From 21 to 24 August 2026, the Lee Valley Ice Centre in London hosted the GB Invitational Exhibition Tournament, a four‑day showcase of women's Para ice hockey that brought together emerging talent from Great Britain and Ukraine.
Ukraine's Dominance on the Ice
Team Ukraine entered the competition with a clear intent to test their progress, and they left with a perfect record, winning all four matches against the host nation.
Oleksandr Zhavnenko emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, netting five goals across the series and helping his side dominate the ice.
The Ukrainian squad, composed of athletes from the Sokil and Nezlamni clubs based in Lviv, displayed a cohesive style that left the British side struggling to keep pace.
British referee Philippa Mackinnon oversaw the games, bringing her experience from the upcoming Newcastle 2026 Women’s World Championships into the exhibition matches.
The tournament formed part of a broader preparation programme for British players, who will travel to Australia in November to compete in the inaugural Women’s World Championships, while Ukraine’s participation marks a significant step in their own championship debut after recent skill‑development work at the WPIH camp in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia.
The event was jointly organized by the Ukraine Para Ice Hockey Federation (UPIHF) and the British Para Ice Hockey Association (BPIHA), underscoring the growing collaboration between the two federations as they look ahead to future international fixtures.