While waiting on the 2020-21 NHL and AHL regular seasons to begin, due to COVID-19, San Jose Sharks prospect Ivan Chekhovich was loaned to the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League as a way for him to get valuable playing time. Unlike other COVID loans, Chekhovich committed to the entirety of the Torpedo’s season.
While playing in his home country, Chekhovich scored 17 goals and 17 assists in 42 games played for the Torpedo, adding 2 goals in four games in the playoffs. When he returned to North America in March, however, results varied.