We reached the top ten of our rankings! While not a lot of players departed the rankings from 2022, three who did were in our top ten. This means there was a good amount of movement for the highest spots. We have our highest-ranked goaltender ever, while a defenseman also enters the top ten. We really start to get to players now that the national team is hoping, may even need, to pan out.
Players had to be under the age of 23 and at least 16 years old on June 1st, 2023. We are only judging play that occurred before that date as well. Players are evaluated based on a combination of career history, current play, and potential. Skaters must have played at least five games to be considered. While most of the ranking is my opinion, numerous Polish hockey people contributed their thoughts on players. 188 players were considered for the list and reviewed. Eighty players received a ranking.
Rank – Player Name (Position), Age During Next Hockey Season, Team (Ranking in 2022, change in rankings)
10 – Krzysztof Bukowski (F), 21, Genève-Servette U20, (9, -1)
The younger of the Bukowski brothers drops a spot in the rankings. He stayed in the top level of Swiss junior hockey for an overager season. He would post 27 points (11G-16A-27PTS) in 47 games. This was up two points from last year and tied for fourth on his club. After six years in Switzerland, Bukowski is returning home to Poland and signed with Sanok. This will be his first time playing senior hockey, but I expect him, like his brother, to produce well in the THL. His best asset is his shot with a hard and quick release. He is a strong skater who has improved his all-around game in Switzerland. There might be a learning curve at first for him, but I don’t doubt by the end of the year, he will be a major contributor to Sanok.
9 – Maciej Miarka (G), 23, GKS Katowice, (16, +7)
Miarka is our highest-ranked goalie for 2023 and ever for the rankings. The Lodz native has established himself as the best young goalie in Poland. It remains weird to judge goalies in Poland, as Miarka only played in four PHL games, two MHL games, and one Champions Hockey League appearance. Wherever he played, he had success. In Poland’s top league, he had two shutouts and finished with a .963 SV%. That mark was the best among U23 PHL goalies, but he played Podhale in three matches. He finished with a .926 SV% in the MHL and stopped 27 of 28 against Fehérvár AV19 in the CHL. The club season was strong but limited action.
What a save by Miarka and then an amazing goal by Lyszczarczyk.
— Polish Puck (@PolandHockey) May 5, 2023
4-1 🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/6rf15aT3fG
His international season saw him cement himself as the national team’s future in the net. He played in six games during the year leading up to the World Championship. This included wins against Latvia, Lithuania, and Hungary. On the final day of the World Championships, Murray got injured and had to miss the match versus Romania. Miarka would get the call and lead Poland to the Elite. While the Polish offense would take care of the game, Miarka stopped 13 of 15 with some big saves. The choice to go to Miarka for the crucial game showed he is number two on the national team depth chart. For 2024, he is moving from Katowice to JKH GKS Jastrzebie. He will compete with Jakub Lackovic for time in net, and I think Miarka should get plenty of it.
8 – Karol Biłas (D), 21, STS Sanok, (12, +4)
Our top-ranked defender is here as Karol Biłas slides into the top ten. With Bartosz Florczak, he formed a strong second pairing for Sanok that helped the club to a sixth-place finish. He posted a career-high of seven points (2G-5A-7PTS) in 32 games. His 0.22 point per game average was the best among Polish U23 defensemen in the league. The former Poland U20 captain continued to be a part of the senior national team and played in seven non-IIHF games, netting one assist. He is the next in line to jump into the national team defense for IIHF appearances and could make that first senior appearance in the Elite Division. Until a shoulder injury during the final grouping, he had a great camp and got good reviews from the coaching staff. The Sanok native is returning to his hometown club for 2024 and should be a leading defender. He was reportedly looking to go abroad but is staying in Poland for another year.
7- Adrian Gromadzki (F), 19, HC Dynamo Pardubice U20, (21, +14)
Gromadzki takes a double-digit jump into the top ten. The young forward has proved his explosiveness at the top level of Czechia junior hockey. He had a much stronger season production-wise while also earning a full-time spot with the top club. He recorded 34 points (14G-20A-34PTS) in 44 games while also adding another assist in four playoff games. This saw him finish fourth on his club in regular season scoring. More impressive, it was the most by a player aged 18 in the league by seven points. That is a fantastic mark that sets him up for big things this year. He also started to get his feet wet in senior hockey. He was loaned to SKLH Žďár nad Sázavou in the Czech third league. In the senior league, he posted two assists in three appearances.
The production comparables don’t point to too much outside Czechia, with only 11.43% going on to be a regular player in the top Czech league. 71.43% did go to be a regular in the top or second level. Most matches have become a decent professional. I do think with Gromadzki’s play-making ability and size, he’ll get a few more looks at the top. The 6’2 forward also represented Poland at the D1B U20 World Championships, scoring a goal and assisting on one for Poland. He should be a key player for both HC Dynamo Pardubice U20 and Poland U20 in 2023.
Next Part: Players 6-4
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