“I was in the Ukraine when it all started,” Krivoshapkin said. “From February until August, I have been in my hometown in Kharkiv, which was where a lot of rockets, a lot of explosions. A lot of people died over there. People that I know died. It’s hard but still it is what it is.”

Krivoshapkin had been there for around six months, before fleeing the country. While Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine without special permission, Krivoshapkin and the rest of his Ukrainian under-25 national team received military exemptions to compete in the United States at this year’s FISU Winter World University Games in Lake Placid and the broader North Country region. 

“To represent our country is a special moment for us because our country is in a hard situation,” he said. “The war is going in there. Even right now at this second. We are trying every game to do our best. It’s an honor for all of us.”

On Thursday, Ukraine played its first game of the World University tournament. The result wasn’t all that pretty. The team lost to Canada 6-1 at the Roos House at SUNY Canton. 

Ukraine’s Bogdan Diachenko leads a group of Ukrainian hockey players on to the ice during Thursday’s game at the Roos House at SUNY Canton. (Enterprise photo —Parker O’Brien)

“Canada played very well and very fast,” Ukraine head coach Vadym Shakhraichuk said. “Like they usually play, Canada.”

Ukraine’s lone goal was scored by Krivoshapkin on an assist from Artem Mateichenko late in the third period. 

Krivoshapkin said it felt good to score, but he wasn’t at all happy about losing. 

“It was a good lesson for us in the next few games if we want to get to the playoff in Lake Placid,” Shakhraichuk said.

After a scoreless first period, Canada took a 2-0 advantage on goals from Zachary Lavigne and Austen Christopher Keating.

Gleb (Hlib) Krivoshapkin (Enterprise photo —Parker O’Brien)

Canada’s Matthew Struthers and Tyler Hylland then chipped in two goals each in the third period to close out its first game on top.

Ukraine’s netminder, Dmytro Kubrytskyi, stopped 40 shots and Canada’s Kai Ray Edmonds had 11 saves. 

“The shots — it was a big difference between us and Canada, my opinion we didn’t expect six goals,” Shakhraichuk said. “1-4 would not be bad for us.”

While Ukraine might’ve been mismatched against Canada, it didn’t stop the hundreds of spectators from showing their support to Ukraine. 

Multiple Ukrainian flags were in sight, some even wore Canadian jerseys and hats while holding the flag of Ukraine. Krivoshapkin said it was amazing to see the support. 

“To all fans, even if they don’t like hockey and they came to support us or even they do watch hockey but they do support us,” Krivoshapkin said. “Huge thank you to everyone because it’s really important to our team and to our country especially.”

While Ukraine will return to the ice against Latvia on Saturday at Roos House at 4:30 p.m. Krivoshapkin still remembered what it was like back home and he didn’t want people to forget about the invasion. 

“Do not forget about the war because it’s still going and people are still dying,” Krivoshapkin said. “Keep it in mind and if you can try to help somehow, because it is really important for all of us.”