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Top Russian Draft Prospect Completes Cancer Treatment, Cleared to Play

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Jon
June 3, 2022  (8:37 PM)
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The NHL Entry Draft is nearly upon us. July 7 will see this year's top NHL draft prospects selected by their prospective clubs. It's an exciting part of every summer, especially for fans whose teams failed to make the playoffs. For teams who finished near the bottom, consider it a sweet consolation prize with the potential to be the next Connor McDavid or Cale Makar. However, sometimes it ends up being the Nail Yakupov, which only adds to the anticipation. But more importantly it's a huge accomplishment for these young men who worked their whole lives to earn passage to hockey's highest level. What gets caught up in the minutiae sometimes is that these are just ordinary people with ordinary problems who just so happen to be insane at hockey.

Ivan Miroschnichenko, a top Russian draft prospect for this summer's NHL Draft, just recently overcame a battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Per NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr, he has been cleared to practice & will be ready to play next season. Where ever that might be.

That's amazing news for a young man projected to be drafted in the first round of this year's draft. The young Russian played last season in the Supreme Hockey League for Omskie Krylia, totaling 16 points in 31 games. He is currently under contract for Avangard Omsk of the KHL. His story is an inspiration to us all not to take life for granted & never stop battling. From a strictly hockey standpoint, one has to wonder if overcoming that sort of adversity would increase his draft stock too. Anyhow, congratulations to Ivan & his family for his incredible triumph. Hopefully we see him in the NHL soon.