Ex-King Voynov Signs With Russian Team After Completing Jail Time
MOSCOW (AP) — Two-time Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Slava Voynov will resume his career with SKA St. Petersburg after serving time in jail on a domestic violence charge in the United States.
Voynov was suspended for the final 76 games of the last NHL season with the Los Angeles Kings and returned to Russia after serving two months in jail, plus time in immigration custody.
The 25-year-old defenseman was arrested at his Redondo Beach home in October last year after an argument with his wife. Police say he choked and kicked her.
Voynov originally was charged with a felony but pleaded no contest to a reduced misdemeanor charge.
In a brief statement, SKA said Voynov has signed a three-year contract. Because of his legal troubles, it has been more than a year since he last played a game for the Kings.
SKA won the Kontinental Hockey League title last season and is one of the wealthiest hockey clubs outside North America. The club president is billionaire businessmen Gennady Timchenko, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the team receives extensive funding from Russian state gas company Gazprom.
Voynov has 18 goals and 63 assists from 190 NHL regular-season games. He played for Russia at last year's Olympics and is likely to be a key player for his country at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.
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