Philadelphia Flyers’ Russian prospect sent to military base

Russian goalie Ivan Fedotov was allegedly taken by force to a military base in the north of the country when he was supposed to arrive in America to join the Philadelphia Flyers.

Ivan Fedotov, considered the best goalie in the world not to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), cannot leave his country, Russia.

The 25-year-old was reportedly caught by law enforcement outside a St. Petersburg arena. The Fontaka website reports that he is suspected of wanting to escape the mandatory military service for all men in Russia. He is reportedly currently at the Severodvinsk military base on Russia’s northern coast.

“We have a mobilization policy that respects the laws,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in the last hours when asked about Fedotov’s situation.

Russia planned to conscript 130,000 men for a year of military service this spring. Russians can be conscripted between the ages of 18 and 27.

Ivan Fedotov won the silver medal with Russia at the Beijing Olympics in February and led CSKA Moscow to the Gagarin Cup in the KHL.

With the NHL draft just hours away, some teams may question the wisdom of selecting a Russian player following this incident.