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UKE | The Untold Story of Hockey Legends

The authors showcase unique information that disproves previously held stereotypes. It turns out that the roots of Ukrainian hockey go back over a century. Ukrainian hockey players from immigrant families gained world fame while playing for teams in their new homeland. Meanwhile, they continued to maintain their language and culture.

Statistics presented by the authors are absolutely astounding: throughout the 100-year existence of the NHL, more than fifty Ukrainians became champions of the League.

This is the largest number of champions representing a non-North American nationality! Even the best hockey player of all times, Wayne Gretzky, is of Ukrainian descent. His grandparents lived in Ternopil and Beresteysk regions with the surname Gretskyy.

  • Volodymyr Mula
    Director
    American Dream, American Dream. In Search of the Truth
  • Mykola Vasylkov
    Writer
  • Volodymyr Mula
    Producer
    American Dream, American Dream. In Search of the Truth
  • Wayne Gretzky
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Walter Gretzky
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Kelly Hrudey
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Ken Daneyko
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Johnny Bucyk
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Jerry Sawchuk
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Ruslan Fedotenko
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Orest Kindrachuk
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Eric Nesterenko
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Eddie Shack
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Bruce Driver
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Jeff Chychrun
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 11, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    220,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Ukraine
  • Country of Filming:
    Belarus, Canada, Ukraine, United States
  • Language:
    English, Ukrainian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • TeleProstir Studio
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Volodymyr Mula

Volodymyr Mula was born October 22, 1989 in Horodenka, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukraine.

In 2006–2012 he studied at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and received a master's degree.

In 2009 he founded and worked as the editor-in-chief of website TeleProstir.com

He produced the LiveTime TV show and live broadcasts of the Eurovision song contest and worked as special reporter during 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Mula is the author of a series of reports on Rio de Janeiro and the infotainment project Around the Baltic States.

Also Mula shot American Dream, a documentary about immigrants from post-soviet countries in United States. The film depicts a Ukrainian journalist's trip in a long-haul truck. It covered 11 American states, two oceans, two borders, 10 000 km of roads and yielded 350 gigabytes of footage.

In 2017 he founded a production company by name TeleProstir Studio.

Next year he filmed the sequel: American Dream. In Search of Truth, a feature documentary. In it, he used the stories of eight people to show paths of self-realization under varying fields and conditions.

In 2018 he was a special reporter during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

In 2020 he finished the "UKE" Documentary movie about famous Ukrainians in the National Hockey League.

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Director Statement

My main message, my goal is to show that the former NHL players are proud of their Ukrainian heritage. I also want to show them their contribution – that the traditions of 100 years ago is in them, that their journey isn’t forgotten. Many of the players’ parents and grandparents fled to escape Bolshevism yet passed down the language and culture to the players.

Growing up, they found it difficult to assimilate in Canadian society so hockey was a way to adapt and receive recognition, many started to be called ‘Ukes’