“With a serious will”: hockey player Miroshnichenko underwent treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is ready to play next season

Russian hockey player from the Omsk Avangard Ivan Miroshnichenko underwent a course of treatment for cancer and began training.

This was reported by journalist Mark Godin with reference to the director of the central scout bureau of the National Hockey League (NHL) Dan Marr.

Thus, the 18-year-old striker will be available for the upcoming 2022 NHL Entry Draft, in which he is ranked 11th among European players.

The event will be held July 7-8 at the Montreal home arena.

Miroshnichenko flashed in the last season of the Major Hockey League.

He played 31 matches for Omsk Wings, in which he scored 16 (10 + 6) points.

However, the young striker did not differ in stability - he had both outstanding matches and absolutely failed ones.

As a result, Ivan did not get into the national team for the World Youth Championship, although he believed that he deserved a trip to Canada.

“I think I am 100% ready for the MFM, but my opinion is at odds with the coaching staff.

They told me I didn't fit.

Upset, of course, but not really much.

I have two more years to play at the MFM, but I only need to play - and the rest decide whether to take me or not, ”the athlete said then.

However, looking back, we can say that this unpleasant event did not play a big role in his career, since the tournament did not work out due to the pandemic and was eventually canceled at the group stage stage.

In January, the hockey player gave a bright four-game series in the VHL, during which he scored five goals, but after that he did not appear on the site again.

Ivan played his last match for Omsk Wings on January 21 with SKA-Neva.

A little over a month later, his diagnosis became known.

The player was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and went to Germany for treatment.

Doctors gave positive forecasts, and the process was quite successful.

“We hope that he will overcome the disease and continue to play hockey,” Alexander Krylov, chairman of the Avangard board of directors, said in April.

During the treatment, the Russian was actively supported by the legendary Canadian Mario Lemieux, who defeated a similar disease almost 30 years ago.

The Olympic champion called Ivan via video link and shared his positive experience. 

“Mario supported Vanya, wished him to return to the ice as soon as possible, but the main thing is to recover.

Support is always important, but in some cases it is especially important, ”the press service of the Omsk club reported on social networks.

Recall that Lemieux's disease became known in the winter of 1993.

Then the leader of Pittsburgh found an incomprehensible lump on his neck, which turned out to be a manifestation of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The disease was also accompanied by severe back pain.

According to teammates, Mario often could not put on his trousers and tie his shoelaces on his own, as the pain did not allow him to bend down.

To stop the disease in its early stages, Lemieux underwent an aggressive course of radiation therapy.

Exhausting procedures greatly affected the form of the hockey player, and although he officially spoke only about the suspension of his career during treatment, many believed that a return to the ice would never happen.

But Supermario entered the court after only two months, and flew to the game with Philadelphia directly from the hospital after the final session of therapy, despite the objections of the doctors.

In this match, he scored the puck and also gave an assist.

And at the end of the meeting, the audience gave a standing ovation to the courageous athlete. 

Thus, judging by the experience of Lemieux, one should not be surprised at the imminent return to service of Miroshnichenko. 

Ivan is not the only Russian athlete who has faced cancer this year.

In February, it became known about a brain tumor in a 20-year-old pupil of the Ufa "Salavat Yulaev" Rodion Amirov.

One of the leaders of the Russian youth hockey team last season underwent a six-week course of chemotherapy in Germany and is now conducting supportive training.

“Worried.

Everyone supported, everyone wrote.

I knew what my goal was - to recover, and already start training, ”said Amirov upon returning to Russia.

Vladimir Filatov, assistant head coach of the Russian youth team, commenting on the serious trials that befell young athletes, stressed that both Ivan and Rodion showed great courage in the fight against the disease.

“I will not say big words.

But if this became a big stress for us, then I can’t imagine what stress it was for them.

These are guys with a strong will.

I am sure that they will overcome this disease and continue to play hockey, ”Sport-Express quotes Filatov as saying.