Ukraine got into another group of the final qualification for the 2026 Olympics due to redraw | Hockey
[ad_1]
The national hockey team of Ukraine got into another group of the final part of the qualification for the 2026 Olympic Games after the redraw.
This was reported by the press service of the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Ukraine reached the finals of the Olympic selection after winning the prequalification – ahead of Poland, the Republic of Korea and Estonia, taking first place.
In the final part of the Olympic qualification, Ukraine had to play in Group D against Slovakia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. However, the IIHF did not allow the Belarusians to participate in the selection, extending their suspension to the 2024/25 season due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Belarus’ place in Ukraine’s group was to be taken by Hungary, the highest-rated national team among those that did not pass prequalification. As a result, the Hungarians got into the list of participants, but the Ukrainian group underwent changes.
The International Ice Hockey Federation decided to redraw the groups – due to the exclusion of Belarus and its replacement by Hungary. Ukraine got into group E. Therefore, its opponents in the final selection were Latvia, France and Slovenia, and the matches themselves will take place in Riga.
The updated composition of the groups of the final selection for the 2026 Olympics in hockey:
- Group D: Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Austria, Hungary
- Group E: Latvia, France, Slovenia, Ukraine
- Group F: Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, Great Britain
The matches of the final part of the Olympic selection for the 2026 Games in hockey will take place from August 29 to September 1. In order to qualify for the Olympics, Ukraine must win the group.
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
