As reported by the FHU press service
On Thursday, November 6, the Ukrainian national team will begin its campaign in the new European Cup of Nations (ECN) tournament, organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation, against Lithuania.
According to the Ukrainian Hockey Federation’s press service, the ECN has become a modern replacement for the Euro Hockey Challenge. The tournament format allows for more official matches during international breaks against opponents with close ratings.
In this round, the blue-and-yellow team will compete in Elektrėnai, Lithuania, against the hosts and Romania. In December, Spain will join the trio, and in February, closer to the final stages of preparation for the World Championship, Ukraine’s opponents will be Slovenia, Great Britain, and Poland.
ECN Matches and Participants
The full list of ECN participants includes: Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Hungary, Poland, France, Slovenia, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia, Spain, and Ukraine.
In the previous friendly match, the Ukrainian national team faced Lithuania. The 5-1 victory left a favorable impression, but the team faces serious challenges in the upcoming ECN matches.
It is expected that the ECN tournament program will enable Ukraine to test new tactical approaches and strengthen team coordination on the road to future World Championship matches.
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