, Dominik Hasek, the superstar goalie for the Detroit Red Wings and former Czech Republic national team captain, was caught playing blackjack in an illegal casino in Detroit. This is the second time in less than a year that Hasek has been caught gambling illegally; he was also spotted gambling at an illegal casino in his home country last year.
It’s not clear what sort of punishment Hasek could face if he is found guilty of gambling illegally; in the United States, it’s possible to be prosecuted for up to five years in prison and fined up to $250,000. In Czech Republic, where gambling laws are much more lax, Hasek could potentially face a small fine or a short suspension from playing professional hockey.
Hasek has had a long and illustrious career as a professional goaltender, winning two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and earning six Vezina Trophies as the NHL’s best goalie. He has also been one of the most successful goaltenders in international play, leading the Czech Republic to two gold medals and one silver medal at the World Championships.
Sponsors and fans of Hasek will likely be hoping that this latest incident does not tarnish his reputation; however, with another gambling charge pending, it remains to be seen how Hasek will fare.
