Kyiv's "Sokol" has officially begun its pre-season preparations for the 2026/27 campaign. According to the club's press service, cited by Sport RBC.UA, on August 18, the team led by coach Oleg Shafarenko started a training camp in the Polish town of Sanok. This foreign training block will last until September 18 — nearly a month, which represents an extended preparation period for a hockey club.
A Month in Poland: Sparring Matches and an Anniversary Tournament
During the camp, the Kyiv team will play a series of friendly matches and participate in a prestigious international tournament dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Bytom-based "Polonia" hockey club. The tournament will take place from August 28 to 30. After concluding the Polish leg, "Sokol" will return to Ukraine to continue preparations for the national Cup. Thus, the off-season for the Ukrainian champions is structured as a sequence: sparring matches and a tournament abroad, followed by the Cup start at home.
Dual License: Competing in Ukraine and Poland Simultaneously
The main structural novelty of the new season is the Kyiv club's decision to compete in two national leagues simultaneously — the Ukrainian and Polish championships. In the Polish league, "Sokol" will play based on the local "Sanok" team, which explains the choice of city for the extended training camp. However, according to the requirements of the local championship, the team roster must include at least ten Polish hockey players. The full "Sokol" roster for the 2026/27 season is intended to be announced later, so the personnel picture remains open for now.
Zakharov Remains: Two-Year Contract with the Captain
The first major personnel news of the off-season is the extension of the contract with team captain Viktor Zakharov. The new two-year agreement with the 32-year-old forward is valid until at least the end of the 2027/28 season. Previously, the forward's preliminary agreement with the Kyiv club was set to expire during this off-season, but the parties agreed to continue their cooperation.
Leader's Stats: 141 Games and a Path to the Elite
Zakharov has been playing for "Sokol" since 2023. During this time, the center forward has played 141 games for the team, scoring 98 goals and making 78 assists — statistics that confirm his status as one of the club's key scorers. On the international stage, the forward helped the Ukrainian national team win a spot in the Elite Division for the first time in 19 years at the end of the Division 1A World Championship, which became one of the notable achievements of Ukrainian hockey in recent years.
