# Ivan Demidov (ice hockey)

Ivan Alexeyevich Demidov (Russian: Иван Алексеевич Демидов; born 10 December 2005) is a Russian professional ice hockey winger for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

## Playing career

During the course of the 2022–23 Junior Hockey League (MHL) season, Demidov scored over 1.4 points per game (PPG), leading all skaters. He made his Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) debut with SKA Saint Petersburg at the age of 16 in November 2022, and also partook in the KHL All-Star Game the following month.
The presumptive second overall pick entering the 2024 NHL entry draft due to his passing and goal-scoring abilities according to scouts, hockey insider Bob McKenzie speculated Demidov might fall on draft day as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was ultimately selected fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens, which was announced by prominent Canadian singer Celine Dion.
Despite limited playing time with SKA Saint Petersburg to begin the 2024–25 KHL season, Demidov was solid offensively, registering eight points (four goals and four assists) in the team's first ten games. For his efforts, he was named to the KHL All-Rookie Team as well as earning Rookie of the Month honors for September 2024. In December 2024, Demidov was recognized as KHL Rookie of the Month for the second time. Following the departure of SKA Saint Petersburg teammate Tony DeAngelo in mid-January 2025, Demidov was selected as his replacement as part of the annual league All-Star Game. On 28 January, he recorded his first professional hat-trick in a 4–1 win versus divisional rival, HC Vityaz. Days later, Demidov was revealed as Rookie of the Month honoree for the second consecutive month; his third time collectively over the course of the 2024–25 KHL campaign. On 4 February 2025, he would surpass fellow countryman Kirill Kaprizov for the most single season points registered by a U-20 player across league history with 43.

## International play

Internationally, Demidov won gold with his country's national under-18 team at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring five points in five games. He also earned a bronze medal shortly thereafter at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF).
In late 2024, Demidov was chosen to the Russian senior national team for the annual Channel One Cup. Registering five points across two games played, he was named the tournament's MVP as its top scorer.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2021–22 | SKA Varyagi | MHL | 12 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 13 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | SKA Varyagi | MHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 41 | 19 | 43 | 62 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 6 |
| 2023–24 | SKA Saint Petersburg | KHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | SKA-Neva | VHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | SKA-1946 | MHL | 30 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 20 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 37 |
| KHL totals | KHL totals | KHL totals | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2021 | Russia | HG18 | | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 2022 | Russia | EYOF | | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | Russia | COC | | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| KHL |||
| All-Star Game | 2022, 2025 |
| MHL |||
| All-Star Game | 2023 |
| Most Valuable Player | 2023, 2024 |
| Kharlamov Cup | 2024 |