The top five are here! Three of the top forwards to come out of Poland are in this group. These players were all or still are stars of the U18 squad. They have also all started making significant moves in senior hockey while also moving abroad to face new challenges.

Players had to be under the age of 20 and at least 13 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 three games to be considered. While most of the ranking is my opinion, numerous Polish hockey people contributed their thoughts on players. 103 players were considered for the list and reviewed. Fifty players received a ranking.

Rank – Player Name (Position), Age During Next Hockey Season, Team (Ranking in 2022, change in rankings) 

5 – Matylda Stępień (F), 15, HC Falcons Sokol Karviná, (8, +3) 

Stępień comes in as our second-highest-ranked U16 forward. The former youth Legia Warszawa player and Poznan forward made the move to Czechia. She scored three goals in the top Czechia league and assisted on five. Her eight points in 16 games were fourth among U16 players in the league. For the 2024 season, she is moving to Canada to play with Stanstead College. It is a boarding school in Canada with a focus on hockey. Their alumni include Flame’s first-round pick, Mark Jankowski, and Czechia women’s national team forward, Michaela Pejzlová. Moving to Canada at such a young age should greatly aid her development. I expect her to return to Poland for the U18s as a better player. She is already a top U18 player for Poland. At the 2023 event, she scored three goals on 19 shots. That performance is already one that is hard to improve on. Playing against and with strong players so often should have improved her game quickly. Especially compared to the lower-division talent at the event. 

4 – Maja Brzezińska (F), 18, Stoczniowiec Gdansk, (4, 0)

In her final U18 season, Brzezińska did it all. She is already a lock to be a member of the Polish national team for a long time. In 2023, she already competed in her second senior World Championship. This wasn’t just a young player getting some experience. She made an impact with one goal and one assist on six shots. Brzezińska also led Poland at the U18s, where she displayed her lethal shot and led Poland in goals with three. Her four points overall were tied for the lead on the squad. 

For her club seasons, Brzezińska continued to be one of the best young players in the TLHK. The Gdansk forward posted 24 points (12G-12A-24PTS) in 18 games. That was good for twelfth among all skaters and the third most among U18 forwards. She also was a full-time member of the Silesian Metropolis in the EWHL. This year, she scored her first two goals in her second season in the central Europe league. For 2024, Brzezińska will be with Metropolis again and play in the Slovak league. She can be an elite forward offensively and should be a first-line forward for Poland in the upcoming years. 

3 – Magdalena Łąpieś (F), 17, Stoczniowiec Gdansk, (3, 0)

Łąpieś is already one of the best forwards Poland has at their disposal. She proved that at the EWHL level, where she recorded nine points (5G-4A-9PTS) in 12 games. Her year gave her the best point-per-game average among all U18 skaters while having the third-highest points. She was just as dominant in Poland, where her 33 points led Stoczniowiec Gdansk and were the third most in the league among all skaters. She is too good for Poland, so I am glad she is jumping to Canada for 2024. Łąpieś will suit up with the Ontario Hockey Academy in the U22 Ontario Women’s Hockey League. This will allow her to play plenty of games against some of the best young players in Canada. 

Łąpieś also made their third senior national team, the second World Championship squad, in 2023 for the event in South Korea. She didn’t find the score sheet at the event but did record 13 shots. From my view, some definite high-danger scoring chances came down to puck luck that just didn’t go in. She also represented Poland at U18s for a second time, scoring twice on 23 shots and assisting on one. She will be eligible for one more run with the U18 squad in 2024. Łąpieś is already a top-five forward in Poland. Her getting experience in Canada will only make her that much better. Players like  Łąpieś taking these chances when they’re already elite inside Poland is why I have so much faith in the future of the women’s national team.

Next Part: Player 2

If you want to keep up with all the Polish hockey action, make sure to follow us on Twitter @PolandHockey, like our Facebook page, and add us on Instagram @PolishPuck_. Also, support us on Patreon to help keep the content flowing!