For most NHL players, having family in the stands provides comfort and support during home games. For New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, however, one of the most important people in his life deliberately stays away. His father, who lives thousands of miles away in Moscow, rarely makes the trip to watch his son compete at hockey’s highest level.
Why Does Ilya Sorokin’s Father Stay Away From NHL Games?
While Sorokin’s parents make the effort to visit him during the offseason, his father has never participated in the NHL’s Father’s Day events. “Never once,” Sorokin admitted during a June 25 interview with LOD. “It’s just… getting to America isn’t exactly simple. You have to plan everything ahead. You… I don’t know… maybe they announce the Father’s Day dates early, but I always missed that window. And I don’t think he’s super into it anyway.”
Beyond the logistical challenges of international travel, Sorokin revealed a much deeper reason for his father’s absence. The emotional stress of watching his son play live has proven too difficult to handle.
The turning point came during Sorokin’s teenage years while playing in the MHL. “When I was 17, playing in the MHL, there was this game where we nearly got into a fight (with fans),” Sorokin shared. “They scored on me, and fans started swearing. He heard it and lost his cool. After that, he stopped coming to my games.”
Ilya Sorokin revealed why his father doesn’t watch his games, why he’s never attended the NHL’s Father’s Day events, and shared broader reflections on family pic.twitter.com/rhlhmFJLGe
— Uggg (@Uggg_uggg) August 2, 2025
That confrontation with hostile fans left such a lasting impact that Sorokin’s father made the difficult decision to avoid live games entirely. Rather than risk another emotional outburst, he chooses to support his son from afar.
Despite his general policy of avoiding live games, Sorokin’s father made a special exception in March 2023. Making the long journey from Moscow to New York, he attended his first NHL game to watch his son play at the sport’s highest level.
The night turned out to be memorable for all the right reasons. Sorokin stopped 22 shots and led the Islanders to a convincing 4-1 victory against the Red Wings, giving his father a perfect introduction to NHL hockey. However, the experience wasn’t without its challenges.
“He was very nervous,” Sorokin said after the game, according to the New York Post. Even though the outcome was positive, the anxiety his father felt during the game reinforced why he typically stays away from the arena.
Despite the physical distance and his father’s absence from games, Sorokin maintains a strong connection with his family. “Well, they come to visit me. Mom, Dad, and sister usually come. It just so happens that they come in the summer, and Dad at the end of the season,” Sorokin explained during his interview.
These offseason visits allow the family to spend quality time together without the pressure and stress of competitive games. Rather than dealing with the emotional rollercoaster of live hockey, they can focus on simply being together as a family.
Now 29, Sorokin remains one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders. During the 2024-25 season, he appeared in 61 games, posting a 30-24-6 record with a 2.71 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage, and four shutouts.
With an eight-year, $66 million contract carrying an $8.5 million annual cap hit, the Islanders have secured their star netminder for the long term.
