Poland: Polska National Team

[Eye of Ra]

Poland has a legit chance of reaching the highest division in WC. With Italy, Uk, Poland, Lithanuia and Romana fighting for 2 spots to get up, the chances should be big for Polska to take one of the spots.

Last time the poles where in highest division was back in 2002.

The league of Poland just gets better and better.

Poles playing in foreign leagues that should make the team is:

Jakub Lewandowski (NCAA)
Kamil Walega (Liptovsky Mikulas / Slovakia League)
Alan Łyszczarczyk (Trinec)
Krzysztof Macias (Vitkovice)
Pawel Zygmunt (Litinov)
Aron Chmielewski (Trinec)
Pawel Dronia (Ravensburg Towerstars / DEL2)

So the poles have 4 players playing in Czechias best league. Macias is very young, but already gets games in the highest czech league.

From the polish league, there is a good amount of good poles:

John Murray
Dawid Zabolotny

Adrian Jaworski
Bartłomiej Pociecha
Bartosz Ciura
Oskar Jaśkiewicz
Patryk Wajda
Kamil Gorny
Jakub Wanicki
Mateusz Bryk

Alex Szczechura
Bartosz Fraszko
Bartłomiej Jeziorski
Christian Mroczkowski
Damian Kapica
Dominik Pas
Marcin Kolusz
Maciej Urbanowicz
Michael Cichy
Filip Komorski
Radoslaw Sawicki
Krystian Dziubinski
Grzegorz Pasiut
Patryk Wronka

Quite good depth. The poles have many guys with good experiance. More names can be added even.

The headcoach is Robert Kalaber, a slovak. Some years ago the great Ted Nolan was the headcoach.

 

[Eye of Ra]

It should be said that Poland was stronger before with players such as:

Adam Borzecki
Andrzej Schubert
Damian Adamus
Mariusz Czerkawski
Marek Stebnicki
Krzysztof Oliwa
Piotr Kwasigroch
Patryk Pysz
Leszek Laszkiewicz
Waldemar Klisiak
Oskar Szczepaniec
Jacek Plachta
Janusz Janikowski
Jedrzej Kasperczyk

Etc.

If we go back even more years, to the 70s, The poles actually won over USSR in a WC game.

 

[legionista]

I agree, because there are 2 teams advancing to the top level Poland has a very good chance, probably best chance in over a decade as they've been bouncing between 1A and 1B for a while now.

IMO a lot will depend on the form of the Polish league players after the season, the Div. 1A WC isn't until April 29th, a full month after the final game of the PHL. From what I can remember the national team usually plays better when there is a shorter break between end of club season and WC, so we'll see. Having players from abroad like Chmielewski, Zygmunt, and Walega will also be crucial, young players like the Macias or Bukowski have also been playing well so not worried about them not performing.

All in all the outlook for the WC this year is optimistic so fingers crossed.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I agree, because there are 2 teams advancing to the top level Poland has a very good chance, probably best chance in over a decade as they've been bouncing between 1A and 1B for a while now.

IMO a lot will depend on the form of the Polish league players after the season, the Div. 1A WC isn'tth until April 29th, a full month after the final game of the PHL. From what I can remember the national team usually plays better when there is a shorter break between end of club season and WC, so we'll see. Having players from abroad like Chmielewski, Zygmunt, and Walega will also be crucial, young players like the Macias or Bukowski have also been playing well so not worried about them not performing.

All in all the outlook for the WC this year is optimistic so fingers crossed.

they made it, even with some players missing

We have a great chance of staying in the Elite - says Krystian Dziubiński

is he being too optimistic ?

 

[Albatros]

Everyone will start with 0 points, but not everyone will finish with 0. Their chance is in beating their closest challenger and hoping that's enough.

 

[8899]

Poland, Lithanuia

Poland play WC this year.

Lithanuia play WC next year.

 

[legionista]

they made it, even with some players missing

We have a great chance of staying in the Elite - says Krystian Dziubiński

is he being too optimistic ?

He probably is. He's the captain however, so he has to speak with more optimism than realism. The plan is obvious, try to take points off Kazakhstan and France and hope things fall our way.

The failure at OGQ is a cold shower, Dziubinski might be a bit less optimistic after his poor performance lol.

 

[tfor23]

In this year 1A WC Poland have great chance to be back in Elite for 2026. We have a little different team than last year WC in Czechia but i think little stronger and those guys who stays have bigger experience in real hockey. Players like Lyszcarczyk, Macias and Wałęga can make a difference for us in Romania.

 

[Eye of Ra]

In this year 1A WC Poland have great chance to be back in Elite for 2026. We have a little different team than last year WC in Czechia but i think little stronger and those guys who stays have bigger experience in real hockey. Players like Lyszcarczyk, Macias and Wałęga can make a difference for us in Romania.

I hope so! Italy, Kazakstan, Hungary, Uk are boring. I find Poland more fun.

Should not btw
Tyczyński make it? He never played a WC for Poland. He is the pole in Polish Leauge with most points this season. And Kapica too? Suprised Kapica not played in a WC since 2019.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Łyszczarczy
Komorski
Krezolek
Tyczyński
Kapica
Frazsko
Pasiut
Wronka
Macias
Walega
Dziubiński
Zygmunt
Kolusz
Chmielewski
Jakub Lewandowski
Mroczkowski
Pas
Jeziorski
Syty
Szczechura

Pretty good depth when it comes to forwards. Not in any order or so.

 

[tfor23]

Kapica has a chance of making it to the team for the tournament in Romania. Tyczyński probably won't. He is not the coach's favorite because of his poor defensive play. As for Chmielewski, there is surprise in Poland that a player who plays good hockey in the Slovak league doesn't play in the national team. But Kalaber insisted on him and probably won't play for him again... I hope Wałęga recovers for the championship...Fraszko is injured too and won't play...

 

[legionista]

Poland players who will be fighting for WC spots in the upcoming camp and exhibition games.

Goal:
John Muray (GKS Katowice), Tomáš Fučík (GKS Tychy), David Zabolotny (Bietigheim Steelers – Oberliga, Niemcy), Maciej Miarka (JKH GKS Jastrzębie), Filip Świderski (Texom STS Sanok),

Defense:
Olaf Bizacki, Mateusz Bryk, Bartosz Ciura (wszyscy GKS Tychy), Kacper Maciaś (GKS Katowice), Karol Biłas, Bartosz Florczak (obaj Texom STS Sanok), Kamil Górny (JKH GKS Jastrzębie), Oskar Jaśkiewicz, Jakub Wanacki (obaj Comarch Cracovia), Michał Naróg (EC Będzin Zagłębie Sosnowiec), Mateusz Zieliński (KH Energa Toruń).

Offense:
Filip Komorski, Alan Łyszczarczyk, Bartłomiej Jeziorski, Mateusz Gościński, Dominik Paś (wszyscy GKS Tychy), Mateusz Michalski, Grzegorz Pasiut, Patryk Wronka, Igor Smal (wszyscy GKS Katowice) Sebastian Brynkus, Damian Kapica (obaj Comarch Cracovia), Krystian Dziubiński, Kamil Sadłocha, Łukasz Krzemień (wszyscy Re-Plast Unia Oświęcim), Patryk Krężołek (EC Będzin Zagłębie Sosnowiec), Damian Tyczyński (bez klubu), Mikołaj Syty (KH Energa Toruń), Krzysztof Maciaś (Moose Jaw Warriors – WHL, Kanada) Paweł Zygmunt (HC VERVA Litvínov – ekstraliga, Czechy).

Reserves:
Bramkarz: Igor Tyczyński (Naprzód Janów Katowice / SMS PZHL).
Obrońca: Marcin Horzelski (Podhale Nowy Targ)
Napastnicy: Łukasz Kamiński i Jakub Ślusarczyk (JKH GKS Jastrzębie)

No Chmielewski, Walega (injury) or Fraszko. On paper a strong squad especially the forwards. I don't understand Kalaber's beef with Chmielewski as he would be a good addition despite being well past his prime and not in best form. Rumors are he'll be playing in Poland next season.

 

[aonb]

Poland players who will be fighting for WC spots in the upcoming camp and exhibition games.

Goal:
John Muray (GKS Katowice), Tomáš Fučík (GKS Tychy), David Zabolotny (Bietigheim Steelers – Oberliga, Niemcy), Maciej Miarka (JKH GKS Jastrzębie), Filip Świderski (Texom STS Sanok),

Defense:
Olaf Bizacki, Mateusz Bryk, Bartosz Ciura (wszyscy GKS Tychy), Kacper Maciaś (GKS Katowice), Karol Biłas, Bartosz Florczak (obaj Texom STS Sanok), Kamil Górny (JKH GKS Jastrzębie), Oskar Jaśkiewicz, Jakub Wanacki (obaj Comarch Cracovia), Michał Naróg (EC Będzin Zagłębie Sosnowiec), Mateusz Zieliński (KH Energa Toruń).

Offense:
Filip Komorski, Alan Łyszczarczyk, Bartłomiej Jeziorski, Mateusz Gościński, Dominik Paś (wszyscy GKS Tychy), Mateusz Michalski, Grzegorz Pasiut, Patryk Wronka, Igor Smal (wszyscy GKS Katowice) Sebastian Brynkus, Damian Kapica (obaj Comarch Cracovia), Krystian Dziubiński, Kamil Sadłocha, Łukasz Krzemień (wszyscy Re-Plast Unia Oświęcim), Patryk Krężołek (EC Będzin Zagłębie Sosnowiec), Damian Tyczyński (bez klubu), Mikołaj Syty (KH Energa Toruń), Krzysztof Maciaś (Moose Jaw Warriors – WHL, Kanada) Paweł Zygmunt (HC VERVA Litvínov – ekstraliga, Czechy).

Reserves:
Bramkarz: Igor Tyczyński (Naprzód Janów Katowice / SMS PZHL).
Obrońca: Marcin Horzelski (Podhale Nowy Targ)
Napastnicy: Łukasz Kamiński i Jakub Ślusarczyk (JKH GKS Jastrzębie)

No Chmielewski, Walega (injury) or Fraszko. On paper a strong squad especially the forwards. I don't understand Kalaber's beef with Chmielewski as he would be a good addition despite being well past his prime and not in best form. Rumors are he'll be playing in Poland next season.

It hasn't been much of a secret for a while now that Chmielewski isn't particularly liked by the rest of the guys, so it's convenient for Kalaber not to call him up.

 

[DeathMetal23]

Fucik and Murray were great in the THL finals. The biggest question mark will be the defense. Without leaders like Kolusz or Dronia, its performance is a big question mark...

 

[DeathMetal23]

We played against Italy today. The team still doesn't look optimal. The game doesn't flow, we move not very dynamically. Chemistry needs a lot of improvement. Macias in the 4th line?...WTF? On the plus side, Fucik is great.

 

[legionista]

We played against Italy today. The team still doesn't look optimal. The game doesn't flow, we move not very dynamically. Chemistry needs a lot of improvement. Macias in the 4th line?...WTF? On the plus side, Fucik is great.

I watched all six exhibition games 2x vs Lithuania, Ukraine, Italy and I'm of similar opinion. I thought from game to game things were going to improve but seems they stayed in same form from the Lithuania games more or less.
They seems slow, disconnected, low energy along the boards, defensively unorganized, PP is terrible. With no Walega, Pasiut, Wronka, Chmielewski, and a young D this will be a fight to stay in 1A I think. Even considering a push for the first two spots this year is pointless. Everyone knew a generational change is coming, that was even known before the WC last year, let's just hope it's not at the cost of relegation to 1B.