Vilen Prokofyev (Kazakh: Вилен Прокофьев) (April 22, 2001 – February 3, 2020) was a Kazakhstani ice hockey goaltender for Snezhnye Barsy of the Russian Junior Hockey League (MHL) from 2017 to 2020. He died of Ewing's sarcoma on February 3, 2020, aged 18.

Vilen Prokofyev
Born April 22, 2001
Satpayev, Kazakhstan
Died February 3, 2020(2020-02-03) (aged 18)
Moscow, Russia
Height 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 67 kg (148 lb; 10 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Snezhnye Barsy
Playing career 2017–2020

Playing career

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Prokofyev made his debut in the Russian Junior Hockey League (MHL) during the 2017–18 season, at the age of 16. On March 2, 2018, late in a 6–1 loss to Mamonty Yugry, he sustained a cut to the neck after colliding with the skate blade of Yugry defenseman Dmitry Yushkevich. Although the injury was minor, he did not complete the match.[1]

Illness and death

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Prokofyev first showed signs of illness in May 2019, when he began having problems with his hip. His diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma, a cancer of the bones and surrounding soft tissue, was announced in November 2019. He underwent chemotherapy in Moscow, with Kontinental Hockey League clubs organizing fundraisers to cover the $190,000 cost of his treatment.[2] Russian goaltender Ilya Sorokin wore pads decorated by pediatric cancer patients at the 2020 KHL All-Star Game, which were auctioned off to support Prokofyev's treatment.[3]

Prokofyev died on the morning of February 3, 2020, in Moscow, at the age of 18. At the time of his death, he had completed one round of chemotherapy and had undergone an operation attempting to remove the cancer.[2] A public memorial service was held at Barys Arena on February 6, 2020. He was buried in his hometown of Satpayev.[4]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2017–18 Snezhnye Barsy MHL 14 2 7 1 591 45 0 4.57 .858
2018–19 Barys Astana KAZ U20 7 7 0 0 403 14 1 2.09 .891
2018–19 Snezhnye Barsy MHL 2 0 1 0 77 4 0 3.15 .907 3 1 1 74 5 0 4.08 .872
2019–20 Snezhnye Barsy MHL 10 1 6 1 537 31 0 3.47 .903
MHL totals 26 3 14 2 1,204 80 0 3.99 .882 3 1 1 74 5 0 4.08 .872

International

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Year Team Event Result GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2018 Kazakhstan U18 (Div IA) 4th 3 1 2 0 180 7 0 2.34 .910
2019 Kazakhstan U18 (Div IA)   1 0 1 0 47 5 0 6.44 .853
Junior totals 4 1 3 0 226 12 0 3.19 .893

References

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  1. ^ Atoyants, Pavel (March 3, 2018). "Соперник порезал коньком горло 16-летнему казахстанскому вратарю". tengrinews.kz (in Russian). TengriNews. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Potts, Andy (February 3, 2020). "Prokofiev passes away". iihf.com. International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "Ilya Sorokin's KHL All Star pads were decorated by children at a pediatric hospital". bardown.com. The Sports Network. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Ogurtsov, Ilya (February 6, 2020). "В Нур-Султане простились с хоккеистом Виленом Прокофьевым". Liter (in Russian). Retrieved March 28, 2024.
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