The University of Manitoba Bisons played Ukraine in a charity ice hockey match as part of a Lake Placid 2023 warm-up ©University of Manitoba Bisons

Ukraine’s men’s ice hockey team played at a packed Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg before the start of the International University Sports Federation Winter World University Games here.

The University of Manitoba Bisons’ men’s hockey team welcomed the Ukrainian side for a warm-up game before they headed to Lake Placid in uptown New York.

The match was part of the "Hockey Can’t Stop Tour" - an initiative that aims to raise money for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation which supports humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

An ice rink in the Ukrainian town of Druzhkivka in the Donetsk region was destroyed last week as Ukraine remains under attack from Russian forces.

"It’s been very difficult for them to train, to play, and this is what they love to do," said Gord Miller, who helped organised the "Hockey Can’t Stop Tour" in a report by Canadian broadcaster CBC.

"For them to be invited to the World University Games is a big honour.

"They didn’t think they’d be able to go."

As well as taking on the Bisons, the Ukrainian team faced the Canadian universities of Alberta, Calgary and Saskatchewan in preparation for the Winter World University Games.

Ukraine's ice hockey team have played a number of exhibition matches in Canada as part of their build-up for Lake Placid 2023 ©University of Saskatchewan Huskie Athletics
Ukraine's ice hockey team have played a number of exhibition matches in Canada as part of their build-up for Lake Placid 2023 ©University of Saskatchewan Huskie Athletics

"The first few games have been very emotional," added Millar.

"It’s overwhelming for them in a lot of ways."

Ukraine have been drawn in Group A in the preliminary round where they are due to face Canada, the Czech Republic, Japan, Latvia and Sweden.

They are set to start of their campaign on Thursday (January 12) with a clash against Canada at the SUNY Canton Roos House.