Ivan Zenchenko files lawsuit over severe hockey head injury

Olympic hockey player Ivan Zenchenko has filed a lawsuit following a severe head injury sustained during a USA Hockey-sanctioned game on September 27, 2025, at the LA Kings Valley Ice center.

According to the legal documents, a puck struck Zenchenko with enough force to crack his Bauer Re-Akt 55 helmet, causing the disc to penetrate his head. The incident resulted in significant bleeding, immediate memory loss, and visual coordination issues. Zenchenko, a Russian-born defender, was treated at Valley Presbyterian hospital for lacerations and hematomas and has been unable to return to ice hockey.

Zenchenko’s wife, Sonya Zenchenko, is also named as a plaintiff. The lawsuit claims she has suffered a ‘loss of conjugal fellowship, sexual relations, and companionship’ due to the injuries, which allegedly left Zenchenko unable to function normally in an intimate capacity. His attorney, Paul Sigelman, stated that the case involves a ‘multimillion-dollar loss’ and noted that California law recognizes the loss of a sexual partner as a valid ground for legal action.