Ukrainian Hockey League Sets Playoff Matchups: Sokol vs. Storm, Kremenchuk vs. Odeshchyna

Regular Season Concludes in Ukrainian Hockey

According to Главком: The Ukrainian Hockey League's 2025/26 regular season concluded on March 4, 2026. In the final games, the 'Storm' team finished in fourth place after a 1:7 away loss to 'Kremenchuk'. Meanwhile, 'Odeshchyna' secured third place by defeating 'Kryzhynka Capitals' at home with a score of 2:1.

Playoff Schedule and Olympic Results

The playoff semifinal pairings are now set: top-seeded 'Sokol' will face fourth-seeded 'Storm', while second-seeded 'Kremenchuk' takes on third-seeded 'Odeshchyna'. The 'Sokol' vs. 'Storm' series is scheduled for March 9, 11, 14, and 16, 2026, with potential games on March 19, 22, and 25 if needed. The 'Kremenchuk' vs. 'Odeshchyna' series will play on March 10, 12, 15, and 17, 2026, with possible extensions on March 20, 23, and 26. The higher-seeded team in each series will host the first two games, and if necessary, the fifth and seventh games.

The winners of these semifinals will advance to compete for the Ukrainian championship title and cup in a final series starting March 28, 2026.

In other sports news, Ukraine's national team concluded its participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics without winning a medal. Despite this, Ukrainian athletes achieved eight top-ten finishes across various events, demonstrating their competitiveness on the world stage. The Ukrainian hockey league operates as the country's top professional ice hockey competition.

• Sixth Place: Angelina Brykina, Oleksandr Okypniuk, Dmytro Kotovskyi (freestyle skiing, aerials, mixed team); Yulianna Tunytska, Ihor Hoi / Nazarii Kachmar, Andrii Mandzii, Oleksandra Moh / Olena Stetskiv (luge, team relay).
• Seventh Place: Oleksandra Moh / Olena Stetskiv (luge, women's doubles).
• Eighth Place: Dmytro Pidruchnyi, Vitalii Mandzyn, Olena Horodna, Oleksandra Merkushyna (biathlon, mixed relay).
• Ninth Place: Oleksandra Merkushyna, Yuliia Dzhima, Khrystyna Dmytrenko, Dariia Chalik (biathlon, relay).
• Tenth Place: Kateryna Kotsar (freestyle skiing, big air); Oleksandr Okypniuk (freestyle skiing, aerials, individual); Vitalii Mandzyn (biathlon, mass start).

The conclusion of the hockey season and the Olympic performances highlight both the achievements and the ongoing challenges for Ukrainian athletes in international competition. The upcoming playoff promises intense matchups as teams vie for a national championship, while the Olympic results underscore the potential for future success with continued development and support for sports infrastructure in Ukraine.