Curtis Brown paid for beating Hasek in practice
Dominik Hasek had a practice rule with Buffalo teammates: if someone beat him, he would not leave the ice until he had answered back. Curtis Brown once scored on all three attempts in the Sabres' "three puck" drill and tried to exit, but Hasek chased him down and made him return. Brown failed to score again in the additional rounds, showing how fiercely Hasek protected his standard in net.
In Buffalo, Hasek enforced an informal practice standard: a teammate who beat him had to stay until Hasek regained the upper hand. Curtis Brown triggered it by converting all three chances in the Sabres' three-puck drill—two from between the circles and one breakaway—then tried to leave. Hasek pursued him, called him back, and prevented a locker-room exit.
Brown returned for extra rounds but could not score again. That insistence matched Hasek's résumé: six Vezinas, two Hart Trophies as the only NHL goalie to achieve that, Olympic gold with Czech Republic, two Detroit Stanley Cups, Hall induction in 2014, and No. 39 retired by Buffalo.
This anecdote may resonate with athletes, coaches, and fans as a lesson in competitive standards and accountability. It could reinforce narratives about elite performers' obsessive drive, potentially shaping how young goalies and teammates view practice habits. For general audiences, it may serve as entertainment and a reminder that greatness often involves demanding routines, though it could also invite debate about where competitiveness ends and pressure begins.