Five Questions with Dominik Hasek

NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Five Questions With…" runs every Tuesday. We talk to key figures in the game and ask them questions to gain insight into their lives, careers and the latest news.
The latest edition features Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hasek.

Dominik Hasek still enjoys playing hockey. But the former NHL goaltender, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014, is playing a different position these days.
"I'm a defenseman," said Hasek after signing autographs prior to the Philadelphia Flyers' 4-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL Global Series in Prague on Friday. "It's something for me to score the goals, and playing defense is fun."
The 54-year-old operates his own business but could be eyeing a much bigger job in the future: president of the Czech Republic. Current president Milos Zeman is serving his second consecutive five-year term and cannot run for a third term in 2023.
"There is a possibility," said Hasek, who first mentioned his possible interest to Prague station Radio Impuls in July. "I will see what's going to happen two or three years from now."

Here are Five Questions with… Dominik Hasek:
What keeps you busy these days?
"I do many things, you know? I'm still playing hockey for fun, for an amateur team. I go once or twice a week on the ice. For business, yes, I do have energy drinks with the name Smarty. And [as company managing director] it's something that keeps me busy every day.
"Also, I have two dogs, two hunting dogs, an English setter and a Hungarian setter, I think? Two dogs that I go hunting with. Right now, actually it's hunting season for the pheasants, for the ducks and so on. So, it's really fun for me. Business is No. 1, playing hockey is fun and hunting with my dogs is also fun for me."
So how serious are you about running for president of the Czech Republic?
"Politics is something I like to listen to, what I like to study. However, the next few years I still want to stay with what I'm doing. So that means the drink business, the Smarty business."
[Zeman] has three more years left. Right now, my focus is on business and some other things. But three years from now, we'll see what I'm going to do."

How much do you follow politics?
"I study, read books, read internet, listen to the radio and watch them on TV. I also follow, very much, the American business. I really follow what's going on in the USA because, what's going in on in the USA affects Europe and the Czech Republic also. So, world politics, this is something that I really enjoy following."
Let's switch over to hockey. How much did you enjoy the NHL coming back to Prague for a regular-season game for the first time since 2010?
"It's very exciting for the Czech hockey fans, you know? They can see NHL hockey after [several] years here in Prague. I could talk to some people and not only from Prague, they're traveling from all over the country. They're also coming from Slovakia, even from England. It's a great experience for the fans, and I believe also for the players."
You spent nine seasons with the Buffalo Sabres (1992-2001). How much do you still do in the city?
"Buffalo, I'd say, is a little bit like my second home. I'll go there every year at least twice, and I plan to go there in November, because I still have my Hasek Heroes charity program for inner-city kids to play hockey, which is very exciting. Of course, the Sabres organization I spend eight or nine years and I'm still in touch with many people. I like the community, I like the city and I always enjoy going back to Buffalo.
"This is the 50th season for the Buffalo Sabres. So, this year, I'm even more excited to go there and to meet my teammates or meet the people who I remember, even the older players, you know? It's always fun to go there and spend some time and enjoy hockey and life with them."