Belfast is set to host a special charity ice hockey match in aid of athletes from war-torn Ukraine.
The SSE Arena will be the venue on Wednesday, April 19 for a one-off game featuring a Belfast Giants All Stars team and Ukrainian National Championship side Dnipro Kherson.
The event is being hosted by the Odyssey Trust, with all proceeds going to the Ukrainian Hockey Dream which is part of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine’s ‘Hockey Can’t Stop Tour’.
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The All Stars side will feature a number of current and former Giants players and a few special guests, with tickets going on sale at 12pm this Thursday, March 30.
Ukrainian Hockey Dream is the registered charity foundation of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine, whose mission it is to support and sustain Ukrainian hockey during the Russo-Ukrainian war and beyond.
The charity’s goals include providing safety and support for players and staff, youth and professional training, and arena restoration and development throughout Ukraine.
Martin McDowell, chair of The Odyssey Trust, said: “The Odyssey Trust is delighted to be hosting this truly special event at The SSE Arena, Belfast in support of Ukrainian Hockey Dream – a fantastic organisation that’s making an immeasurable difference to people’s lives.
"All of the proceeds from the game’s ticket sales will be donated to Ukrainian Hockey Dream in support of their continued work to reinstate ice hockey throughout Ukraine.”
Founded in 1998, Dnipro Kherson has won the Black Sea Cup a record-breaking four times, including being crowned back-to-back-to-back champions between 2010 and 2013.
The game will help Ukrainian Hockey Dream to work towards their 2022/23 global fundraising goal of $15.6m, all of which will be used to support up to 7,500 young players, professionals, coaches, and staff members, across more than 100 clubs and 15 schools throughout Ukraine.
Robert Fitzpatrick, chief executive officer of The Odyssey Trust, added: “Sport has the power to bring people together – especially during challenging times.
"Ukraine is a prominent sporting nation, epitomised by a proud ice hockey history, and we feel incredibly privileged to be able to play a part in supporting Ukrainian Hockey Dream’s charitable ambitions through this one-of-a-kind game right here in Belfast.”
With approximately 60% of young ice hockey players in Ukraine forced to abandon their homes and relocate, and 40% of all ice arenas in Ukraine either seized or destroyed, Ukrainian Hockey Dream’s main fundraising aims are to provide young people across Ukraine with opportunities to get back on the ice through the supply of equipment, coaching, and infrastructure.
Georgii Zubko, president of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine, praised Belfast for hosting next month's charity game.
He said: “We are grateful for the support from the Belfast Giants – for real hockey help from real hockey people. We are honoured to bring our Dnipro Kherson team, a young talented group of players, to The SSE Arena, Belfast.
“In these tough times, we believe that ice hockey, the game that we love so much, can become a bridge towards a peaceful future, uniting people and providing hope and meaning.”
Steve Thornton, head of hockey at The Stena Line Belfast Giants, added: “A crowd of over 7,000 people is expected at The SSE Arena, Belfast for this game.
"We look forward to welcoming Dnipro Kherson to the land of the Giants for a fixture that is far bigger and means more than just the action on the ice.”
Tickets go on sale at 12pm (noon) on Thursday 30 March and are available to purchase from www.ticketmaster.ie.
For more information about Ukrainian Hockey Dream, please visit www.saveukrainianhockeydream.org or to donate towards the charity’s global fundraising goal, please visit bit.ly/UHDGoFundMe.
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