As the World Championships conclude in Prague, the spotlight shifts to the 2025 international season. The annual IIHF conference is in progress and will conclude on Saturday. Poland has been awarded the hosting duties for two tournaments next year. They did bid to host the Men’s Division 1 Group A World Championship, but as a relegated team, they could not win unless there were no eligible bids. Poland was represented by PZHL President Mirosław Minkina, vice-president Adam Fras, IIHF chairperson and PZHL vice-president Marta Zawadzka. We are still waiting for dates to see when Poland will compete at the women’s Olympic qualifiers and club dates for GKS Katowice in the Continental Cup. 

Men’s Division 1 Group A World Championship

Host City: Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania 

Dates: April 27th – May 3rd 

Teams: Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine 

Poland will return to Division 1 Group A after being relegated from the Elite Division, and Great Britain has also been relegated from the top. At the same time, Ukraine was promoted to Division 1 Group B. Italy was last year’s host but failed to reach the top division as it continued to prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Slovenia and Hungary won gold and silver to earn promotion at last year’s event.

Women’s Division 2 Group A World Championship

Host City: Bytom, Poland 

Dates: April 7th – 13th

Teams: DPR of Korea, Chinese Taipei, Iceland, Mexico, Poland, and Spain.

Poland was relegated from Division 1 to the Second Division for the first time since 2017, but they never actually went down a division at that time. It will be the first time Poland has played in Division Two since the 2016 season. DPR of Korea was promoted from Division 2 Group B in 2024. At last year’s tournament hosted in Andorra, Kazakhstan won gold and a promotion.

Men’s U20 Division 1 Group B World Championship  

Host City: Tallinn, Estonia

Dates: January 11th – 17th 

Teams: Estonia, Japan, Italy, Poland, South Korea, and Ukraine.

Poland has been able to stay in division one since the 2012 season, but that has come with some close calls in recent years. They earned promotion to Group A in 2013 but were relegated back to Group B after one tournament. Poland took fifth last year, picking up a win over Italy. South Korea won promotion from Division 2 Group A to join the group, while Japan was relegated from Division 1 Group A. At last year’s event, Slovenia won gold and was promoted. 

Men’s U18 Division 1 Group B World Championship 

Host City: Kaunas, Lithuania

Dates: April 13th – 19th

Teams: Estonia, France, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, and South Korea.

Poland was promoted to Division 2 Group A in 2024 and will look to stay in the division, which hasn’t been easy in recent years. Poland went a perfect 5-0 at the second division tournament only allowing five goals. Japan was relegated from Division 1 Group A last year. Slovenia earned gold and promotion at the 2024 Group B event. 

Women’s U18 Division 1 Group B World Championship

Host City: Bytom, Poland 

Dates: January 7th-13th 

Teams: Australia, China, Denmark, Poland, South Korea, and Spain 

Poland earned a bronze medal at last year’s event, following back-to-back D1B silver medals. Could this be the year Poland finally takes gold? China was promoted from Division 2 Group A, while Denmark was relegated from Division 1 Group A. At last year’s Division 1 Group B tournament, Norway took gold and promotion. 

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