An Olympic-bound hockey player is suing Bauer Hockey and Pure Hockey after a puck allegedly pierced his helmet during a game, leading to severe injuries that have impacted his ability to function and his intimate life. Ivan Zenchenko, 32, was playing in a USA Hockey-sanctioned game on September 27, 2025, at the LA Kings Valley Ice Center when a puck broke through his Bauer Re-Akt 55 helmet. The lawsuit claims the helmet cracked open, allowing the puck to penetrate Zenchenko's head, causing him to bleed profusely on the ice.
Video of the incident reportedly showed the crowd reacting with horror as Zenchenko stood up and the extent of his injuries became apparent. He was taken to Valley Presbyterian hospital, where he was treated for lacerations and a hematoma. According to the suit, Zenchenko has experienced immediate memory loss and vision coordination problems and has not played hockey since the incident.
Zenchenko's wife, Sofia, is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, claiming she has suffered a "loss of conjugal fellowship, sexual relations, and companionship" due to her husband's injuries. Zenchenko's attorney, Paul Sigelman, stated that his client is "completely disabled" and that there are "intimacy problems" and that they "don’t have the same sex life." Sigelman noted that in California, the loss of a sexual partner is a recognized claim for damages.
The couple is seeking an unspecified multi-million dollar amount for their suffering. The lawsuit alleges that the helmet Zenchenko purchased on July 3, 2025, at the Pure Hockey store in Anaheim, California, had a manufacturing defect or was defectively designed and sold without adequate warnings. It is believed the helmet deviated from manufacturing specifications and design of other units in the Bauer Hockey product line.
Zenchenko, who has also suffered fright, shock, physiological impairment, and traumatic brain injury, has been unable to work at his job rebuilding exotic cars. Sigelman described Zenchenko's memory issues, stating he might be working on a car and take a piece off, then later forget where it came from when trying to reattach it. Sofia Zenchenko has taken on work as a housekeeper to support the couple, who are Russian speakers. They reportedly arrived in Los Angeles less than two years ago and have been living modestly in the San Fernando Valley. Sigelman added that Zenchenko wishes to play hockey again, as it was his entire life. Bauer Hockey and Pure Hockey have been contacted for comment.