GYMNASTICS
Ukraine wins multiple medals in Kyiv
Vlada Nikolchenko won gold in the clubs event (25.600 points) and Ukraine’s teams (Team 1: Anastasiya Voznyak, Valeriya Yuzviak, Mariola Bodnarchuk, Alina Bykhno and Diana Baieva; and Team 2: Kateryna Demydenko, Lolita Yatchenko, Valeriia Holubkova, Zhanna Huliaka, Mariia Shevchuk and Kamila Yehanova) won gold and bronze, respectively, in the three-hoops and two-clubs event at the Grand Prix and 25th International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament Deriugina Cup on September 10-13 in Kyiv. Viktoriia Onopriienko won gold in the hoop final (23.650 points), gold in the combined grand prix final (hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon, 92.550 points) and silver in the women’s ribbon event (21.800 points) and Yeva Meleshchuk won silver in the hoop final (22.650 points) and bronze in the ball final (24.200 points). Nikol Krasiuk won gold in the senior ribbon final (21.050 points), gold in the senior clubs final (24.400 points), gold in the senior ball final (23.650 points) and silver in the hoop final (22.300 points). Ukraine’s two teams won gold and bronze, respectively, in the five-ball team final (34.850 points and 19.150 points), as well as gold and bronze, respectively, in the combined events of five-balls, and three-clubs and two-clubs final (66.550 points and 38.400 points). In the junior division, Karina Sydorak and Melaniia Tur won silver and bronze, respectively, in the junior ribbon final (20.650 and 19.950 points).
CANOE/KAYAK
Ukraine wins third place in sprint
Ukraine’s canoe sprint team won third place in the medal standings (eight medals total – three gold, two silver and three bronze medals) at the 2020 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup in Szeged, Hungary, on September 25-27. In the overall medal standings, Ukraine finished in sixth place. Liudmyla Luzan won three medals – gold in the women’s 500-meter doubles with Anastasiia Chetverikova (1:58.81 seconds), gold in the 300-meters solo (2:05.29 seconds) and silver in the 200-meters solo (45.79 seconds). Denys Davydov won gold in the men’s 500-meter solo canoe (1:56.44 seconds). Mariia Kichasova-Skoryk, Liudmyla Kuklinovska, Anastasiia Todorova and Mariya Povkh won gold in the women’s four-man kayak 500-meters (1:33.86 seconds). Dmytro Danylenko, Oleksandr Syromiatnykov, Oleh Kukharyk and Ivan Semykin won silver in the men’s four-man 500-meters (1:22.07 seconds). Chetverikova won silver in the women’s 200-meter solo canoe (50.61 seconds) and Diana Tanko won silver in the women’s solo kayak 500-meters (1:58.28 seconds). Olena Tsyhankova won bronze in the women’s 5,000-meter solo canoe (26:03.01 seconds) and Tetyana Yednak won bronze in the women’s solo kayak 200-meters (43.27 seconds). Vitaliy Vergeles and Chetverikova won bronze in the mixed doubles canoe 200-meters (40.21 seconds). Dmytro Ianchuk and Taras Mishchuk won bronze in the men’s double canoe 500-meters (1:40.79 seconds). In the rankings, Ukraine is ranked third overall with 820 points; in the overall canoe sprint rankings, Ukraine is ranked second.
Ukraine wins 32 medals in Hungary
Ukraine won 32 medals (11 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals) at the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Szeged, Hungary, on September 18-20. Ukraine finished in second place in the overall medal standings, and second place in the sprint medal table. Gold medalists were: Volodymyr Savchyn and Artem Chetvertak (U18, 1,000-meter canoe, doubles and U18, 500-meter canoe, doubles), Tetiana Smylovenko and Khrystyna Osipchuk (U15-U16, 200-meter canoe, doubles), Ivanna Dyachenko (U17, 200-meter kayak, single), Vadym Tkachuk (U18, 200-meter kayak, single), Daniil Platash (U17, 200-meter kayak, single), Danil Kutsenko (U16, 200-meter kayak, single), Kseniia Romanchuk (U-16, 200-meter canoe, single), Ivanna Dyachenko, Oleksii Mamchenko, Viktoriia Muntian and Daniil Platash (U-15-U17, mixed 500-meter kayak, quadruples), Taras Kuzyk, Yurii Shutiak, Khrystyna Ospichuk and Iryna Fedoriv (U15-U17, mixed 500-meter canoe, quadruples). Silver medalists included: Smylovenko and Osipchuk (U15-U16, 500-meter canoe, doubles), Chetvertak (U18, 1,000-meter canoe, single), Hanna Pavlova and Snizhana Stalinova (U15-U16, 1,000-meter kayak, doubles), Danil Zhyrov (U16, 200-meter kayak, single), Zhyrov, Valerii Starodubtsev, Mykyta Brukhanskyi and Kutsenko (U15-U17, 500-meter kayak, quadruples), Kuzyk, Mykhailo Nazarenko, Shutiak and Taras Semeniuk (U15-U17, 500-meter canoe, quadruples). Bronze medalists: Savchyn (U18, 1,000-meter canoe, single), Vasylyna Kalytiuk (U17, 200-meter canoe, single), Kuzyk and Shutiak (U-17, 1,000-meter canoe, doubles), Zhyrov and Kutsenko (U15-U16, 500-meter kayak, doubles), Iryna Fedoriv (U15, 200-meter canoe, single), Volodymyr Kurinnyi, Mykhailo Nazarenko, Romanchuk and Katerina Bezniuk (U15-U17, mixed 500-meter canoe, quadruples), Alisa Korotaeva, Sofia Potsiurko, Pavlova and Stalinova (U-15-U17, 500-meter kayak, quadruples).
HOCKEY
Calder Trophy goes to Makar
Cale Makar was voted the National Hockey League’s most outstanding first-year player, winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. The 21-year-old led NHL rookie defensemen in goals (12) and power-play markers (four) in 57 regular season games in 2019-2020. Among all NHL rookies, he placed second in assists (38), points (50) and power-play points (19). He tallied four game-winning goals, had a plus-12 rating, and averaged 21 minutes of ice time per game. In the post-season he scored 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) with a plus-12 rating in 15 games for the Colorado Avalanche, who lost to Dallas in seven games in the Western Conference second round. Makar finished with 1,538 points, including 116 first-place votes, in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers prior to the postseason. Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (1,337 points, 53 first-place) and Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik (554 points) were the other two finalists for the award. Fellow-Ukrainian Wayne Gretzky presented the Calder Trophy to Makar. Makar is only the fourth defenseman in the last 20 years to win the Calder, the first since Aaron Ekblad won it for Florida during the 2014-2015 season. Makar actually finished ninth in voting for the Norris Trophy, given to the league’s top defenseman. He is already well on his way to being one of the best all-around defenders in the NHL and this Calder Trophy is the first of what is likely to be many individual awards for the Avalanche’s Ukrainian rookie.
Lazar inks two-year deal with Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres rewarded pending restricted free agent Curtis Lazar with a two-year contract worth $1.6 million. New general manager Kevyn Adams signed the 25-year-old to add depth at the center position behind captain Jack Eichel and newly acquired Eric Staal. The former Ottawa Senators first-round pick established himself as a dependable checking-line forward in 2019-20, totaling 10 points (5 goals) in 38 games. He was most impactful in the faceoff circle, winning a career-high 51.2 percent of his draws, a quality that earned him more ice time as the season progressed. Coach Ralph Krueger routinely used Lazar at the start of three-on-three overtime to gain puck possession. Lazar began last season in Rochester (AHL) where he tallied 14 points in 18 games. He saw action in 30 of Buffalo’s final 31 games after spending the 2018-2019 season with Calgary’s AHL affiliate. Though Lazar had a limited impact offensively, he ranked fourth among all Sabres forwards in limiting an opponent’s shot quality, thus earning Krueger’s trust with responsible defensive play. The team is optimistic Lazar can produce more offensively, given he scored 20 goals in 57 games with Stockton two seasons ago, and netted 99 goals across parts of four seasons with Edmonton of the WHL. Lazar was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey by the Buffalo chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
FUTSAL
Ukraine draws Group 1 in UEFA Euro
Ukraine has drawn Group 1 in the UEFA Futsal Euro 2022 qualifying group stage draw that was held on September 2 in Nyon, Switzerland. With eight groups in the mix, Ukraine joins San Marino or Denmark (to be determined), Croatia and Albania with matches to be played in a home/away format beginning on November 2-11 and ending on April 5-14, 2021.
VOLLEYBALL
Double golds and a silver at U-18 championships
Anhelina Khmil and Tetiana Lazarenko won 2-0 against countrymen Daria Romaniuk and Anna Chechelnytska (21-18, 21-19) at the 2020 CEV U-18 Beach Volleyball European Championships on September 17-20 in Izmir, Turkey. In the semifinals, Khmil/Lazarenko won 2-0 against Anouk Kressler/Lea Toschini of Switzerland and Chechelnytska/Romaniuk won 2-0 against Aurora Mattavelli/Margherita Tega of Italy. In the men’s division, Yevgenii Boiko and Vladislav Omelchuk won gold against Egor Zharovin and Vitaly Markov of Russia in the final, after winning 2-1 (21-17, 10-21, 15-11). In the semifinal, Boiko/Omelchuk won 2-0 against Vladislav Panchenko/Ivan Chuprinov of Russia (25-23, 21-17). In the U-18 European Championship rankings, Ukraine’s women’s team is ranked fourth (36.8 points), and Ukraine’s men’s team is ranked 11th (28.8 points).