HC Sokil Kyiv (Ukrainian: Сокіл Київ, English: Kiev Falcons) is a professional ice hockey team based in the Ukrainian capital Kiev (Ukrainian: Київ, Kyiv). The team currently competes in the Ukrainian Supreme League (Ukrainian: Вища ліга). Beginning with the 2007/08 season the team started competing in the Western division of the Vysshaya Liga. From the 2004/05 season thru the 2006/07 season, the team competed in the Open Championship of Belarus. While Ukraine and Belarus are not especially known for their ice hockey teams, there is strong sentiment in both countries. Prior to this, from 1995 thru 2004, Sokil Kyiv competed in the EEHL, winning the league championship in 1998 and 1999. Sokil Kyiv is one of the planned teams for the Euro-Asian League, featuring teams from the Russian Super League, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus. Sokil is to be the lone Ukrainian representative in the planned league.
Sokil Kyiv in Soviet Elite League
In 1979 - 1991 Sokil Kyiv competed at the highest level of Soviet club hockey, the Soviet Elite League of Hockey. For most of this time they had been the lone Ukrainian representative. In 1991 they were joined by Dynamo Kharkiv In 1985, Sokil Kyiv finished third in Soviet Elite League. This had been the best achievement in Sokil Kyiv's history.
External links
- (Ukrainian) Official Supreme League standings
- (Russian) Unofficial site of Sokil and Ukrainian Hockey
- (Russian) "HC Sokil Kyiv" at Ukrainian Ice Hockey Agency site
- (Ukrainian)/(Russian) Ukrainian Ice-Hockey agency
