From Pride Month to Hockey Fights Cancer, theme nights have become a common sight among NHL franchises in recent years.
However, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ upcoming celebration has one Hall of Famer (and plenty of hockey fans) up in arms.
With the team recently announcing that they will hold “Russian Heritage Night” as they host the Washington Capitals on December 12, former NHL goalie Dominik Hasek has been quick to voice his frustration over the event.
Hasek sounded off on the NHL in a lengthy X post on Tuesday, even accusing the league he played in for 16 seasons of supporting Russia in their ongoing war with Ukraine.
“The NHL has definitely gone crazy,” he wrote. “In addition to its long-term support of the Russian war and Russian crimes in Ukraine, it has come up with a new Russian project.”
He then proceeded to list an array of war crimes he attributed to the nation from WW2 up to the present day.
The @NHL has definitely gone crazy. In addition to its long-term support of the Russian war and Russian crimes in Ukraine, it has come up with a new Russian project. I hope that during this December game, at the stadium and on TV will show 1) millions of dead Ukrainians in the… pic.twitter.com/YpZHXKzESZ
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) November 26, 2024
In a separate post, the 59-year-old Czechia native said the NHL allowing the game to be hosted is equivalent to giving Russia military equipment, adding that the league is responsible for future deaths in Ukraine.
“People have died and will die because of the NHL and this match, and the NHL bears full responsibility for this. It is the same as if they gave Russia 10 tanks and 5 modern aircraft instead of this match,” Hasek added. “People are dying and being maimed in Ukraine because of the NHL. The NHL must pay Ukraine billions of dollars.”
Down in the replies, many X users echoed the two-time Stanley Cup champion’s sentiments.
It is more than crazy!
— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) November 23, 2024
One user called the evening a “recipe for disaster” and anticipated fights breaking out in the stands.
This is a recipe for disaster, I’m certain scores of people who are pro Ukraine are buying up tickets to this. You’re gonna have a lot of people in the stands fighting each other at this game.
— Blurryk 🇺🇲 (@Blurryk2) November 24, 2024
Another called it beyond “sad and shameful.”
Beyond sad and shameful
— Davor Glasnović (@GlasnovicD13508) November 24, 2024
One of the replies predicted that the event would be postponed over backlash but blamed on the fact that Capitals captain and Russia native Alex Ovechkin is injured.
My guess with Ovechkin injury, they will use that as a pretext to quitly “postpone”.
— Jos Montferrand ✈☕⚜🇺🇦🇩🇴 (@JosMontferrand1) November 23, 2024
While “Russian Heritage Night” doesn’t appear on the team’s official promotional calendar, the full itinerary for the evening remains on the Blue Jackets’ website.