Russian goalie Ivan Fedotov cleared to play for the Flyers

After a year and a half of twists and turns, Ivan Fedotov has finally been cleared to join the Flyers.

The International Ice Hockey Federation ruled Monday that Fedotov has a valid contract with the Flyers, and that the contract he signed with CSKA Moscow earlier this summer “was in breach of a Professional Player Contract per Article II.4.1 of the IIHF International Transfer Regulations.”

As a result, the goaltender will be suspended for fourth months from both national and international play, and CSKA will face a one-year transfer ban on international players. With his NHL contract ruled valid, it would trump the contract he later signed with CSKA.

The Flyers and the NHL brought Fedotov’s case to the IIHF in July, arguing that since Fedotov missed last season to complete his mandatory military service, his contract should be rolled over to 2023-24. Following the announcement, CSKA released a statement:

“Hockey Club CSKA expresses disagreement with the decision, considers it bias and will challenge it in international circumstances.

“As for goaltender Ivan Fedotov, he is at the training camp of the main team in the city of Minsk and is preparing for the opening game of the Fonbet Kontinental Hockey League Championship of the 2023/24 season against Ak Bars Kazan.

“The leadership of the CSKA hockey club has no doubts that Ivan will take part in the upcoming season.”

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Barring a reversal after the CSKA challenge, Monday’s verdict would clear Fedotov to join the Flyers, although it remains to be seen whether the Flyers will loan him to CSKA or bring him over to North America. The Flyers currently have a bit of a logjam in net with Carter Hart, Sam Ersson, Cal Petersen, and Felix Sandström all under contract. The goaltender also has not played consistent hockey or at a high level of competition for more than a year, so he may want to play in the KHL this season.

Fedotov, who turns 27 in November, signed his entry-level deal with the Flyers on May 7, 2022. He was later charged with attempted military evasion and sent to northern Russia to complete a year of military service. Fedotov spoke for the first time publicly last month at a CSKA Moscow press conference, chronicling his military service and his expressing his excitement to get back on the ice.

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Before signing with the Flyers, the 6-foot-7 Fedotov led CSKA to the Gagarin Cup in 2021-22 and the Russian Olympic Committee to a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. In his last season with CSKA, Fedotov posted a 14-10-2 record, a .919 save percentage, and a 2.00 goals against average. He was expected to come to North America last season and challenge for the backup role behind Hart.

Flyers prospect Alex Bump announced Monday via Instagram that he will play at Western Michigan University in the fall.

Bump, a 2022 fifth-round pick of the Flyers, was previously committed to the University of Vermont, which recently fired head coach Todd Woodcroft because of inappropriate text messages with a student. Bump recently entered the transfer portal following the Woodcraft news.

The 19-year-old put up 14 goals and 39 points in 38 USHL games last year, and also made an impression during Flyers development camp. Bump is just the latest Flyer to go to Western Michigan, following in the footsteps of president of hockey operations Keith Jones, and current Flyers Wade Allison and Ronnie Attard.