NOW, may be time to proactively approach Prospects in the Ukraine to see top quality education in the USA at Brown
Ukraine is actually an interesting recruiting market for NCAA and US prep-school hockey, because many talented players want educational opportunities abroad. The best prospects typically come from:
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Ukraine U18 National Team
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Kryzhynka Capitals Kyiv academy
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Sokil Kyiv youth system
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HK Kremenchuk youth teams
These programs feed players to European junior leagues and sometimes to North American junior leagues (USHL, NAHL, NCDC).
Below are some notable Ukrainian teenage prospects (U17–U20 range) who are considered among the better young players and could realistically be interested in U.S. university pathways.
Top Ukrainian High-School / U18 Hockey Prospects
(Potential recruits for U.S. prep schools, juniors, or NCAA path)
1. Alexander Levshin – Goaltender
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Position: Goalie
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Age: ~18
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Ukraine U18 National TeamOutstanding performance in international play with best goals-against average and save percentage at an IIHF event.
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Already playing some junior hockey in Canada (pathway to NCAA).
Recruiting value: Large athletic goalie with international experience.
2. Nikita Kulikov – Forward
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Forward
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Member of Ukraine U18 national program.
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Plays in Ukrainian junior development leagues.
Recruiting value:
Fast winger with strong offensive instincts.
3. Mark Myronov – Defenseman
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Defenseman
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Appeared in Ukrainian international youth tournaments.
Recruiting value:
Mobile puck-moving defenseman.
4. Danyil Denysenko – Forward
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Forward
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Played internationally with Ukraine youth teams.
Recruiting value:
Two-way forward with strong skating.
5. Maksym Vysotenko – Forward
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Forward
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One of the top scorers in Ukraine U18 competition.
Recruiting value:
Goal-scoring winger.
Other prospects that may need more investigation
🇺🇦 Ukrainian Hockey Prospects (EliteProspects Profiles)
Top Forwards
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Daniil Skorokhod (F, 2007) – Sokil Kyiv
EliteProspects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/762967/daniil-skorokhod -
Yaroslav Andriichuk (F) – Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv U18
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Artem Mykhailichenko (F) – Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv U18
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Artem Kulykov (F) – Sokil Kyiv U18
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Fedir Sokolovskyi (F) – Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv U18
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Illia Maksymenko (F) – Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv U18
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Danylo Derkach (F) – Sokil Kyiv U18
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Roman Dyachenko (F) – Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv U18
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Ostap Ostashevskyy (F) – Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv U18
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Yehor Zelenskyy (F) – Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv U18
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Danylo Demchenko (F) – Shershni Boguslav U18
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Vladyslav Khrapal (F) – Dnipro Kherson U18
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Denys Royko (F) – Bilyy Bars Bila Tserkva U18
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Volodymyr Serb (F) – Sokil Kyiv U18
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Yeldar Osyka (F) – HK Kremenchuk U18
(Many of these players appear among the scoring leaders in Ukraine U18 league statistics.)
Defensemen
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Kyrylo Lyannyy (D) – Shershni Boguslav U18
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Bohdan Khodyrev (D) – Sokil Kyiv U18
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Vasyl Ivanchenko (D) – Bilyy Bars Bila Tserkva U18
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Timur Lapko (D) – Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv U18
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Oleksandr Hudimov (D) – Dnipro Kherson U18
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Mykyta Khrisanenko (D) – Dnipro Kherson U18
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Oleksii Soroka (D) – HK Kremenchuk U18
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Mykhailo Vyhovskyy (D) – Sokil Kyiv U18
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Yaroslav Filippov (D) – Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv U18
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Matvii Malik (D) – HK Kremenchuk U18
These players are all listed within Ukraine U18 league team rosters and statistics on EliteProspects.
Ukrainian Prospects Already Moving Toward North America
These players are slightly older but show the pathway:
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Nikita Ivashchenko (W) – playing junior hockey in Canada (BCHL).
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Pavlo Petrenko (D) – Ontario Hockey Academy U18 (Canada).
This demonstrates that Ukrainian players frequently pursue the North American development route.
Best Ukrainian Youth Academies to Recruit From
These programs produce most of the country’s top prospects:
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Kryzhynka-Capitals Kyiv
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Sokil Kyiv Hockey School
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HK Kremenchuk Academy
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Shershni Boguslav
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Dnipro Kherson
These clubs dominate the Ukraine U18 development league.
Ukrainian Youth Teams Producing Recruitable Players
If you are scouting for players interested in studying in the U.S., these clubs are the best starting points:
| Program | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kryzhynka Capitals | Kyiv | Top youth academy |
| Sokil Kyiv | Kyiv | Historic club with strong junior pipeline |
| HK Kremenchuk | Kremenchuk | Strong development program |
| Shershni Boguslav | Boguslav | Produces skilled forwards |
| Titani Donetsk youth | Donetsk region | Competitive junior teams |
These teams supply the Ukraine U18 national team that competes in the IIHF U18 World Championship divisions.
Why Ukrainian Players Are Often Interested in U.S. Colleges
Many Ukrainian players actively seek U.S. opportunities because:
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NCAA hockey offers education + development
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The war has disrupted domestic leagues
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North American junior leagues (USHL, NAHL, NCDC) are stepping stones to college hockey
This means Ukrainian prospects are often very motivated recruits.
Here is a scouting-style list of Ukrainian players currently playing in North American junior leagues (USHL, NAHL) and U.S. prep/academy programs who are on the NCAA development pathway. These are exactly the type of players who may be interested in U.S. universities and Ivy League recruiting pipelines.
The USHL alone had around 11 Ukrainian players on rosters during the 2024-2025 season, showing a growing presence of Ukrainian talent in U.S. junior hockey.
🇺🇦 Ukrainian Players in USHL / NAHL / U.S. Prep Programs
USHL (Top Tier Junior Hockey League)
These players are among the highest-level Ukrainian prospects currently playing in the U.S. development system.
1. Ben Yurchuk – Forward
USHL – Chicago Steel
EliteProspects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/667658/ben-yurchuk
2. William Tomko – Forward
USHL – Chicago Steel
EliteProspects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/667659/william-tomko
3. Kade Kohanski – Forward
USHL – Lincoln Stars
EliteProspects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/652147/kade-kohanski
4. Alexander Levshin – Goaltender
Toronto Patriots / North American juniors
EliteProspects: https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/708315/alexander-levshin
NAHL (Tier II Junior League – Major NCAA feeder)
5. Mykhailo Krasnozhon – Forward
NAHL – Minot Minotauros
6. Vitalii Ulianov – Forward
NAHL – New Hampshire Mountain Kings
7. Danylo Dolin – Forward
NAHL – Amarillo Wranglers
8. Nikita Kulikov – Forward
NAHL – Amarillo Wranglers
9. Andrii Kapitan – Forward
NAHL – New Jersey Jr Titans
These players were selected in the NAHL Entry Draft, demonstrating active recruitment of Ukrainian talent into U.S. junior leagues.
Ukrainian Players in U.S. Prep Schools / Academies
These players are younger (U16–U18) and represent prime college-recruiting prospects.
10. Yehor Ostapenko – Defense
Atlantic Coast Academy 16U AAA
11. Luka Kinal – Defense
Oakland Jr. Grizzlies AAA
12. Ivan Bilozerov – Forward
Nichols School (Prep – New York)
13. Oleksii Bondarchuk – Forward
Boston Hockey Academy
14. Oleksandr Kyrylenko – Defense
Orange County Hockey Club
15. Matvii Dorofieiev – Defense
Mount St. Charles Academy
These players appear in North American youth AAA systems and prep schools, which are common pipelines into NCAA programs.
Ukrainian Players in Canadian Junior Leagues (Often Move to NCAA)
Many Ukrainian prospects also play in Canadian junior leagues before committing to U.S. colleges:
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Nikita Ivashchenko – BCHL
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Pavlo Petrenko – Ontario Hockey Academy
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Ivan Zhigalov – WHL
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Daniil Sobolev – QMJHL
Ukrainian Programs That Feed Players to North America
If you are scouting internationally, the most productive Ukrainian development academies are:
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Sokil Kyiv Hockey School
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Kryzhynka Capitals Kyiv
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HK Kremenchuk Academy
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Shershni Boguslav
These programs regularly produce players who later move into North American junior leagues and NCAA programs.
Author: jbenet7