Ilya Korenchuk Joins Kyiv Capitals
Forward Ilya Korenchuk has become the first new addition to the Kyiv Capitals hockey club during the offseason. He made the move after leaving Poland's Energa Torun, where he spent the second half of the 2025/26 season. Korenchuk, who previously played for Ukraine's Altair Druzhkivka, Donbas Donetsk, and Kremenchuk, relocated abroad following Russia's full-scale invasion.
His career also includes two stints with Energa, as well as appearances for Polish clubs Tychy and Zagłębie Sosnowiec, and England's MK Lightning. He is a three-time Ukrainian national champion and was the top scorer in the 2016/17 domestic league season.
Kyiv Capitals and Ukrainian National Team Success
Last season, the Kyiv Capitals competed in the Baltic Hockey League, advancing to the playoff semifinals. On the international stage, the Ukrainian national team recently defeated France at the World Hockey Championship, with goals scored by:
- Hrebenyk
- Merezhko
- Tracht
The team also beat Lithuania, with Merezhko and Tracht finding the net.
Korenchuk's move to the Kyiv Capitals marks a significant step in his career, as he returns to Ukrainian hockey after several seasons abroad. It also reflects the club's ambition to strengthen its roster and boost its chances in the upcoming season. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian national team's recent international successes highlight the growing strength of hockey in the country, which could spark greater interest in domestic clubs and attract new players.