He wanted to play in the NHL next season. But: The ice hockey goalkeeper Ivan Fedotow was arrested in Russia.
Ivan Fedotov is the Russian national ice hockey goalkeeper. He actually wanted to switch to the NHL in the coming season (from October 11), but now he has allegedly been arrested in St. Petersburg, as reported by the Russian online newspaper “Fontanka”. The reason for this is said to be that he probably refused military service. According to this, he is said to have been taken to the draft office of the Russian army after the arrest.
Fedotov, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015 and should have started there next season, was last active for CSKA Moscow. According to “The Hockey News”, the club is said to have close ties to the Russian army. The club is also owned by the oil company Rosneft, which is majority owned by the Russian government.
Tensions between the ice hockey leagues
Other sources, including freelance ice hockey journalist Aivis Kalnins, report that this is intended to force Fedotov to sign a new contract with CSKA Moscow in order not to switch to the NHL. Fedotow signed the contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in May. The club has not yet made a public statement.
There is currently tension between the NHL and the Russian ice hockey league KHL due to the war in Ukraine. Fedotov recently won silver with Russia at the Beijing Olympics.
