Ukranian League finally starts!

17 Oct 2013 | Krišjānis Koļesņičenkovs/Davide Tuniz

After months of speculations and different scenarios, Ukranian league begins on 28 October with five teams

This should be the last word: the Ukranian domestic League will begin on 28.October and be played with 5 clubs being Bilyỹ Bars Bila Tserkva, Kompanion-Naftogaz Kyiv, Levy L'viv, Sokil Kyiv and Haydamaky Vinnytsa. The league should run until 14.March, 2014 with 4 rounds robin plus play-offs, full calendar will be announced later but on October 28-29 the announced games are: Bilyỹ Bars Bila Tserkva - Kompanion-Naftogaz Kyiv and Sokil Kyiv - Haydamaky Vinnytsa
Each roster is allowed 7 foreign born players, unlimited amount of foreigners age 1990 and younger. Ukrainian goalkeepers must player 35% of the ice time and a max of 35 players on roster, 5 of which have to be Ukrainians born 1994 and younger.

So finally we have the surprising return of Haydamaky Vinnytsa, the absence of Berkut Kyiv and the confirmation of Levy L'viv. Kharkiv exits from hockey map at senior level, but city will allign 3 teams in U18 league, while amateur team Generals Kyiv, speculated to enter in the league during the summer, didn't finalize the application.

League lost the name Professional Hockey League (PHL) and is back under the authority of Ukranian Federation. Bilyỹ Bars Bila Tserkva, in this season Donbas Donets'k farm team, and Kompanion-Naftogaz Kyiv are the main candidate for the title