Vilen Prokofyev

Kazakhstani ice hockey player (2001–2020)

Ice hockey player

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

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Prokofyev began his Russian Junior Hockey League (MHL) career in the 2017–18 season at just 16 years old. On March 2, 2018, during a 6–1 defeat to Mamonty Yugry, he suffered a neck injury when he came into contact with the skate blade of Yugry defenseman Dmitry Yushkevich. While the injury was not serious, it forced him to leave the game early.[1]

## Illness and death

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Prokofyev began experiencing hip issues in May 2019, which marked the early signs of his illness. In November of that year, he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone and soft tissue cancer. He received chemotherapy treatment in Moscow, with several Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) teams launching fundraising efforts to help cover the $190,000 needed for his care.[2] To support him, Russian goaltender Ilya Sorokin wore goalie pads designed by children with cancer during the 2020 KHL All-Star Game, and the pads were later auctioned to raise money for Prokofyev's treatment.[3]

Prokofyev passed away in Moscow on the morning of February 3, 2020, at the age of 18. Before his death, he had undergone one round of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the cancer.[2] A public memorial was held in his honor at Barys Arena on February 6, 2020, and he was later laid to rest in his hometown of Satpayev.[4]

## Career statistics

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### Regular season and playoffs

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|  | Regular season |  | Playoffs

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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%

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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. 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

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* Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com