Former prospect suspected for murder, on the run after allegedly stabbing man to death

The name of the prospect might not ring a bell to you off the bat, but I’m pretty sure you won’t forget afterwards when reading about him. Artyom Ivanyuzhenkov was once a prospect of the San Jose Sharks after he moved from Russia to America to play for Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL in 2017. He then started playing in the AHL for three seasons, even putting on the uniform of the Sharks’ farm club, the San Jose Barracuda. He is also the son of Boris Ivanyuzhenkov, political figure and a deputy of the 8th State Duma in Russia.

Ivanyuzhenkov didn’t record a single point in the AHL, and since 2020, he’s played in the KHL, where he’s put up three points in 36 games this season.

However, horrific news out of Russia has made him a suspect and not a prospect: according to the Russian outlet Championat, Ivanyuzhenkov is suspected of stabbing a 23-year-old man to death during a birthday party in Moscow. Several witnesses have reportedly been able to connect the young 24-year-old winger to the murder. The motive of the homicide is unknown at the moment.

Championat reports that Ivanyuzhenkov is wanted and is believed to have escaped to the town of Sochi.
Since running from police in Sochi, Ivanyuzhenkov has published a video on social media where he denies the accusations against him.

”False lies are spreading on Internet about me committing a crime in Moscow. Don’t believe in any information that’s not confirmed. I’m on a training camp in Sochi for the third day. This investigation will clear my name,” he said in the video.