The first hockey trophy of the new season in Ukraine will be contested from September 16 to 19. On these dates, teams will battle at the Kremenchuk 'Iceberg' arena for the Anatoly Horozov Ukraine Cup. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the press service of the Ukrainian Hockey Federation. The tournament will serve as the opening stage of the competitive campaign and set the tone for the entire championship.
Format and Venue
The organizers have chosen the home venue of one of the main title contenders — the Kremenchuk 'Iceberg' arena — for the opening tournament. The four days of competition (September 16–19) will determine the holder of the Anatoly Horozov Ukraine Cup. According to the federation's press service, only two giants have officially confirmed their participation so far, although the organizers promise to provide more detailed information about each of the participating teams in the coming days. Thus, the full lineup of the tournament will be finalized as applications are closed.
Favorites and Tournament Intrigue
The main intrigue of the Cup will be the fight over whether one of the favorites — HC Kremenchuk or Kyiv's Sokil — will claim the title. Both teams are considered the primary contenders for the trophy. The intrigue is heightened by the statistics: if the cup does not leave the city, one of these two teams will become the three-time holder of the Ukraine Cup. This is why the gold medal match is expected to become the key event of the season's opening stage.
Participant Lineup: Who Has Been Certified
Five clubs have passed certification to participate in the Ukrainian championship. Sokil, Kremenchuk, and Odesshchyna competed in the previous season; Dnipro of Kherson is returning to the competition after a one-year break, while Sherni of Bohuslav will make their debut in senior hockey. There is a high probability that these five teams will contest the first trophy of the season at the Kremenchuk arena. The return of Dnipro and the appearance of a debutant make the opening tournament more competitive and unpredictable.
Context of the New Season
The Anatoly Horozov Ukraine Cup traditionally opens the competitive year and serves as a trial run for clubs before the main stage of the championship. The trophy presentation ceremony typically takes place on the ice, with the winners lifting the cup adorned with the blue-and-yellow ribbons of the national flag. The new Ukrainian Hockey Championship has already been announced by the organizers, and the tournament starting in Kremenchuk will become its first major chapter.
