According to a Russian report, Abbotsford’s Jake Virtanen has left the Kontinental Hockey League’s HC Spartak Moscow and as a result will now have to pay two-thirds of his remaining contract.
A number of former National Hockey League and North American talent in the Russian-based KHL have canceled their contracts following the Russian invasion into the Ukraine.
The KHL did take a break during the 2022 Winter Olympics and are now in the playoffs.
Virtanen collected 16 points in 36 games in the KHL.
RELATED: Ex-Canuck Jake Virtanen playing in Russia amid sex assault lawsuit
He signed a one-year deal with the team back in September after spending six seasons in the Vancouver Canucks organization.
Virtanen was charged with sexual assault following a Vancouver Police Department investigation in relation to an incident on Sept. 26. 2017. He elected to have his trial by judge and jury and declined a preliminary hearing at his first appearance in Vancouver provincial court on Feb. 17.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday (March 9) at 2 p.m.