Dominik Hasek: Between the goal posts at the age of 45.

Dominik Hasek's portrait even features on a newly published road map. He also celebrated a spectacular departure from his local club Pardubice, with which the 45-year-old won the Czech championship title last season. The fact that the championship cup got badly damaged during a private party thrown by Hasek has kept the Czech sports press busy for weeks.

Having played 19 seasons in the NHL, won two Stanley Cup championships and one Olympic gold medal (in 1998 with the Czech national team), the "Dominator" ranks up with the most successful goaltenders of all time. A Spengler Cup win is, however, still missing from his list of achievements.

Oldest player in the KHL

After ending his NHL career, Hasek retired for a second time in 2008, only to be signed up one year later by his local club Pardubice from Czechoslovakia. With 76 international appearances to his name, Hasek he is now having a stab at playing in Europe's strongest hockey league, as the oldest player in the KHL. His coach Milos Riha - also a Czech - is full of praise: "We have the world's best goaltender!"

A culture shock

The transfer to Russia was a real culture shock for Hasek: "It is impressive to see how many police officers they have here patrolling the streets." The goalie will be expected to show greater independence than in the NHL, where professionals are totally looked after. "Here, I am responsible for the equipment I take with me on an away game - which is something I haven't had to bother myself with for twenty years or more!" According to Hasek, the level in the Russian KHL cannot be compared with that of the NHL - and also the atmosphere in the stadiums is more like you would find in the Czech league than in America.