Vilen Prokofyev

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 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.

Illness and death 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.

Prokofyev died 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. 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.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs 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 .853Junior totals 4 1 3 0 226 12 0 3.19 .893