Ihor Arkhypenko, the director of Kryzhynka School and a distinguished coach, plays a pivotal role in shaping young hockey talent in Ukraine. Born on January 3, 1977, in Kyiv, Igor embarked on his hockey journey at prominent local institutions like “Sokil”, “Atek”, and Kryzhynka. As a player, he showcased his skills with teams such as “Kryzhynka”, “Irbis”, and “Kyiv”, establishing himself as a gifted athlete.
Since 2001, Arkhypenko has dedicated himself to coaching at Kryzhynka, where his proteges have clinched gold at the youth and junior championships of Ukraine twelve times. The triumph of his 2003-born team, which secured the top spot at the Denver tournament (USA) in 2017, stands out as a notable achievement.
Many of his pupils have risen to prominence in the junior, youth, and national teams of Ukraine. Ihor served twice as an assistant coach for the youth national team of Ukraine in 2013 and 2016, showcasing his professionalism and commitment to hockey development. Apart from mentoring youth, he has also successfully coached adult teams, including his tenure as head coach of the “Ice Wolves”. In 2023, he joined the coaching staff of HC Kyiv Capitals.
