Poland before the World Championship: hockey is on the rise in its neighbours. But will it be enough to stay in the elite?

For 22 years the Polish national hockey team has not been part of the elite group of the World Championship. In recent years, however, Poland has experienced a major hockey slump. Interest in the sport is growing, now boosted by a major world event in the form of the championship in the Czech Republic. Polish fans are looking forward to Ostrava, and the players are looking forward to the boisterous fans. The goal is clearly set – to stay up.

Published

8 months ago

8. 5. 2024

Rostislav Niedoba

polsko, polska hokejova reprezentace — Zdroj: Depositphotos

Believe it or not, historically the Poles are no pushovers on the hockey map. Sixty-two appearances in the elite group of the World Championship are already under their belt. In 1931, Poland finished fourth overall. From 1973 to 1975, they were fifth. Only then did hockey in Poland begin to decline significantly.

The last participation among the elite dates back to 2002, when the championship was played in Sweden. But then the Poles were relegated to a lower division and did not return to the elite until this year. All the more incentive now to stay up.

“We are quite realistic. We want to do everything we can to stay up. We know we need to get points against Kazakhstan or France. And maybe a few points with another team too,” goalie John Murray calculates on the IIHF website.

He was born in America but has been living in Poland for the last 10 years. He too has been part of Poland’s rise in recent years. Under Slovakian head coach Robert Kalaber, the Poles won the IB Division on home ice in 2022, and a year later they won promotion from the IA Division to the elite.

“People are paying more attention to hockey. Sponsors have come to the Polish Hockey Federation. In just one year everything looks better. But we have to stay here for another year, and then maybe another, to open opportunities for our players to play in better leagues,” says team captain Krystian Dziubinski. Attendance in the local league has increased by 30 percent in the last year.

Poland’s confidence hasn’t been boosted in the build-up

In the last month, Poland has played a total of eight preparatory matches. It didn’t look too bad at the start. Twice in a row, but mainly with a strong offensive contribution, the Poles beat Hungary 5:2 and 6:2. However, there were already problems against the opponents in the elite group of the World Championship.

In the remaining matches, Poland only managed a single point against Great Britain. Overall, the White and Red played probably the most balanced game against the British. However, they will not meet them at the championship, as the United Kingdom will be waiting for the Prague group in the O2 arena.

POLAND’S PREPARATORY MATCHES FOR THE 2024 WORLD CUP

Two players from the Czech Extraliga

The advantage of the Polish national team is that the roster does not change that much due to the smaller number of players. There is also a Czech footprint on the roster in the form of goalkeeper Tomáš Fučík, who has been playing in the Polish league on and off since 2016. But the number one man in goal should be the aforementioned thirty-six-year-old John Murray.

There are also two players from the Czech top league on the Polish roster. Paweł Zygmunt is known to Czech fans from his time in Litvínov, while Kamil Wałęga from the championship team of the Steelers must not be missed. However, probably the most famous Polish striker in the Czech Republic, Aron Chmilewski, who currently plays for Olomouc, is missing.

He appeared in most of the preliminary matches but did not play in Tuesday’s dress rehearsal against Denmark. The coaches finally decided to leave the experienced striker off the nomination list. Chmielewski was out of action for a long time due to injury, then he was unable to follow up his performance in the Steelers’ jersey. It will be far more important for him to prepare for next season.

POLAND’S NOMINATION FOR THE 2024 WORLD CUP

BRANKERS:
Tomáš Fučík (GKS Tychy)
John Murray (GKS Katowice)
David Zabolotny (EHC Freiburg, DEL2)

DEFENDERS:
Mateusz Bryk, Bartosz Ciura (both GKS Tychy)
Paweł Dronia (Ravensburg Towerstars, DEL2)
Kamil Górny, Marcin Kolusz, Arkadiusz Kostek, Patryk Wajda (all JKH GKS Jastrzębie)
Maciej Kruczek, Jakub Wanacki (both GKS Katowice)

FORWARDS:
Krystian Dziubiński (Re-Plast Unia Oświęcim)
Patryk Krężołek (Zagłębie Sosnowiec)
Alan Łyszczarczyk, Filip Komorski (both GKS Tychy)
Krzysztof Macias (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
Bartosz Fraszko, Mateusz Michalski, Grzegorz Pasiut (all GKS Katowice)
Dominik Paś, Maciej Urbanowicz (both JKH GKS Jastrzębie)
Kamil Wałęga (HC Oceláři Třinec)
Patryk Wronka (Podhale Nowy Targ)
Paweł Zygmunt (HC Verva Litvínov)

France and Kazakhstan are the keys to salvation

The Polish national team will enter the championship on Saturday, May 11 at 16:20 with a duel against Latvia. The most attractive match from the spectators’ point of view awaits them on Wednesday evening, May 15, when they face the Slovaks. There, the stands of Ostravar Arena will probably shake at the foundations.

The most important thing for the Poles will be to manage the matches against weaker opponents. Especially against France and Kazakhstan. The only way to be saved is to finish seventh after the regular group. “It will be full of Polish fans. Itwill be wild and I think it will help us,” believes captain Dzubinski excitedly.