Ivan Fedotov will play in the KHL next season.
Ivan Fedotov has played several times in the Russian national team. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
Russian goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov returned to the strength of CSKA Moscow and talked about his time in the army at a press conference on Monday.
Fedotov was arrested a year ago in the summer and sent to northern Russia to do military service.
He was released from the army at the beginning of July and immediately went abroad to spend a vacation.
Fedotov said that he did not feel any emotions during the entire year in the army. During the year, he could only call his loved ones.
– What does a man who played hockey and now marches feel like? Nothing. I counted the days. No feelings. I expected that hopefully sooner or later it will end, Fedotov told the press conference According to Championat.
CSKA Moscow is famously the club of the Russian army.
Fedotov refused to comment on whether the club had a hand in his arrest and sending him to the army.
According to him, entering the service could not be avoided.
– At what level could I have avoided it? As citizens, we are obliged to serve in the military, who have to do their duty to their homeland. Many serve, many do not. The law is the law and it must be followed.
The head coach of the team Sergei Fedorov served in the army playing for CSKA Moscow.
– The Soviet Union and Russia have different rules. I came to TSSKA when I was 16 years old and between the ages of 18 and 20 I served two years playing ice hockey. Thus it happened.
– I am very happy that Ivan went through that school, that he is alive and that he is with us, Fedorov continued According to Championat.
NHL and KHL contract
However, Fedotov has still been in the middle of the commotion, because according to the NHL club Philadelphia Flyers, he has a valid contract in the NHL. This has also been said by the deputy commissioner of the series Bill Daly.
Moscow’s CSKA, on the other hand, signed a two-year contract extension with Fedotov, and according to the KHL, he will play in Russia next season.
– In my decision, I was guided by the fact that I haven’t played for a year. In the army, the level of hockey is not that good. I need to return to my level as soon as possible and TsSKA owns my player rights. There was no other option, Fedotov himself commented on the situation.