In the early 1990's  Gene Kinasewich met  Ivan Pravilov, founder of the Druzhba'78 Ukraine hockey Club and School.  Over the past 15 years Gene has helped Ivan on numerous occasions by facilitating trips by the Druzhba'78 hockey club to the United States and Canada, and by organizing trips by Americans to travel to Ukraine to train at Ivan's Druzhba'78 Hockey School. 

Several years ago Gene wrote a letter to raise funds for Ivan's Ukraine based program.  Set forth below are excerpts from that letter which articulate the remarkable history of the Druzhba'78 Hockey Club and Ivan Pravilov's mission in Ukraine, a country of some 50 million people and less than 10 ice skating facilities.  Gene's letter also captures his sense of the multi faceted, cross cultural benefits of Ivan's work and Druzhba's role in the global hockey community given the absolute lack of resources available in Ukraine. 

Gene Kinasewich will be the 2004 recipient of the NYIHC President's Award in recognition of his many contributions to so many people through hockey, through education and through hockey oriented cross cultural exchange opportunities.  

excerpts from Gene's letter dated October 2000 ...  

About Druzhba'78

"Druzhba" means "friendship" in Ukrainian and it is on this theme that Ivan Pravilov put together a group of 10 year old boys in 1988 to learn the sport of ice hockey.  All boys on his team were born in 1978, thus the team name.  He himself was a national level soccer player, but had developed an interest in the inherent artistry, speed and excitement ice hockey afforded.  Ivan was 28 years old at that time.  He took established skill development techniques from numerous other sports and introduced them to hockey.  He trained his youngsters with a traditional and effective, stern Eastern European discipline.  The emphasis was on skating, cooperation and creative and rigorous dry land training, and not on body checking and undisciplined individualistic play so prevalent in North America.  Ice time was not readily available in Kharkov.  He often had to travel to Russia or Czechoslovakia to enable his players to practice on ice.  During these trips, others began to see how proficient the Druzhba team was and they were invited to play in age specific tournaments within Eastern and Western Europe. 

Through associations established outside of Ukraine, Ivan was able to raise enough money to bring his team to the United States and Canada in the summer of 1990.  It was at this time that I became familiar with him.  While traveling from area to area, billeted by local parents and youth hockey associations, Ivan's reputation grew.  Youth hockey coaches in both countries requested that he teach both them and their players his skating and tactical techniques.  At these early mini-camps, Ivan was able to raise funds which enabled him to return subsequent years.  Parents of the host teams gave Ivan equipment which was impossible for him to acquire in Ukraine and further relieving his financial burden.  The skill level of his Druzhba team resulted in numerous tournament victories in North America as they became the envy of many.  Most importantly, his players won the hearts of the families who billeted them with their unassuming and genuine manner.  

Status of the Druzhba 78 Team

Ivan's initial program produced phenomenal results by anyone's standards.  Three members of his team currently play in the National Hockey League and at least three others play at the minor professional level in North America - these six individuals representing 30% of his first group.  Two others are assisting Ivan with his expanded program as coaches and councilors in Ukraine.  I am in the process of uncovering what the other nine young persons are engaged in, but I have been informed that at least three are enrolled in American and Canadian universities.  

What is most critical in my estimation is the worldly exposure these young Ukrainians have received, the opportunities that have opened up for them as a result of Ivan's initiatives on their behalf and the potential positive attributes they bring to Ukraine in these important early stages of its freedom.  For Ukraine to develop from the previous Soviet repression it will need young people who have seen the world, who speak English (as they all do), who trust their newly found skills and who may have achieved significant monetary status relative to their peers.  I have been told that many of the players on his first team want eventually to return to Ukraine.  

 I recently returned from Ukraine and was moved by the the level of poverty, massive unemployment within its beautiful cities and yet lack of animosity on the heals of generations of repression.  The Ukrainians I met and lived with had so little yet gave me so much.  They are encouraged and hopeful and will rise out of the ashes.  The young children that Ivan has exposed to the world through his novel and exciting program will help save Ukraine.  I have never seen one person have such an impact on so many.