The Ukrainian national ice hockey team is set to compete in the Division IA of the World Championship for the second consecutive season, beginning with a match against Poland on May 2, 2026. This tournament marks Ukraine’s ongoing presence in this division after returning last season for the first time in eight years.
Last year, under the guidance of coach Dmytro Khytrych, Ukraine came close to promotion to the elite division but suffered a narrow defeat to Japan, losing 3-2 in the final round. The team aims to improve upon their previous performance and secure a top position in the standings.
Ukraine’s opponents in the 2026 World Championship include:
- Poland (host nation)
- Kazakhstan (15th place in the elite division of 2025)
- France (last place in the elite division of 2025)
- Japan
- Lithuania (winner of Division IB in 2025)
From last season, only Poland and Japan remain as familiar rivals. The previous year saw Great Britain and Italy promoted to the elite division, while Romania was relegated to Division IB. Ukraine managed to earn points against all these teams last season.
In their last encounter, Ukraine defeated Poland 4-1, but lost to Japan in a crucial match. The team has exchanged victories with Lithuania, having won 4-1 in the Division IB Championship, while Lithuania claimed a 2-1 victory in the European Nations Cup.
France and Kazakhstan are returning to Division IA after extended stints in the elite division, with France having participated since 2008 and Kazakhstan since 2021. The match against Poland is considered pivotal, as it will set the tone for Ukraine’s campaign.
Coach Oleg Shafarенко remarked, “We clearly understand that the match against Poland will be the toughest. It will determine our path: either we win and compete for medals, or we lose and fight for survival.”
Shafarенко acknowledged the strength of Kazakhstan and France, noting their robust hockey infrastructure and player development.
The standings in Division IA will be determined as follows:
- Promotion to the elite division: 1st and 2nd place
- Retention in Division IA: 3rd to 5th place
- Relegation to Division IB: 6th place
Each team will play five matches in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the elite division and one team relegated. Points will be awarded based on match outcomes, with specific criteria for tiebreakers.
Shafarенко stated, “Our goal is to win medals. We will certainly strive for the highest places.”
Ukraine’s roster for the 2026 Championship includes:
- Goalkeepers: Bohdan D’yachenko (Polonia, Poland), Oleg Petrov (Sokil), Oleksandr Levshyn (Prince George Cougars, Canada)
- Defensemen: Ihor Merezhko (Plzeň, Czech Republic), Artem Grebenik (Can, France), Denys Matusievych (Kremenchuk), Oleksii Dakhnovskyi (Košice, Slovakia), Yevhenii Ratushnyi (Sokil), Ivan Sysak (Feltre, Italy), Mykola Kosarev (Stavanger Oilers, Norway)
- Forwards: Oleksandr Peresunko (Unia, Poland), Daniil Tracht (Lukko, Finland), Andrii Denyskin, Oleksii Vorona (both Sokil), Vitalii Lialka (Kremenchuk), Stanislav Sadovikov (Zlín, Czech Republic), Ilarion Kupriyanov (Dukla, Czech Republic), Yevhen Fadeev (Sneekpoint Iterz, Netherlands), Felix Morozov (Morzin-Avoria, France), Viktor Zakharov, Denys Borodai, Mykyta Oliinyk (all Sokil), Artem Buzoveria (Coventry Blaze, UK)
The most experienced players on the team include goalkeeper Bohdan D’yachenko and forward Vitalii Lialka, who participated in Division IA in 2017. The team retains key players from last year’s championship, including top scorers Andrii Denyskin and Viktor Zakharov, along with most of the defensemen.
Shafarенко commented on the roster, stating, “We have expanded [the team] with younger players, but we want to maintain a strong core. Our focus remains on performance and competitiveness.”
The tournament will take place in Poland, with matches hosted at the Sosnowiec Arena, which has a capacity of 3,000 spectators. This marks Ukraine’s first championship in Poland since 2022, when they finished third in Division IB.
As the championship approaches, players have expressed their readiness and determination:
- Bohdan D’yachenko: “Our task is to go out and show our game. The level of competition is high, and every match requires focus and preparation.”
- Ilarion Kupriyanov: “Expectations are high. The team looks strong, and we aim to perform well for our fans and achieve the best possible results.”
- Ihor Merezhko: “Our primary goal is to avoid relegation. We will fight for points in every match and see where we end up.”
The schedule for Ukraine’s matches in Division IA is as follows:
- Saturday, May 2: 20:30 – Poland vs. Ukraine
- Sunday, May 3: 17:00 – Ukraine vs. Lithuania
- Tuesday, May 5: 17:00 – France vs. Ukraine
- Thursday, May 7: 17:00 – Ukraine vs. Kazakhstan
- Friday, May 8: 17:00 – Ukraine vs. Japan
The Ukrainian national ice hockey team is preparing for the 2026 World Championship in Division IA, aiming to improve upon last year's performance. With a strong roster and high expectations, the team faces significant competition, starting with a crucial match against Poland.