Ukrainian Alexander Voronin signs for Adelaide Adrenaline for the remainder of the 2024 AIHL season.

Voronin, who plays as a defenceman, will arrive in Australia today and be on the ice for the Adrenaline this weekend for the Rurak crunch games against the Brisbane Lightning.

Adelaide Adrenaline General Manager, Glen Foll, was excited to make the announcement on behalf of the South Australian outfit.

First Ukrainian signed with the special 2024 AIHL rules

At the start of the season the AIHL announced they had accepted an invitation from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to encourage teams to sign Ukrainian players in 2024.

The AIHL allowed each team to sign one Ukrainian player. This player would not count as an import and attract the points cost in the league’s player-point system. In essence making one Ukrainian act the same as a local player in 2024.

However, despite the unique rules and new policy, we saw rosters across the league put together, imports announced, but no Ukrainian players, until now.

I had heard anecdotally that a few teams had been looking to sign a Ukrainian player but visa delay issues were a significant road-block to overcome. Now Adelaide have overcome these issues and have brought in Voronin as the first, and probably, only Ukrainian on these rules into the AIHL this season.

Exemption from 1 July 2024 deadline

Upon the signing of Alexander Voronin, Adelaide Adrenaline indicated they had secured an exemption from the league from the 1 July 2024 deadline.

What does that mean I hear you say. Well, it means Voronin will be eligible to play the remainder of the regular season as well as in Finals if the Adrenaline qualify.

Normally a player is only eligible for Finals if they play at least one AIHL game before 1 July 2024. Voronin’s visa delays is the reason the league has granted this exemption. This deal has been in the works since the AIHL made their announcement in February.

Who is Alexander Voronin?

Voronin is a professional Ukrainian international player who has spent most of his career in his native Ukraine. He has also had stints across Europe in Sweden, Poland, Lithuania and most recently Italy.

Alexander is a 24-year-old left-handed defenceman born in Donetsk. He is six foot two inches tall, making him a big presence on the ice.

Voronin made his international debut for Ukraine in 2023 in the World Championship Division 1B. Voronin helped the Ukrainian team secure a silver medal. Ukraine finished runners-up in the group behind Japan, who were promoted.

Alexander has secured three championships in his career to date. Picking up an U20 Ukrainian championship in 2018, Ukrainian championship in 2019 and the Italian third tier championship in 2024.

Prior to joining the Adrenaline, Voronin had a successful stint with Aostra in Italy’s third tier. On the way to be named champions, Alexander scored 19 points from 17 games, contributing eight goals and 11 assists.

If you want to welcome Alexander to Australia or cheer him on this weekend, you will be able to catch him in person at the Adelaide Ice Arena or online on AIHL.TV. The Adrenaline host the Lightning in a blockbuster double-header.

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