Shakhraichuk: What inspires optimism before the World Cup? The fact that for 60 minutes our team maintains a high game pace

Head coach of the Ukrainian national ice hockey team Vadim Shakhraychuk summed up the results of the training camp and spoke about the readiness of the team for World Cup 2023 in division B1.

“The results of sparring are good, optimistic. In the first paired matches, there was some kind of “buildup” in our actions, apparently after moving from country to country, but already in the second games against the teams of Hungary, Lithuania and the national team of Latvian clubs, we liked the pattern of the game. It’s about team speed and movement. This suggests that our team worked productively at the training camp and laid the foundation for physical preparation, which allows us to be in good condition. We hope to reap the fruits of our work at the World Championships.”

“We missed a few goals during the preparation period, but the problems have not gone away: our line of defense remains the most problematic and “soft”. With the exception of a couple of players, we do not know how to conduct a power struggle according to the rules of modern hockey. Alas, in our championship of Ukraine there is very little power struggle, and even if it is carried out, then with gross violations, which are punishable by match penalties. The same Japanese in recent years have been better in power struggle and therefore surpassed us … Also, the game of our central forwards worries, who need to add on the face-off point.

“Informants painted a picture for us in the Chinese team, gave us valuable information, and on top of that, our man visited a friendly game in Riga between the Chinese and Estonians. On paper, the Asians look even stronger than they had last year, when the team played in the 2A division. This is probably not the Chinese team, but the North American team, where there are players with NHL experience and almost all hockey players play in the KHL for Kunlun. Our first opponent is coached by Canadian specialist Greg Ireland. So it will be very difficult, but interesting to compete with them. In principle, after the first fight it will be clear what we are ready for in Tallinn.”

“What inspires optimism? The fact that for 60 minutes our team maintains a high game pace. Plus, we are able to act equally mobile both in defense and attack: we have no gaps along the lines and there were no recessions.

“We invite all fans to our games in Tallinn and we think that we will not be left without support. The capital of Estonia is now home to a large Ukrainian diaspora of people who fled the war and the madness that Russia and their regime are doing on our territory. Ukrainian hockey players are well charged with support from the stands, and this was felt in friendly matches in Riga and Elektrenai, so the Ukrainian team is counting on our audience in Tallinn. I hope we will be able to please hockey fans with a nice game and, most importantly, with the final result – a victory.”

In the last test match before the 2023 World Cup, the Ukrainian team beat Lithuania (5:1). Earlier, Ukraine beat Hungary twice and inflicted two defeats on the national team of Latvian clubs. The first sparring with Lithuania also ended in favor of the blue-yellows (4:3).

The 2023 World Championship in division B1 will be held in the capital of Estonia from 23 to 29 April. The rivals of the Ukrainian national team will be Japan, Estonia, China, Serbia and the Netherlands.