Dominik Hašek: first Czech ever inducted into NHL Hockey Hall of Fame 10 years ago
10 years ago, former goaltender Dominik Hašek became the first Czech NHL hockey player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame is a rare and prestigious honor, reserved for only a select few. In Canada, the ceremony garners attention on par with the Stanley Cup Finals.
Dominik Hašek’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada, marked the pinnacle of a remarkable career for the 59-year-old native of Pardubice.
Reflecting on the achievement, Hašek remarked, “When you’re playing, you don’t think about these things. But after you retire and reflect on your career—what hockey gave you and what you gave back—it’s an incredible honor to be alongside so many fantastic players from around the world.”
He became only the tenth European to receive this distinction. Over his storied career, the legendary goaltender amassed an impressive collection of awards.
A Nagano Olympic champion, Hašek played in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators. He was instrumental in the Red Wings' Stanley Cup wins in 2002 and 2008. Hašek claimed the Vezina Trophy for the league’s best goaltender six times (1994-95, 1997-99, 2001), the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player twice, and the Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay Award) for the NHLPA’s most outstanding player in 1997 and 1998.
Over 735 NHL games, Hašek achieved a 2.13 goals-against average and a 92.2% save percentage. He ranks 11th in all-time wins with 389 and shares sixth place for career shutouts with 81. His jersey was retired in his hometown of Pardubice, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Buffalo Sabres. Hašek also won the Golden Hockey Stick five times as the Czech league’s best player and was named the Czech Hockey Player of the Century.
Since Hašek’s induction, more Czech players have joined the NHL Hall of Fame. In 2018, Milan Hejduk, a 2001 Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche, was honored. In 2022, Patrik Eliáš, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils, earned the accolade. Most recently, Jaromír Jágr was inducted, further cementing Czech hockey’s legacy.
