Slava Voynov Taken Into Immigration Custody
- Updated: September 4, 2015
The Slava Voynov drama continues. After completing his comfortable 90 day jail sentence at the Seal Beach Police Detention Center that started on July 7th due to his “no contest” plea to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, Voynov has now been taken into custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This will now leave Voynov vulnerable on his immigration status which means it’s possible he could get deported back to Russia, which would officially end his NHL career.
Voynov was arrested on the early morning of October 20, 2014 for allegedly physically attacking his wife Marta Varlamova after becoming intoxicated at a team Halloween party. Allegedly Voynov, first punched his wife in the face at the mentioned Halloween party and then kicked her repeatedly, choked her and pushed her into a wall mounted flat screen television at their home afterwards. Varlamova suffered cuts and bruises, including a “more than inch-long gash above her right eye that required eight stitches.” Witnesses at the hospital who were there when Varlamova was being treated testified that she was also “an emotional wreck.”
The NHL immediately suspended Voynov with pay following the arrest. Later in June, the Los Angeles Kings suspended Voynov without pay after Voynov tore an Achilles’ tendon in a non-hockey incident, which is against team policy. Voynov is still under suspension by both the NHL and the Kings as of this writing.
For those of you wondering why the Kings haven’t terminated Voynov’s contract in the same manner they did Richards’ contract is due to the NHL rule that no player can have their contract terminated while under suspension by the NHL. If Voynov does indeed get deported, then his contract will become null and voided anyway so no termination is needed. If Voynov does not get deported than the NHL is free to continue their investigation into the incident and can make their own decision about Voynov’s future with the league. If Voynov is cleared from that as well, then it’s up to the Los Angeles King’s management to decide to keep Voynov as a player or get rid of him by trade, buyout or contract termination.
No date for the immigration hearing has been announced as of yet.
Whatever the outcome, as someone who suffered through domestic violence in my home as a child, I hope for the sake of his family and for his future, Slava finds and gets the help that he needs.
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One Comment
About Jeff Duarte
Naima Vons
September 19, 2015 at 8:23 pm
The ending of the Voynov saga is the only acceptable one ! I hope Marta will find a solution for her own dilemma !