Ukrainian Amateur Hockey League Concludes Its Inaugural Season
The Ukrainian Amateur Hockey League has completed its inaugural season, marking a significant step for amateur hockey in Ukraine. Launched by UAHL in partnership with the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine and Innovecs, the debut season wrapped up with the Capital Division Finals and All-Star Game in Kyiv, followed by the Superfinal in Kremenchuk, where top teams battled for the UAHL Cup.
A new chapter has begun in the history of Ukrainian amateur hockey with the completion of the inaugural season of the Second League of the Ukrainian Ice Hockey Championship. The league was launched through the joint efforts of the Ukrainian Amateur Hockey League (UAHL), the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine, and the league’s general partner — Innovecs, a global digital services company.
The final events of the debut season brought together two major highlights. Kyiv hosted the Capital Division Finals and an All-Star Game, showcasing the top players of the region. Then, the Superfinal took place in Kremenchuk, where the best teams from different divisions competed for the UAHL Cup — the league’s ultimate trophy.
Founded in 2024, the Ukrainian Amateur Hockey League was established to create a unified vertical structure for amateur hockey in Ukraine. The league brings together regional amateur clubs under a single organizational umbrella and operates as a public association with the support of the national hockey federation.
During the 2024/2025 season, the league included teams from across the country. Divisions were formed in Central Ukraine (Kremenchuk, Kremin, Fizkulturnyk, Dynamo, Calvados), Zaporizhzhia (Sich, Polius, Phoenix, Aurora), and the Capital Division (SHVSM, Rosomakhy, Desna, Sirius, Innovecs, Energy Stars). Other top regional teams included Shtorm (Odesa), Prydniprovs’k (Dnipro), Dynamo (Kharkiv), Sumy (Sumy Region), and Kryvorizki Yastruby (Kryvyi Rih). Overall, more than 40 amateur clubs took part in the league’s first season.
On June 1, the final event of the Capital Division took place at the Shalet Ice Arena in Kyiv. Over the course of the season, six amateur teams competed in this division, playing 60 group-stage matches and 15 playoff games. In total, the division hosted 75 matches with nearly 200 hockey players participating.
As part of the celebration, an All-Star Game featured standout players from the Capital Division. Two symbolic teams — Pravyi Bereh and Livyi Bereh — faced off in a thrilling match that ended with Pravyi Bereh winning 11–10.
Following the game, a festive awards ceremony honored the top teams of the season. Gold went to HC Rosomakhy, silver to HC SHVSM, and bronze to HC Desna. Individual awards were also presented to the most valuable players and team representatives.
The award ceremony was conducted by:
- Oleksandr Tatarchuk, Executive Director of the UAHL Second League
- Yurii Kyrychenko, Sports Director of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine
- Viktor Zakharov, top scorer of the IIHF World Championship Division IA
- Dmytro Ihnatenko, Ukrainian champion of the 2024/2025 season and assistant captain of HC Kremenchuk
The Superfinal of the inaugural Second League season was held from June 6–8 in Kremenchuk, where the strongest teams from all divisions battled for the UAHL Cup — a symbol of national unity in regional amateur hockey.
HC Kremenchuk claimed victory and became the first team to raise the league’s championship trophy. HC Shtorm (Odesa) took second place, and HC Dynamo (Kharkiv) earned bronze.
The awards were presented by:
- Oleksandr Tatarchuk, Executive Director of the UAHL Second League
- Oleksandr Lemeshko, First Deputy Head of the Poltava Regional State Administration
The league’s general partner, Innovecs, has actively supported the development of Ukrainian hockey since 2021 — serving as a title sponsor of both youth and national teams. The creation of the UAHL marks the continuation of a long-standing partnership between Innovecs and the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine.
The UAHL also expresses sincere gratitude to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, whose efforts made it possible to hold this championship during a full-scale invasion. Many of the league’s players are members of the Ukrainian armed forces who find strength, physical recovery, and mental resilience through the game of hockey.
Looking ahead, the Ukrainian Amateur Hockey League is committed to growing this initiative further — building a strong national platform for the sport and welcoming new amateur clubs from across Ukraine to join in the next season.
The Ukrainian Amateur Hockey League is a public organization whose primary goal is to build a unified vertical of amateur hockey in Ukraine, implement the best global standards for the rapid development of Ukrainian amateur hockey, advance sports education, and carry out educational work.
Innovecs, the UAHL’s general partner, is a global digital services company with a broad international footprint including a presence in the US, the UK, the EU, Israel, Australia, and Ukraine. Operating as a parent company, Innovecs team drives innovation across general tech and specialized divisions: Innovecs High Tech, Innovecs Supply Chain, Innovecs Games, and Innovecs Play. Recognized in the Inc. 5000 and IAOP’s Global Outsourcing 100, Innovecs is among the fastest-growing private companies in the US. The company is on the Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces Ranking, honored with the prestigious Global Good Awards for Employee Engagement & Wellbeing, and won gold at the Employer Brand Management Awards.
The Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine is the official governing body for ice hockey in Ukraine, responsible for preparing national teams and organizing ice hockey competitions in Ukraine.
