It was draft day for the S74 SMJHL season and in the first round picked eleventh overall the Yukon Malamutes selected Slava-Ukraini Heroyam-Slava. The SMJHL draft analysts praised the character, work ethic and potential for Heroyam-Slava to possibly become a superstar in the SHL one day. However, there is a lot more meaning behind this player past the on and off ice qualities that Heroyam-Slava a first round pick in a stacked draft class. The player name itself is a tribute to Ukraine.

Slava-Ukraini in English translates to "Glory to Ukraine" and Heroyam-Slava translates to "Glory to the heroes". This is the rallying cry Ukrainians have been saying in pursuit of their freedom and defense against Russia. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine I knew I wanted to make my next player's name in honour of everyone fighting for Ukraine's freedom and peace as the conflict has hit home for my family and friends. Next the player number 91 that Slava-Ukraini Heroyam-Slava wear is in honour December 1, 1991 when the population of Ukraine voted overwhelmingly for independence withstanding the political pressure from Moscow and the tyranny of the USSR which was the beginning of the end for the Soviet Union.

For Slava-Ukraini Heroyam-Slava player render there was no more obvious choice than Ukrainian President Voldymr Zelensky. Zelensky became the face of Ukrainian resistance, and his entertainment background and media savvy provided Ukraine with a weapon for which Putin had no counter. In the information war, the winner was unquestionably Zelensky. Ukraine is Democracy itself; the Freedom of the spirit and when Russia invaded Ukraine Zelensky represented Ukraine's resilience, bravery and passion. He took to the street and filmed himself defiantly standing in central Kyiv as the Russians marched on the capital in the early days of the war in hopes of toppling Ukrainian democracy.  When the United States offered to evacuate him from the combat zone, Zelensky reportedly said, “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.” Often clad in an olive camouflage T-shirt, Zelensky has delivered countless video and in person addresses to governments around the world, calling upon them to provide Ukraine with military aid and to limit Russia’s ability to wage an offensive war through whatever means possible. For these reasons, Zelensky was the perfect person to represent an aspiring leader in the SHL on and off the ice.

The reason why Ukrainians worldwide are so fiercely proud and protective of their culture, identity and country is because they are the children of their ancestors who have survived multiple ethnic cleansing attempts by various Russian leaders who have conducted failed attempts to eradicate the Ukrainian people throughout the centuries. As such, Ukrainians continue to stand strong with their Ukrainian brothers and sisters across the world who at any cost will stand up against Putin’s oppression and Russia’s war against Ukraine. This is exactly what Slava-Ukraini Heroyam-Slava will represent on the ice as a two way forward being dominant in both the offense and defensive sides of the ice with a strong frame and a tenacity to never back down from any opposition. Overall my plan is to do everything in my power to have Slava-Ukraini Heroyam-Slava become a hall of fame player and have that impactful Ukrainian phrase etched in SHL history.