The last team that the Hungarian national team will face during the EIHC tournament is Ukraine. Last year during the world championships they played one level below the Hungarians; this does not mean that they are weaker, however. Having qualified back up to Division 1/A they are a strong team and will be the hardest team that the home side will face this weekend.
Leading the team is Andrei Nazarov former NHL player, was the 1st round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 1992.
Just like the other three teams in the tournament the Ukrainian roster has gone through some changes since the preliminary line up was released. Missing the tournament because of injuries are forwards Oleg Shafarenko, Oleg Timchenko, and former NHL pick Andrei Mikhnov.
It seems that most of the roster plays or had played in the KHL with the couple of young guys in the Russian junior league, the MHL. The two names that stick out on the roster is 1997 5th round pick of the Montreal Canadians defenseman Gennadi Razin and Sergei Varlomov who spent the parts of four seasons in the NHL.
Either way this match will be hard one for both teams as they will be playing their third match in three days. Look for it to be an exciting game with a lot of skill.
Ukraine's roster for the Four Nations Tournament
Goalies: Vagyim Szelivjorsztov (HK Asztana, KAZ), Jevgenyij Napnenko (Bilij Barsz), Mihail Sevcsuk (Molodaja Gvargyija, MHL).
Defencemen: Gennagyij Razin (Donbassz, KHL), Gyenyisz Petruhno (Donbassz, KHL), Jurij Szilnickij (Donbassz, KHL), Jurij Navarenko (Gomel, BLR), Vlagyimir Alekszjuk (Bilij Barsz), Igor Kugut (Bilij Barsz), Danil Szkripec (Molodaja Gvargyija, MHL), Ruslan Borisenko (Kompanyon-Naftogaz).
Forwards: Olekszandr Torjanyik (Donbassz, KHL), Szerhij Varlamov (Donbassz, KHL), Makszim Kvitcsenko (Donbassz, KHL), Jevgenyij Belukhin (Donbassz, KHL), Roman Blagoj (Donbassz, KHL), Viktor Zaharov (Molodaja Gvargyija, MHL), Jurij Petrangovszkij (Molodaja Gvargyija, MHL), Jegor Morozov (Molodaja Gvargyija, MHL), Vlagyiszlav Salimov (Molodaja Gvargyija, MHL), Makszim Martisko (Molodaja Gvargyija, MHL), Jevgenyij Nyikiforov (Molodaja Gvargyija, MHL), Andrej Mihnov (Metallurg Zslobin, BLR), Olekszandr Materuhin (Dinamo Minszk, KHL), Dmitrij Nyimenko (Kompanyon-Naftogaz), Artyom Bondarjev , Olekszandr Karaulscsuk (Bilij Barsz), Samil Ramazanov (Rjazany, VHL).
Szabolcs Závodszky
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