"Dominator" Hasek retires after 16 NHL seasons

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

DETROIT, Michigan (AFP) — Detroit Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek, a Czech star who played 16 National Hockey League seasons, announced his retirement Monday after helping backstop his second Stanley Cup title team.

The 43-year-old netminder powered the Czech Republic to 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic gold in the first Games showdown to feature NHL talent and helped Detroit claim a fourth NHL title in 11 years, beating Pittsburgh last week in the final.

"Sixteen years is a long time that unfortunately has gone by too fast," Hasek said. "Many wonderful things have happened to me during my career."

Hasek won the Vezina Trophy symbolic of NHL goaltending supremacy six times and is the only goalie to win consecutive NHL Most Valuable Player honors, with a 92.2...