Russian hockey player lost his job after being hit by a puck

Russian hockey player Ivan Zenchenko suffered a serious injury after a puck struck him in the head at high speed during a game in Los Angeles. After the blow, he was unable to play hockey anymore, lost his job restoring luxury cars, and his wife reported serious problems in their marriage. Zenchenko is now suing the manufacturer of his hockey helmet and may seek millions in compensation.

The incident occurred in September 2025 during a game in one of the American hockey leagues in Los Angeles. Ivan Zenchenko, 32, was on the ice when a puck traveling at high speed struck him directly in the head. The impact was so strong that the player’s helmet cracked. The puck pierced through the helmet’s protection and caused serious injuries to the player.

Doctors diagnosed Zenchenko with lacerations, a hematoma, and a traumatic brain injury. Afterward, he began experiencing problems with his memory, vision, and coordination. Due to the consequences of the injury, the hockey player can no longer return to the ice. In fact, the hit put an end to his athletic career.

But Zenchenko’s problems weren’t limited to hockey. Before the injury, he also restored luxury cars. This work required a good memory, precision, and the ability to work with a large number of parts.

After the injury, even routine work tasks became difficult for him. According to his attorney, Zenchenko might remove a part from a car and, just a few minutes later, not remember exactly where he took it from. Thus, due to the consequences of the blow, he lost the ability to earn a living not only as a hockey player but also in his civilian profession.

Problems Beyond Work

The injury has also affected the athlete’s personal life. Zenchenko’s wife has joined the lawsuit. She stated that after her husband’s injury, their relationship changed significantly, including problems with intimacy.

The family’s attorney told The New York Post that the couple has effectively lost a normal intimate life. “There are certain problems in their intimate relationship. They don’t have a normal sex life; Ivan is completely incapacitated,” the attorney stated.

According to the hockey player’s wife, she has also had to make changes to her own life because of the situation. She took a job as a housekeeper and now supports the family on her own.

Hockey Player Blames Helmet Manufacturer

After his injury, Zenchenko filed a lawsuit against the hockey equipment manufacturer. His side believes the helmet may have had a manufacturing or design defect. The main issue in the case is whether the helmet was designed to provide better protection during such an impact and whether it met the stated safety specifications.

So far, the court has not determined that the manufacturer is actually at fault for the injury. This must be proven during the trial. Likewise, it has not yet been definitively determined exactly how much compensation the hockey player might receive if the court rules in his favor. According to The New York Post, the amount could potentially run into the millions of dollars.

The amount of any potential payout may depend on how serious the court deems the consequences of the injury to be. In particular, the court may take into account the loss of his athletic career, his inability to work in his former profession, medical expenses, and the impact of the injury on his family life.

What Is Known About the Consequences of the Hit

For the hockey player, this incident was not just a one-time injury. According to his legal team, the effects of the hit have persisted even after his treatment ended. Memory problems mean that he has difficulty performing even routine tasks. Impaired vision and coordination may also affect his daily life.

For a professional athlete, it is particularly significant that Zenchenko can no longer play hockey. In other words, the injury has robbed him of his primary profession and source of income. At the same time, the court has yet to determine whether a defect in the hockey helmet was indeed the cause of these consequences. The mere fact that the protective equipment was damaged during the impact does not automatically mean the manufacturer is at fault.

Zenchenko’s case is currently in the legal arena. The hockey player and his family are seeking compensation for the consequences of the injury, while the manufacturer has yet to respond to allegations regarding a possible defect in the equipment. The story has drawn attention due to the scale of its consequences: a single puck hit effectively altered several aspects of the athlete’s life at once—his professional career, his job, and his family relationships. This was reported by the New York Post.

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