A 14-year-old hockey player, Vsevolod Malkov, who trained at the SKA youth program in St. Petersburg, passed away after an incident during a practice session. The tragedy unfolded at the SKA facility, where teams from St. Petersburg train and develop young talents for competitive hockey.
The incident occurred during a routine training day on August 11. Players worked through a series of drills designed to build speed, precision, and teamwork. During one drill, a defender delivered a forceful check as a puck sprinted toward the crease. The puck struck Malkov in the chest, near the heart, and he collapsed. Attending medical staff immediately provided care and called for emergency services to respond with resuscitation efforts.
The medical team acted swiftly, managing to restart Malkov’s heart and stabilize him for transport to a hospital. Despite the best efforts of physicians and the hospital team, the young athlete could not be saved and was pronounced deceased shortly after admission.
In a statement, the SKA Hockey Club expressed its sincere condolences to Vsevolod Malkov’s parents, family, and friends. The club pledged full support for the family and announced that an internal review would examine all circumstances surrounding the accident to inform future safety measures and training practices. The press office noted that the organization would cooperate with any applicable investigations.
Separately, a separate incident involving a professional footballer was reported. On July 10, Misael Sanchez reportedly died after injuries sustained during a football match on a field in Oxnard, California. The game had intensified following a disagreement with the match official over a decision; fighting broke out, and Sanchez was injured in the ensuing confrontation. This case was described in media reports and was the subject of ongoing investigations and statements from local authorities.