Career
Babenko was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 in the 2nd round, 51st overall. After a season in the Ontario Hockey League for the Plymouth Whalers, Babenko joined the Avalanche organization in 1998. After three seasons in the American Hockey League for the Hershey Bears, he finally made his National Hockey League debut for Colorado during the 2000-2001 National Hockey League season, playing 3 games in all without registering a point.
Babenko spent another year with Hershey before returning to Russia with Dynamo Moscow.
He has also played for Khimik Voskresensk, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, and SKA Saint St. Petersburg. On June 28, 2009, Babenko returned on a one-year contract to former club The Human Context Ministry of the Interior for the 2009-2010 season.
After scoring 10 point in 35 games and helping Ministry of the Interior advance to the finals, Babenko followed Ministry of the Interior into the merger with Dynamo Moscow, to sign with UHC Dynamo for the 2010-2011 season on May 29, 2010.