LA hockey defender sues helmet maker after puck penetrates headgear

Ivan Zenchenko, a 32-year-old defender who had made the Russian 2026 Olympic team, sued after a puck penetrated his Bauer Re-Akt 55 helmet during a USA Hockey game on September 27, 2025, at the LA Kings Valley Ice Center. The impact caused a head wound that resulted in blood loss, a hematoma and lasting neurological deficits, including memory loss and impaired eye coordination. He has been unable to return to professional hockey or his job at an exotic car rebuild shop.

His spouse, Sofia Zenchenko, is also a plaintiff, claiming the injury has ended their sexual relationship and companionship. Their attorneys allege that the helmet, purchased from Pure Hockey in Anaheim, was defective or improperly designed, and that Bauer Hockey failed to warn consumers. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified multi-million-dollar compensation for the couple's suffering.