Fear not Guelph Storm fans, Daniil Chayka will be back in Guelph if and when the Ontario Hockey League season gets underway.
Both Chayka and Storm teammate Andrei Bakanov are on loan to teams in Russia, but would report to Guelph as soon as things get underway, said Storm general manager George Burnett Thursday.
“(Chayka) and Bakanov are both participating in Russia, but only until such a time as we call them back,” Burnett said.
“Despite what you read, they are to be returned the moment we want them back and once we know what our time is, then we’ll have them back.
“They needed our approval to defer their transfers … they would be returned to us on a moment’s notice. If I called today and said I wanted Chayka here this week, under the arrangement he would have to be here.”
Both Chayka and Bakanov are from Moscow and returned there when the OHL shut down because of the pandemic. The Storm’s third Russian-born player, Danny Zhilkin, remained in Canada.
Other Russians playing on Canadian junior teams have also signed with Russian clubs, including Artem Grushnikov, the Hamilton Bulldogs first pick in this year's CHL Import draft.
There was some consternation and misinformation circulating on social media Wednesday when people started posting the fact that Chayka had “transferred” to Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, the junior-aged club belonging to CSKA Moskva of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Burnett said Bakanov has signed with the Kunlun Red Star organization, which has relocated to Moscow for the time being after being based in China.
Burnett said transfers for import players are annual and the transfers for Chayka and Bakanov were deferred until they were required to report to Guelph and quarantine prior to the opening of training camp.
The OHL has set Dec. 1 as the hopeful start of the 2020-21 season, with Nov. 15 as the opening of training camp.
Krasnaya Armiya Moskva plays in the Molodyozhnaya Hokkeinaya Liga (MHL), a junior league made up of 33 teams where the majority of the teams are part of the feeder system to professional clubs in Russia and Asia.
“I’m just dealing with the main clubs. Where they participate, I’m not 100 per cent certain,” Burnett said.
He added that Martin Has, is home in the Czech Republic and training, but is not currently playing with any team.
Has has already been drafted by the Washington Capitals, Bakanov is eligible for this year’s NHL draft, Chayka the 2021 NHL draft and Zhilkin the 2022 NHL draft.
