Olympic hockey star suffered devastating injury in horror accident that destroyed his sex life

A USA Hockey sanctioned game at the LA Kings Valley Ice center last September was supposed to be routine for Ivan Zenchenko. But the 32-year-old defenseman's life changed forever when a puck reportedly pierced his helmet, leaving him with catastrophic injuries that have kept him off the ice ever since.

According to a newly filed lawsuit, Zenchenko was wearing a Bauer Re-Akt 55 helmet during the September 27, 2025 game when the protective gear cracked open, allowing the puck to make contact with his head. The Russian-born player was left bleeding profusely across the rink.

Video footage obtained by the California Post reportedly captured the horrifying moment Zenchenko got to his feet, with spectators screaming as blood poured from his damaged helmet.

He was transported to Valley Presbyterian hospital, where he received treatment for lacerations and hematoma, the suit states. The filing claims Zenchenko experienced immediate memory loss and coordination issues with his eyesight.

He has not returned to the ice since the incident.

The lawsuit paints a grim picture of Zenchenko's current condition. According to the filing, he suffers from traumatic brain injury, physiological impairment, and an inability to function on a regular basis. He has also been unable to continue working at the exotic car rebuilding company where he was previously employed.

His attorney, Paul Sigelman, told The New York Post that the injuries extend into every corner of Zenchenko's personal life as well. "There are some intimacy problems. They don't have the same sex life, Ivan is completely disabled," Sigelman said.

Zenchenko's wife, Sofia, is named as a co-plaintiff in the suit, alleging she has experienced a loss of companionship, conjugal fellowship, and sexual relations as a result of his injuries.

Sigelman noted that under California law, the loss of a sexual partner constitutes a recognized claim. The couple is reportedly seeking a sum that has not yet been fully determined, though the attorney described it as "a multi-million dollar loss."

The suit targets both Bauer Hockey and the Pure Hockey retail location in Anaheim, California, where Zenchenko purchased the helmet on July 3, 2025. The filing alleges the helmet was specifically recommended by Pure Hockey for competitive use and that it contained a manufacturing defect or defective design that was sold without adequate warning.

Sigelman described Zenchenko's ongoing memory struggles in stark terms, saying his client will remove a car part while working, then moments later have no recollection of where it came from.

Sofia has reportedly taken on work as a housekeeper and is now the sole provider for the couple, who only speak Russian. They have been living modestly in the San Fernando Valley since arriving in Los Angeles less than two years ago.

"He's a very sweet guy. He wants to play hockey again. It was his whole life," Sigelman said.

The case moves forward as the couple awaits responses from Bauer Hockey and Pure Hockey, neither of which had publicly commented at the time of reporting.