Screen shot: Avangard Omsk
Ivan Miroshnichenko, selected 20th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has been cleared for game action following his recovery from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, his agent told The Athletic.
Miroshnichenko has been working out with Avangard Omsk’s VHL (Junior) club since October 21, with a return to game action expected to occur in the near future.
Miroshnichenko has not played a game in nearly a year. He will likely begin in the Russian junior league, the MHL, to start and then progress to the professional ranks if everything goes well, according to The Athletic.
2022 has been an extremely challenging year for the Capitals’ first round draft pick. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma back in January, but was cleared by doctors to return to skating and workouts after successfully completing a course of treatment in Germany in back June.
And while Miroshnichenko had been medically cleared for personal workouts, he had yet to be cleared to practice or play for his Russian team, Avangard Omsk, until late October.
👋 Ivan Miroshnichenko ✌️ pic.twitter.com/Jggj0s0Z31
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 3, 2022
“He’s progressing, he’s skating, he’s working out. He’s not with his KHL team right now,” said Capitals assistant general manager Ross Mahoney during Capitals media day back on September 22. “He has to kinda wait, almost like a medical clearance from the League. He’s been cleared by doctors, to go out and to workout and to do those sort of things. It’s more of a league thing.”
Mahoney praised the 18-year old’s maturity and mental composure throughout the trying time he has gone through since his diagnosis.
“He was always a captain of his under-17, under-18 team, and even the tournament last November with the under-20 he was the assistant captain, so it is probably an indicator of his character…he went through an awful lot but I think it speaks volumes of his character and the type of person he is,” said Mahoney.
“It’s a tremendous feeling. It’s such a great organization, there’s so many great players, Russian players, so to join them is a tremendous honor,” said Miroshnichenko via a translator back on draft day.
By Jon Sorensen
I don’t expect huge point totals for a while. I’m just hoping for the kid to get back up to speed.
And now he’s scored his first goal.
Had the shootout game winner as well, in addition to an apple.
So we can trade him because he didn’t get a hat trick in his first game.
Fantastic!
In other prospect news, Clay Stevenson played his first game in net for the Stingrays and looked very sharp. Rays beat the Gladiators 4-2. Clay stopped 38 shots.
Yes players are drafted on potential however drafting someone in his condition and with an illness that can return at any time seems like a wasted draft pick. I have come to expect that from the GM and scouting staff in DC. Wish the kid well but that was a wasted pick.
Bear Hughes scored his first pro goal with the Rays today against Solar Bears.