Ukraine captain Valeriia Manchak-Jensen has an immense amount of respect for her team-mates who have stood tall through an unfathomable war to make it on to the Dunedin ice.
Manchak-Jensen is leading her team at the division 2, group B world championships this week, worlds away from the conflict back home since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Her players are surrounded by constant explosions, sirens and moving to shelters for safety, all while trying to keep their ice hockey dreams alive.
Many of their rinks have been destroyed by bombs, but players have done their best to keep the local leagues active and held national training camps in Romania earlier this year.
"You never know what’s Russia’s going to do," Manchak-Jensen said.
"It’s been stressful for a lot of our players and I have a lot of respect for them.
They do not have to look far for inspiration either.
"The bigger thing is we remember that we have our soldiers who are at the battlefield and protect our country.
"We are representing independent and free and beautiful Ukraine, and our culture being here as a national team.
"We are proud to be part of that country and still fight for ... having the Ukrainian hockey national team, because we do have a lot of young talented players and they need a future.
"You have to look up to something."
Manchak-Jensen, who has played ice hockey in the United States and coaches in Canada, said her team "is like a family", and sport had been a vehicle of hope.
"Hockey is something special that we all share, but also it makes our life happier."
Dunedin’s Ukrainian community has come out in full force to support team, packing the stands with cheering fans and flags during their overtime loss to New Zealand on Monday.
Manchak-Jensen, 28, said it was special to see the way her team had been embraced.
"We are guests in New Zealand, but at some point we felt like we’re at home, because we had our people.
"With everything that’s going on in our country, I think it’s important to stay together."
The team, who were promoted after winning division 3 group A last season, have also enjoyed their time off the ice, exploring Queenstown, riding the gondolas and luge.
She thanked New Zealand for being great hosts.
"Amazing culture and amazing people — and hopefully we’ll do our best and win the gold."
