Ukraine’s national under-25 ice hockey team prepares to face the U of Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg

Members of Ukraine’s national under-25 ice hockey team will face off against the University of Manitoba Bisons at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg on Monday in the final game of their Hockey Can’t Stop tour.

Seven thousand tickets have been redeemed for the event, and 4,000 ticket holders are of Ukrainian origin, said tour manager Aleksandra Slatvytska.

The team has warmly welcomed Canadians, Ukrainian refugees and Canadians of Ukrainian descent, he said.

“For most of them, it’s not just about hockey. It’s more about support and showing that they’re willing to help,” he said at a news conference Saturday.

The Ukrainian ice hockey team is in Canada playing against four university teams in the Canada West Conference in preparation to compete in the Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, NY from the 12th to the 22nd. January.

Men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine without special permission, but players who have made the country’s under-25 national team have received military exemptions to compete in the United States.

“Each of us is trying to do the best we can with what we have here,” said Slatvytska. “Most people cannot imagine how many people die every day [in Ukraine].”

“A miracle for most of us”

They have already played against teams from the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta.

“It’s really kind of a miracle for most of us,” said Gleb Krivoshapkin, forward of the Ukrainian team.

Most of the players have never been to hockey’s home country or played in an NHL arena before, he said.

“Honestly, I’m just excited to feel that moment and be in the atmosphere,” he said of Monday’s game. – I don’t think it can feel like a home game, but I think the amount [Ukrainian] the fans help us.”

But the war in Ukraine still weighs heavily on their minds.

“It’s quite hard mentally because I’m on the phone with my parents who are still over there in Ukraine,” Krivoshapkin said. “They always say they’re fine, of course they say that, but I know what’s going on there.”

The coaches help the players stay strong, he said, and the tour has had a positive effect on his family’s mood in Ukraine.

“Because of this tour and these games, they have positive feelings,” he said. “My dad doesn’t sleep at night. He watches the games.”

Profits from ticket sales go to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, which helps humanitarian groups in Ukraine and Canada.

It distributes most of the funds to the Save Ukrainian Hockey Dream Foundation, a charitable foundation run by the Ukrainian Hockey Federation with assistance from the International Hockey Federation.

Head coach Vadym Shakharaichuk said the tour is a good experience for the young players. Although they have lost their first three games, he hopes on Monday that the Ukrainian team will “take everything and put it on the ice to win.”

Although many Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox Christmas on Saturday, Slatvytska said the national team’s hockey tour is not about celebrating.

“It’s not about a vacation for us now,” he said. “We have to do our best here. Our best is to play hockey.”

Slatvytska said she hopes the tour is the start of a special hockey relationship between Canada and Ukraine.

“I hope that this tour will not only help with fundraising, but I really hope with all my heart that it will be the beginning of hockey relations between Ukraine and Canada for many years to come.”