Ukraine on the way to a professional league

May should be remembered as a special month for Ukrainian hockey. At a meeting of representatives and leaders of hockey clubs to discuss the results of past Ukraine League,  a revolutionary proposal was presented: the creation of the Ukrainian Professional Hockey League. Before to vote, clubs and federation will carefully study this issue, but the establishment of PHL  should be just a matter of time.

The main obstacle to discuss the creation of PHL at 24 May meeting was the draft of the League that clubs simply do not have time to study and to make suggestions. To enable a better reflection, a new deadline was set for 30th May. Then, in the next ten days, all the clubs that are interested in becoming a member of the new league will have to study the relevant materials, make suggestions and corrections, as well as select delegates to attend the next conference. Thereafter, on June 3, should be held the founding conference.

Note that at the meeting were absent representatives of the Donbas Donets’k and Vorony Sumy, have been unable to come to Kyiv for various reasons. However this clubs have confirmed their participation in future competitions

In the absence of delegates from the Donbas Donets’k, the first speaker was a representative of the last Ukraine League runner up: Sokіl Kyiv. Vice-President of club Serhiy Korablyov said: "Sokil Kyiv will support any initiatives of Ukrainian Federation, in favor of increasing the number of matches in the regular season in Ukraine, as well as the promotion of future competitions by attracting spectators and sponsor of the League." What a U-turn! A year ago, mainly due to reluctance of the Sokil Kyiv, championship of Ukraine did not increased the number of matches and the coaching staff of the club have repeatedly spoke about the low level of competition. Well, times have changed, ladies and gentlemen, and now the Sokil Kyiv, who will not play in Belarus Open League next season, is interested in developing their own superiority.
Oleksandr Hrinshpun, who represented the hockey club Kharkiv, said: "We want the increase of quality in National Championship. This is what will bring fans to the tribune, and potential sponsors to negotiate with the teams."

The representative of the Companion-Naftogaz Kyiv indicate that they are interested, above all, the championship game will be broadcasted on national television. Response of the President of UIHF Anatoliy Brezvin was clear: the resolution will be forwarded to the Prime Minister of Ukraine for mandatory funding of these broadcasts on the First Channel of Ukraine. "I am confident that next season we will be showing the championship of Ukraine" - summed up the president of the Hockey Federation of Ukraine.


Strictly speaking, the name"Professional Hockey League",  is just a proposal, as one of the curators of the League, Yuriy Zahorodniy, said . It is possible that the final version of the newly created structure will have a completely different acronym.
According Zahorodniy: "The League did not immediately become a truly professional, but together, we must initiate positive change."

At the moment, have confirmed their participation in the next championship, all seven teams that participated in last championship: champion Donbas Donets’k, Sokіl Kyiv, Companion-Naftogaz Kyiv, HC Kharkiv, Bilyy Bars Brovary, Vorony Sumy and Berkut Kyiv.

Podil Kyiv, bankruptcy during the last tournament, according to club director Serhiy Suprun will reborn in new season under a new-old name Berkut Kyiv.

The most intriguing question was about new clubs: epresentatives of several clubs expressed their interest in participating in the PHL in the next season: Tsunami Ivano-Frankivs'k, a mysterious second team from Kharkiv, representatives of Vinnytsya, Kherson, L'viv, Dnipropetrovs'k, as well ... two more of the Kyiv teams: Avangard Kyiv and Kryzhynka Kyiv, from well estabilished Kyiv Night amateur hockey league.
The conversion from intention of potential newcomers to effective participation in the league may take more than one year. Can not be excluded as an option in which the intention and will remain intentions. Optimistically, everyone will start next year under the auspices of the new league. But is worth to appoint some interesting facts: Tsunami Ivano-Frankivs'k, is former Vatra Ivano-Frankivs'k. Curious second team from Kharkiv may appear under the name Kharkivs'ki Akuly Kharkiv. Incidentally, the Kharkivs'ki Akuly are already showing interest in the former goalkeeper of Donbas Donets’k and HC Kharkiv Oleksandr Kharytonov. Kryzhynka Kyiv willing to gather under its banner promising young boys under the age of 23 years.
Well, we have to admit that the Federation and the clubs were able to answered by a serious affair in the domestic hockey life. Potentially - the formation of the League may be a first step towards creating a truly competitive Ukrainian championship. Of course, to realize this, the Clubs and the Federation should have been supported not only by fans, but also by the authority of the country. Under the best circumstances - in early summer, we may be witnessing the birth of professional Ukrainian Hockey League.

 

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