Tomas Vokoun Czech Quotations

I grew up watching Dominik Hasek. Back home he played several years in the Czech Elite League and was the No. 1 guy on our national team. He was really the first Czech goalie to come over to the NHL and do well. He set the standard so high for everybody else, it's unbelievable. I have a lot of respect for him because he's been one of the best if not the best goalie to ever play the game.

I've watched him play since I was 7-years-old. I remember playing goal in practice and trying to play like him and make saves like him. Then you grow up and realize that everybody is different. Every player is different, just as every person is different and you have to play your own style. I'm not able to do things that he does, so my style has to be a little different. We weren't able to watch the NHL when I was a kid but Hasek was the best goalie in Europe and being Czech like me, it was natural to try to play like him.

It seems like I get asked about it twice a day from Czech journalists and from here, really asking me what I don't have answers for. It gets old after a while. I think it would be better for everybody if we knew, but I'm not in charge, so I just go with the flow.

For me, having a medal from the Olympics is great. If I never play again for the Czech team, I have a medal from the World Championship (gold last year) and now the Olympics.