Sports

Maria Hanchuk a softball dual threat

By |

Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese baseball player who is a right-handed throwing starting pitcher and left-handed batting designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. His successful first year has made him a star headliner in the 2018 Major League Baseball season. Ohtani wins games with his arm (4-1, 3.10 ERA) and his bat (.289 AVG, six HR, 20 RBI). He was born with prodigious talent and has showed a wealth of tenacity in the big leagues. Maria Hanchuk is a Ukrainian softball player who is a left-handed starting pitcher and lefty swinging hitter for the South Windsor Bobcats softball team.

Premium content

THE WORLD CUP: Russia’s suspicious soccer success

By |

The early exit of several top football powers transformed the 2018 FIFA World Cup into a most unexpected event. Top-ranked countries like Portugal, Argentina, Germany, Spain and Poland were relegated from the competition, while host country Russia exceeded any and all expectations. Russia entered the World Cup ranked 70th, yet found itself among the final eight teams.

They won all but one group stage match, ceding the Uruguay contest but having already collected enough points to qualify for the next round. The home “underdogs” then managed to squeak past the 2010 World Cup winners, Spain, with a penalty shootout win before finally succumbing to Croatia on penalty shots. Russia’s 27-year-old ace Denis Cheryshev’s goal scoring got him on the World Cup golden boot list.

Sports

Ukrainian Sports Update: College basketball

By |

Mykhailiuk hooping for NBA shot with Lakers

The Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk hype began with his dominant performance back in the summer of the 2013 FIBA under-16 European Championships when the Ukrainian teen averaged 25.2 points per game, putting him on the international radar screen. He could easily be a professional in Europe today, but some of the top young European prospects are now choosing the college route to the NBA. Salaries are lower in international basketball with less opportunity for playing time and limited player development. In U.S. college programs players get to play in real-game situations and benefit from detailed developmental regimens, including diets and weight training. Every move Mykhailiuk made in the last several years, especially his selection of Kansas University, was made with an eye toward a future NBA career.

Sports

Ukrainian pro hockey update

By |

Nolan Patrick selected second over all by Flyers

Nolan Patrick’s paternal grandfather was born Stephen Patrebka, a Ukrainian who settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His father, Steve, had a long hockey career that included over 300 games in the NHL. The 6-foot-3, 198-pound Brandon Wheat Kings center/captain was selected second over all by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft held June 23-24, 2017, in Chicago. This was a draft lacking the next true superstar like a Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews or a Patrik Laine of previous drafts – considerably less hype, but still tons of talent. Tossed out on the ice at age 4 by his dad, little Nolan hated hockey and didn’t want to skate.

Sports

Lomachenko makes history with Linares TKO

By |

Jorge Linares is a fluid pure boxer with lightning quick combinations, but is characterized as a very traditional type of fighter. That’s the exact opposite of Vasyl Lomachenko, a southpaw with a uniquely unorthodox style. Reminding people of a prime-time Manny Paquiao, Lomachenko’s incredible footwork, hand speed and ability to land accurate punches from awkward angles are impossible to prepare for. Yes, Linares had the skill, length and speed to make his May 12 WBA lightweight title fight even and competitive, and he may have owned enough pop to keep the Ukrainian honest. What was doubtful was whether he could adjust quickly enough to every trick that “Hi-Tech” brings to the table.

Sports

Ukrainian pro sports update: Boxing

By |

Lomachenko strives to be the best fighter in the world

Vasyl Lomachenko is on a mission to get to the top, and his dismantling of Miguel Marriaga (25-2, 21 KO) of Colombia in early August 2017 with Marriaga retiring in the seventh round and forcing Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KO) of Cuba to retire in the sixth round in December 2017 got the Ukrainian closer to being regarded as boxing’s undisputed pound-for-pound No. 1. 

Lomachenko has held the No. 1 spot in the junior lightweight division according to ESPN rankings as of December 2017, and in the division rankings as of May of this year; he has been recognized as the junior lightweight pound-four-pound No. 1 since March of this year. 

What is not in doubt is the 30-year-old’s superb skills. The speed with which he throws punches, always finding their target, has some experts calling him “The Matrix.” Others have compared him to welterweight Manny Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KO) of the Phillipines, both in terms of his speed and potential star talent.

Sports

Ukrainian pro sports update: boxing, golf

By |

Is Gvozdyk the best big thing? Oleksandr Gvozdyk (15-0, 12 KO) is simply another of those typical Ukrainian boxers – very talented with champion potential. Born in Kharkiv, “The Nail” now resides in Oxnard, Calif., and is trained by Robert Garcia. His strong resume states that he represented Ukraine at the 2009 and 2011 World Championships, was the Universiade world champion in 2008 and 2013, and the Europe Cup winner in 2010. He fought in two seasons of the World Series of Boxing, compiling a 9-0 record.

Sports

Fifth annual Ukrainian Heritage Day held at N.J. Devils

By |

NEWARK, N.J. – The odds were very much in the house’s favor when it came to producing the fifth annual Ukrainian Heritage Day at the New Jersey Devils on March 4. Thanks to the organizing efforts of Myron and Chris Bytz, along with strong support from the local professional hockey team, this cultural event which started out as a roll of the dice has become a sure thing. The 16,514 plus persons who congregated at the Prudential Center for the first ever NHL game between New Jersey and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights all came away with a bonus experience: witnessing artistic expressions of Ukrainian folk dancing and music. It was as if everyone in the building was Ukrainian for at least a few minutes if not longer. The Ukrainian festival got started 90 minutes prior to the scheduled opening faceoff at 5 p.m. with free face painting, Ukrainian flags (courtesy of the Ukrainian National Association) and the first of three sessions of dancing and singing in the arena’s main concourse.

Sports

Ukraine finishes 2018 Paralympics with 22 medals

By |

Ukraine continues to serve as an example of an economically challenged, struggling nation that rises to shine on the world’s Paralympics stage. The limited financial resources the Ukrainian government dedicates to the training and development of disabled/wounded athletes produced a plethora of outstanding achievements in PyeongChang, South Korea, on March 9-18. Ukraine amassed a total of 22 medals, fourth most among the 49 competing countries. When factoring in medal values, Ukraine’s seven gold medals, seven silvers and eight bronzes put it in sixth place overall. Team Ukraine’s total of seven gold medals placed it in an overall third-place tie.

Sports

Ukraine wins 16 medals at 2018 Paralympics in PyeongChang

By |

Ukraine dominant in biathlon

Team Ukraine got off to a flying start, winning five medals in biathlon on the first day of competition at the 12th Paralympic Games being held in PyeongChang, South Korea, on March 9-18. This international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, governed by the International Paralympic Committee, has events in six sports with a total of 80 gold medals to be awarded. Forty-nine nations are represented with athletes competing in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, para ice hockey, snowboarding and wheelchair curling. Ukraine’s delegation consists of 33 persons, including 20 competing athletes and 10 assistants for athletes with visual impairments. They are participating in three of the six sports: biathlon, cross-country skiing and snowboarding.