Detroit Red Wings

Ex-Red Wings Hasek, Slegr Passed Over in Czech Hockey Vote

Former Red Wings Dominik Hasek and Jiri Slegr were defeated in their bid for the presidency of Czech hockey

Published

2 years ago

June 18, 2022

Bob Duff

Former Red WIngs defenseman Jiri Slegr finished second in balloting to be head of Czech ice hockey.

Neither Dominik Hasek or Jiri Slegr were successful in their bid for the presidency of the Czech Ice Hockey Association.

Following the holding of the vote on Saturday, Alois Hadamczik, a former national team coach, won election to the country’s top hockey post by the narrowest of margins. Of the 60 ballots cast, Hadamczik’s name was selected on 31 of them. To win the presidency, it was necessary to be named on a majority of the ballots cast.

The decision is not being met with welcoming praise from the Czech hockey media. “Alois Hadamczik won something for the first time in Czech hockey,” wrote Pavel Ryšavý, editor of iSport.cz.

Hadamczik, 70, coached the Czech Republic at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, finishing sixth. He also guided the country’s fortunes at two IIHF Word Junior Championships. The Czechs finished fourth in the 2004 tourney and won a bonze medal at the 2005 event.

“The sport needs a tough hand,” Hadamczik told iSport.cz. “In my position and everywhere else.

“I want to restore the delegates’ confidence so that they do not have to be ashamed of me. I have moral principles and I will definitely not end up taking someone’s phone calls. I’m fine, no debts, no mistakes.”

Red Wings Pair Overlooked

Slegr, who had the backing of Czech hockey legend Jaromir Jagr, was considered to be the favorite to win the vote. Slegr is a member of the IIHF Triple Gold Club. He won a Stanley Cup with the 2001-02 Red Wings, and an Olympic gold medal (1998) and IIHF World Championship (2005) with the Czech Republic.

Expectations were that his combination of hockey experience as both player and coach/manager, as well as a background in Czech politics, was going to give Slegr a leg up in the eyes of the delegates.

Instead, he finished a distant second, garnering just 16 votes. Slegr was given an appointment to the executive committee, however.

Gr 8 pic from Litvínov, Cz. Jiri Slegr top rw, 1st from L, 622 GP. Robert Lang (top rw, 5th from L), 989 NHL GP. Martin Rucinsky (middle rw, 2nd from R), 961 GP. Robert Reichel (bottom rw, 3rd from R) 830 GP. Also Ivan Hlinka Jr. (middle rw, 4th from R) son of Ivan Hlinka.
WOW pic.twitter.com/CMiC78HDsq

— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) April 2, 2022

Hasek, Slegr’s teammate on the 2001-02 Cup-winning Red Wings, finished third. Voters ended up putting his name down on only five ballots.

Among the most decorated players in Czech history, the outspoken Hasek won Olympic gold in 1998. In the NHL, he won a second Stanley Cup with the Wings in 2007-08 and earned six Vezina and two Hart Trophies while playing for the Buffalo Sabres.

However, leading into the vote, Hasek was hinting that he knew he didn’t stand a chance of earning the victory.

“Someone doesn’t want a change,” Hasek said.