New pro league for Ukraine

19 Jun 2014 | Krišjānis Koļesņičenkovs

After the fall of the PHL, a new pro league could be emerging.

Last season, the Ukrainian Federation had to take control of the countries hockey league after the PHL collapsed due to clubs overspending and a lack of control. The Federation ran league started out with six clubs before it became very clear that Haydamaky Vinnytsa didnt have the funds and was kicked from the league by December, it ended in a way everybody expected, seeing the only two professional clubs in the league advance to the Finals. Kompanion-Naftogaz Kyiv was crowned the Champions over Bilyỹ Bars Bila Tserkva who was acting as KHL club, Donbass Donetsk farm club.

It was at the General Meeting today that we learned about the next attempt for the country to have a professional league, currently under the working title of Ukrainian Hockey League. At the moment, it will be a 10 club league, noticable names on the list would be the return of Dynamo Kharkiv who last season announced they couldnt compete due to lack of funds, HC Kremenchuk looks to be returning from the Belarussian second division, and of course, the biggest news being that for atleast this season, Donbass Donetsk will not be taking part in the KHL season, so they will be moving back down. The league will do away with entrance fees, a problem that has plagued the Ukrainian league dating back to the PHL, in fact, it was the lack of payment that shut the league down two years ago around the Holiday. This time, all officials will be paid by the league and had engaged in media programs which goal is provide television coverage on a regular basis for all the clubs.

This new project will be in the hands of Sergey Goncharov and hopefully he has more foresight than those before him. All clubs must submit in writing their confirmation by 30.June and on 1.July, another meeting will be held to draft up regulations and principals of competition calendar.

Clubs: Bilyỹ Bars Bila Tserkva, Dniprodzerzhynsk Steel, Donbass Donetsk, Druzhkivka Altair, Dynamo Kharkiv, Generals Kyiv, HC Kremenchuk, Kompanion-Naftogaz Kyiv, Levy L’viv, Sokil Kyiv