Shafarenko: The sooner we start preparing, the better we will play in the Olympic qualifications

Assistant head coach Ukrainian national team hockey Oleg Shafarenko commented on the upcoming final round of selection for the 2026 Olympic Games. Shafarenko also spoke separately about the group at the 2025 World Cup in Division IA.

“We were waiting for these rivals, Poland and Great Britain. We were 95% sure of this. Kazakhstan is of the same level. But regarding Norway and Denmark, I wouldn’t want to play with these teams, they are now better prepared than us. It would be very difficult for us with the Scandinavian countries.”

“We will get together and talk. The sooner we start preparing, the better we will play in the Olympic qualifications. I doubt that the guys at the clubs will be able to fully prepare for this tournament.”

“They are playing well, but they are a little lacking in spirit at this World Cup. These are very powerful teams, but we will fight. Everything will depend on the first game. If we can grab points, we will stay in the game, if we lose, it will be very difficult.”

Dmitry Khristich’s team advanced to the final stage of Olympic qualification. In the preliminary round, the blue-yellows defeated South Korea (4:0), beat the Polish team in a shootout (3:2) and triumphed over Estonia (5:3).

The final round is another group stage. Only the best teams in each quartet will qualify directly for the Olympic tournament in Milan, which will take place in February 2026. The blue-yellows’ opponents in the elite round will be France, Slovenia and Latvia.

In the spring of 2025, Ukraine will play in Division 1A. Its rivals will be Great Britain, Poland, Italy, Romania and Japan. Ukraine will be represented in Division IA for the sixth time in history. The last time the blue-yellows played at this level was in the 2017 season.