Scoring a goal in a KHL game is not a bad way to celebrate your birthday. That’s exactly what Washington Capitals prospect Ivan Miroshnichenko did on Saturday, scoring his third career KHL goal on his 19th birthday.
The goal came midway through the second period of Avangard’s tilt with Amur Khabarovsk. Miroshnichenko hammered home a one-timer from the right circle for the score, giving Avangard a 1-0 lead.
The birthday boy! Ivan Miroshnichenko hammers home his 3rd goal of the season. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ZV7FtBI4ka
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) February 4, 2023
Miroshnichenko was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last February, but was cleared by doctors to return to skating and workouts after successfully completing a course of treatment in Germany last June.
Miroshnichenko was then cleared to return to game action in November and joined Avangard’s junior team where he scored eight goals in eight games played.
Mashup of Ivan Miroshnichenko’s five goals in five-straight games since his return from battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/4zy3AURMBD
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) November 16, 2022
Miroshnichenko had a very productive month of December. On December 4 he made the next big step in his hockey career, starting for Avangard’s KHL team. It was his first game ever played in Russia’s top league.
Miroshnichenko then scored his first career goal in the KHL on December 26. The goal came at 16:24 of the first period in Avangard’s tilt with Barys Astana.
Welcome to the big stage, kid!
18-year-old Ivan Miroshnichenko scores first KHL career goal! pic.twitter.com/v4NZI7g7Qa
— KHL (@khl_eng) December 26, 2022
The Capitals ultimately selected Miroshnichenko in the first round (#20 overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft held on July 7. Miroshnichenko is signed with Avangard through the 2023-24 season.
By Jon Sorensen
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I can’t wait for this kid to get here!
You and me both. He’s holding his own fairly well against the men in the KHL.