Ivan Miroshnichenko (ice hockey) explained

Ivan Miroshnichenko
Birth Date:February 4, 2004
Birth Place:Ussuriysk, Russia
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:185
Position:Forward
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:Washington Capitals
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Avangard Omsk
Draft:20th overall
Draft Year:2022
Draft Team:Washington Capitals
Career Start:2021

Ivan Nikolayevich Miroshnichenko (Russian: Иван Николаевич Мирошниченко; born 4 February 2004) is a Russian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Miroshnichenko was drafted 20th overall by the Capitals in the 2022 NHL entry draft.[1] [2] On December 20, 2023, Miroshnichenko set a league record in his NHL debut as the longest surname on an NHL jersey at 14 characters long, surpassing Jamie Langenbrunner and John Vanbiesbrouck. Though this ties John Brackenborough for the longest surname for an NHL player, Brackenborough played prior to the league's adoption of surnames on jerseys.[3]

Playing career

Miroshnichenko played as a youth through the junior ranks within the HC Vityaz organization. On 27 December 2020, he moved from within Vityaz to fellow Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) club, Avangard Omsk.[4]

During the 2021–22 season while in the VHL with affiliate Omskie Krylia, on 28 February 2022, Miroshnichenko signed a contract extension with Avangard that would have kept him playing in Russia until 2024.[5] In March 2022, Miroshnichenko was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, which prematurely ended his season in the VHL.[6] After receiving treatment in Germany, the cancer went into full remission. Three months after his diagnosis, Miroshnichenko resumed skating in preparation for the next season.[7]

On 1 May 2023, Miroshnichenko left the KHL and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals. On December 20, 2023, he made his NHL debut with the Capitals. He scored his first NHL goal on March 7, 2024. Miroshnichenko won the Calder Cup with Washington’s farm team, the Hershey Bears, on June 24, 2024. [8]

International play

Miroshnichenko scored six goals and eight points playing for Russia at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, winning a silver medal.[9] He was Russia's captain at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, winning gold.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2020–21Omskie YastrebyMHL20 5 10 15 5
2021–22Omskie KryliaVHL31 10 6 16 6
2021–22Omskie YastrebyMHL1 0 0 0 2
2022–23Avangard OmskKHL23 3 1 4 0
2022–23Omskie KryliaVHL4 0 3 3 2
2022–23Omskie YastrebyMHL12 10 4 14 2716 2 5 7 4
2023–24Hershey BearsAHL47 9 16 25 1320 7 5 12 6
2023–24Washington CapitalsNHL21 2 4 6 61 0 0 0 0
KHL totals23 3 1 4 0
NHL totals21 2 4 6 61 0 0 0 0

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2021RussiaU187 6 2 8 4
2021RussiaHG185 4 5 9 0
Junior totals12 10 7 17 4

Awards and honours

AwardYear
AHL
Calder Cup2024[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cosentino . Sam . Sportsnet's 2022 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: December Edition . Sportsnet . 21 December 2021.
  2. Web site: Potvin . Blain . Team Russia: 3 Players to Watch at 2022 World Junior Championship . The Hockey Writers . 21 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Lukas . Paul . Washington Capitals Call-Up Poised to Set NHL NOB Record . UniWatch . 20 December 2023.
  4. Web site: 27 December 2020 . Avangard sign junior Ivan Miroshnichenko . 27 December 2020 . . ru.
  5. Web site: 28 February 2022 . Hawks sign Miroshnichenko to three-year contract . 28 February 2022 . . ru.
  6. Web site: Leahy . Sean . 2022-03-03 . 2022 draft prospect Miroshnichenko diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma . 2022-07-08 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: Ellis . Steven . Ivan Miroshnichenko is One of the Best Stories of the 2022 NHL Draft . 2022-07-08 . The Hockey News . en.
  8. Web site: Capitals sign Ivan Miroshnichenko . . 1 May 2023 . 1 May 2023.
  9. Web site: Ellis . Steven . DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE IVAN MIROSHNICHENKO . 21 December 2021 . The Hockey News.
  10. Web site: O'Brien . Derek . Miroshnichenko the "ultimate player" . IIHF . 21 December 2021.
  11. Web site: New faces spark Bears to latest Calder Cup championship . . June 25, 2024 . June 25, 2024.