Vilen Prokofyev

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

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.

Playing career

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

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

Regular season and playoffs

				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

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

1. Atoyants, Pavel (March 3, 2018). "Соперник порезал коньком горло 16-летнему казахстанскому вратарю". tengrinews.kz (in Russian). TengriNews. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
2. 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. January 18, 2020. 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.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com