Ihor Merezhko (Ukrainian: Ігор Мережко; born 30 April 1998) is a Ukrainian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for HC Škoda Plzeň of the Czech Extraliga.
Merezhko also represents Ukraine in international hockey competitions.
In 2023, he was recognized as the best Ukrainian hockey player.
Career Merezhko began his hockey career at the Kharkiv SDYUSHOR (Sports School of Olympic Reserve). He is a graduate of the "Donbass 98" program. The 2014–2015 season saw him playing for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. In 2015, he moved to Canada, where he spent four seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL). In 2019, Merezhko signed his first professional contract with Humo Tashkent, a team competing in the Supreme Hockey League (VHL). He then played the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 seasons with Rubin Tyumen, another VHL club. In the 2020–2021 season, he became a bronze medalist in the VHL. The 2021–2022 season was a championship-winning season for Merezhko.
Since 2022, he has been the captain of the Ukrainian national ice hockey team.
In 2022, Merezhko signed a one-year contract with the Odense Bulldogs, a team in the Danish Hockey League.
In 2023, he was recognized as the best Ukrainian hockey player.
The 2023–2024 season saw Merezhko playing in the Slovak Extraliga for HK Spišská Nová Ves. His team finished as the league's runner-up.
Following his season in Slovakia, Merezhko joined the Czech Extraliga team HC Plzeň "Škoda".
Achievements VHL Bronze Medalist 2020–2021 VHL Champion 2021–2022 Slovak Extraliga Silver Medalist 2023–24
World Championship Division I Group B Medals Tournament Location 🥉 Bronze medal – third place World Championship Division I Group B Tychy (Poland) 2022 🥈 Silver medal – second place World Championship Division I Group B Tallinn (Estonia) 2023 🥇 Gold medal – first place World Championship Division I Group B Vilnius (Lithuania) 2024
Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2015–16 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 560101061 50004 2016–17 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 722192188 200101012 2017–18 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 715283376 1604413 2018–19 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL 554313542 70224 2019–20 Humo Tashkent VHL 4318935 1105511 2020–21 Rubin Tyumen VHL 443131625 161678 2021–22 Rubin Tyumen VHL 5010152514 70664 2022–23 Odense Bulldogs Metal Ligaen 4813233641 62682 2023–24 HK Spišská Nová Ves Slovak Extraliga 4910384814 51894 VHL totals 13714365074341171823
References
External links
Ihor Merezhko - Stats, Contract, Salary & More Ihor Merezhko Ihor Merezhko (Plzeň) statistiky - Livesport.cz Hokejová Plzeň posílí dvojice ze slovenské Spišské Nové Vsi