The feeling of cold air and freezing metal seats returns as hockey is back. As I did last year I will give updates on Polish Prospects playing outside of Poland in 3 parts: Beginning of the season, mid-season, and the end of the season. Today let’s start off with players playing in North America.

 

Oskar Rzekanowski. Forward. Age:18

Oskar Rzekanowski is in his first season in North America. He is playing with the Bradford Rattlers of the GMHL. The Rattlers have an amazing offense, lead by Russian forward Stepan Timofeyev, they should continue to dominate the league. Rzekanowski is off to a hot start with 5 goals and 6 assist in 9 games. His 11 points have him in the top 50 of the league. Expect Rzekanowski to get chance at making the World Junior Team.

 

Jakub Golaszewski. Foward. Age:20

Jakub Golaszewski also made the jump to North America this year and is playing in the GMHL. Golaszewski is on the Orangeville Ice Crushers, who have 1 win and 6 losses through 7 games. In those 7 games, Golaszewski has a goal and an assist.

 

Filip Starzynski. Center. Age:23

Starzynski is in his third year with Northern Michigan Universit, who are apart of the NCAA. The team just played its first game on Saturday beating the University of Victoria 10-1. In the game, Starzynski tipped a shot from the point on the power play for a goal and went 4-5 in the faceoff circle. In his first season, Starzynski played a shutdown 4th line center role. It remains to be seen if that is the case for 2016-17, but the power play time is a good sign.

 

Dominik Olszewski. Forward. Age:17

One of the brightest players in Polish system Olszewski is playing with the Springfield Jr. Pics of the USPHL Premier. In 5 games this season Olszewski has been held pointless. He is also one of the youngest players in the league though. Last season Olszewski was a standout at the u18s with Poland and is eligible to play for the U18 team again and should also get a chance at making the World junior team.

 

Tomasz Skokan. Defenseman. Age:18

Another standout from the U18 team is Skokan, who is playing with the Kalkaska Rhinos of the USP3HL. The Rhinos are coached by Polish hockey legend Krzysztof Oliwa and currently have 2 wins and 2 losses. Skokan has 4 points in 4 games this season. An offensive defenseman, Skokan will have also have a good shot the World Junior team.

 

Alan Lyszczarczyk. Center. Age: 18

I saved the best for last. The crown jewel of the Polish system, Alan Lyszczarczyk. Lyszczarczyk plays for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL which many believe is the best junior league in the world. The Wolves were a rebuilding team last season, but are improved this season. Lyszczarczyk along with David Levin and Dmitri Sokolov will be leading a good offense for Wolves. In 4 games this season  Lyszczarczyk already has 2 goals and 2 assists and that is without Sokolov, who he showed great chemistry with last season, Sokolov will be back with the Wolves in their next game versus the Colts. It was a shock at the NHL draft when no one took  Lyszczarczyk, but as long as he has a good year expect a few teams to regret not picking him when they could of.  Lyszczarczyk should be able to make the World Junior team and men’s senior team.

Stayed tuned for the polish prospects playing in Europe.