Hockey in Ukraine

Like many other sports, hockey in Ukraine is developed on a high level. Maintaining its traditions since the Soviet Union times, whose teams were and are still considered among strongest ones in the world, Ukrainian hockey continues to develop and discover new talents.

For the first time Ukraine hockey was spoken about at the beginning of the 20th century. The honor of the first hockey game belongs to Lviv skaters society. In October 1904 they organized the first hockey tournament ever in Lviv.

Since then, the sport is developing rapidly, gaining more and more fans, meanwhile more and more children and young people dream of becoming hockey players.

For now there is a large number of hockey teams of various levels represented in the Ukrainian league. The most successful of them also participate in the Continental Hockey League (CHL) and other international competitions.

The strongest ones among Ukrainian hockey teams are: "Berkut" and "Falcon" from Kiev, "Donbass", Donetsk, Lviv "Lions" and "Kharkov Sharks".

Many Ukrainian sportsmen have proven their skills and won the right to become members of star teams of the National Hockey League. Among them: Ruslan Fedotenko, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Alexei Zhitnik, Danius Zubrus, Dmitri Khristich, Anton Babchuk and Nikolai Zherdev.

All these players and many others with honor and dignity represent their country within the international hockey arena.

Children hockey in Ukraine is developing not less rapidly. New ice stadiums are regularly open, meanwhile lots of competitions and tournaments are held on existing ones.

Opening of brand new ice rinks in entertainment and shopping centers supports the ice sport development. Anyone, regardless of age, can stand on skates and check out what it means to be a real hockey player or a skater.

From personal experience

Vishal Ratnakar, theoretical physicist (India-Ukraine)
I graduated from Kharkiv State University in 1991. The Kharkiv School of Theoretical Physics was known throughout the world. Now I work as a consulting engineer at an international company. My knowledge of the Ukrainian mentality and the skills of gripping any subject quickly, which I acquired at the university, have proven very helpful in my current job. The only recommendation I have for my countrymen who are going to come to Ukraine to study is that you must learn, first and foremost, that the front passenger seat in a car here is on the right side. The rest is easy to learn.

Firsthand

Wu Li, Manager (China-Ukraine)
This year I have graduated from a higher educational institution in Kyiv and obtained a diploma. Currently, I am an intern at an international travel company operating in Ukraine. In the future, I plan to manage the business of a Chinese company in Ukraine’s market. I have the necessary knowledge for this, and cooperation between our two countries is on the rise. Besides, I have many good friends here. I would like to warn my compatriots who want to come to Ukraine that winters here are the same as in the northern provinces of China. So, do not forget warm clothes. But it is much warmer in the houses.

Not from hearsay

Olga Nemirovskaya, future lawyer (Russia-Ukraine)
Two years ago I decided to enter an educational institution in Kyiv and now I am here, studying. First, it is cheaper than in Moscow. Second, I have relatives and friends here who can support me. And third, I looked for new impressions, new places, and new discoveries. Kyiv proved the right choice for me. It combinesbeauty, antiquity, and the rapid rhythm of life typical of other big cities! I would like to say to my countrymen who are contemplating study in Ukraine that I study here in Russian and communicate in Russian as well. As for Ukrainian, it is a friendly and understandable language. I can already speak it a little. It’s cool!