Ukrainian Lions

The Ukrainian Lions, also known as Chicago Lions was operated by the Ukrainian American Sports Club. The club was based in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1949 by Ukrainians that had settled in the Chicago area after the Second World War. They competed professionally in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (National Challenge Cup)^[1] and the National Soccer League (Chicago). All their home games were played at Hansen Stadium. There were 5 players from the Ukrainian Lions that played on the US National Team Willy Roy, Nick Krat, Orest Banach, Stefan Szefer and Mike Noha.

In 1975, the Chicago Sting signed Ukrainian Lions players Willy Roy, Stefan Szefer, , , and for their inaugural season in the North American Soccer League. Former players that went on to play were Nick Owcharuk in the North American Soccer League with the San Diego Sockers, Leo Kulinczenko in the American Soccer League with the Los Angeles Skyhawks and Bill Mishalow with the Memphis Rogues of the North American Soccer League.

Honors[]

• National Soccer League of Chicago Champion: 4

1952-53, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74^[2]

• Peel Cup: 1

1956

• :3

1972, 1974, 1977

Notable former players[]

• Orest Banach
• Mike Noha
• Willy Roy
• Leo Kulinczenko
• Bill Mishalow
• Nick Owcharuk
• Nick Krat
• 
• 
• Mike Winters
• 
• Fred Kovacs
• Stefan Szefer

Former managers[]

• 1970–1986
• 1974–1981
• 1969–1970

References[]

External links[]

• Футбол – Українська футбольна діаспора (in Ukrainian)
• Volyanska, M. Founders of the Ukrainian-American Sports Association "Lions" (Будівничі українсько-американського спортового товариства “Леви”). Ukrainian people.
• Pavlosyuk, Z. Ukrainian-American Sports Association "Lions" are champions again! (УАСТ “Леви” – знову чемпіони!). Chas I Podii. 11 June 2009