Capitals prospect inspired by call from Lemieux after Hodgkin's diagnosis

Ivan Miroshnichenko
endured a lot during his fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma last summer, but a phone call from a particular Hockey Hall of Famer familiar with his hardship provided just the tonic the Washington Capitals forward prospect needed to remain focused on his lifelong dream of playing in the NHL.

"In my research, I learned that the type of lymphoma I had responded to treatment well and had a high cure rate," the 18-year-old said. "But in addition,
Mario Lemieux
reached out to me in March and we had a great conversation. Knowing that Mr. Lemieux was the League MVP after having Hodgkin's lymphoma helped me a lot."
Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma after 40 games in 1992-93. He would need weeks of radiation treatments but ultimately won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer that season with 160 points (69 goals, 91 assists) in 60 games. He sat out the 1994-95 season because of fatigue caused by his radiation therapy but returned in 1995-96, won another scoring title with 161 points (69 goals, 92 assists) in 70 games and the Hart Trophy, voted as the NHL's most valuable player.

Miroshnichenko (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) entered the 2021-22 season projected to be a top-five pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. But he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's in February and missed the rest of the season with Omsk Krylia in Russia's second division.
"I knew that something was wrong, but it was difficult to believe it was cancer," Miroshnichenko said. "I received treatment for about three months, and they were difficult times, but the support I received helped me persevere."
After fighting through the pain and gaining inspiration from Lemieux, he was cleared by doctors to resume training in June.
"I'm cancer-free now, don't need any treatments, or need to be under the doctor's care," Miroshnichenko said. "Physically, I'm pretty much there, but it will take some more time for some aspects of the game to get to where I want them to be."
Capitals assistant general manager Ross Mahoney said Washington's medical staff examined Miroshnichenko's health records, and he felt good about the player's status following a video conference with him in May.
"I was in Germany in April at the Under-18 World Championship and met Ivan and his father," Mahoney said. "I think he was already in his second round of chemotherapy, and he had lost a lot of weight, lost his hair, and he was wearing a cap. He looked really thin and I thought, 'What a tough situation.' Then we did a Zoom call with him in May when he was finishing up his treatments, and he looked a lot better.
"We had him come in and do an interview with us again during NHL Draft week (July 7-8), and boy, he looked great."
Washington selected Miroshnichenko with the No. 20 pick.
Mahoney said he remembers how highly he and every member of the Capitals' amateur scouting staff regarded Miroshnichenko during their scouting meetings.
"We had him rated fairly high, so I thought he'd be a really good prospect," Mahoney said. "We were picking No. 20, and we've always taken the best player available to us. As a group we discussed it and thought Ivan was the best player that would be available in our mind at that point, and we were real happy to call his name out.
"The hockey part, we'll see that happen, but I'm just so glad that he's healthy and doing what he loves to do and is now back chasing his dream."
Miroshnichenko had nine points (four goals, five assists) as Russia's captain to help his country win the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, a top under-18 international tournament in Aug. 2021, and had 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in 31 games with Omsk Krylia last season before his diagnosis.
"When you go through adversity like I did, where I'd be selected in the draft wasn't relevant," he said. "I wanted to play for a team that really wanted me. After the in-person interview with Washington, I felt wanted and I couldn't be happier to be with Washington."

Miroshnichenko couldn't offer a time frame to when he might be able to one day play in the NHL, but he's certainly working toward that goal.
"Before I answer this, I'd like to finish the season and help my team win the championship [in Russia]," Mirochnichenko said. "After that, my agent and the Capitals will come up with a timetable. I'm having a lot of fun playing hockey. I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone. I want to get better and be successful at the next level."
Miroshnichenko has eight points (six goals, two assists), 27 shots on goal and 11 hits in six games since returning to competitive hockey on Nov. 6 with Omsk Yastreby in Russia's junior league.
Washington coach Peter Laviolette was happy to hear Miroshnichenko had overcome so much to reach this stage.
"We get so wrapped up in sports sometimes, but he had a bigger game going on in life and it was really nice to see him come through," Laviolette said. "The month of November and Hockey Fights Cancer, it just kind of brings it to the forefront.
"You hear it all the time, everybody knows somebody affected by cancer, and I think that's probably true. So, when you hear a good story like that of somebody who went through it and is in good shape and coming out of it and now they make it back to the second part, which is hockey and a sport that they love, it's really good. It's nice to see him back playing and hopefully he continues to do well in life and in hockey."
What message does Miroshnichenko have to those dealing with Hodgkin's lymphoma or any other serious illness?
"My message is not to be scared and fight with everything you've got until you win," he said.
NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti contributed to this story
Photos: Avangard Omsk Hockey Club (MHL)