Hasek, Dominik, HAH shehk, DOH muh nihk (1965-...), ranks among the greatest goalies in hockey history. He became known as "the Dominator" for his skill at stopping opponents' shots. Hasek began his career playing in Czechoslovakia (now divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia), where he was born. He led his country to a gold medal in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. While playing in the United States in the National Hockey League (NHL), Hasek won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player for the 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons, a rare achievement for a goalie. Hasek also won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie six times.