Photo Source: polskihokej.eu

The women’s team in Poland grows exponentially in terms of talent. The national team results followed this as they went all the way from Division Five qualifying to the silver medalist of Division One Group B. Poland lost to a single final boss in the last two tournaments, relegating them to a sliver and keeping them out of Group A, one step back from the Elite division. In 2022, it was running into a team China loaded with imports, who all 100% followed IIHF import rules… Last year, Poland lost an early game against the host country, South Korea, before winning the rest of their way in the tournament. They were left just two points away from first place. This year, many changes took place with the women’s national team. Will it be enough to push them across the finish line into group A?

The season for the women’s national team starts at the club level. In Poland’s top league, the TAURON Ligi Hokeja Kobiet, Polonia Bytom is the top club. Many members of the national team wear their colors during the regular season. They have now won nine straight championships in the TLHK. The league removed Polonia Bytom from regular season play, with them rejoining during the playoff phase. This also allowed the players of Bytom to focus on their other club season with Silesian Metropolis. They compete in the European Women’s Hockey League (EWHL), a competition of strong clubs from central and eastern Europe, mainly Austria. Only seven players named to the initial roster for Poland at the Worlds did not play with Silesian Metropolis this year. Most of those players didn’t appear for the EWHL club as they already play abroad.

The increased focus on the EWHL season worked out extremely well for Poland. The club had its most successful year with a third-place finish. It is only the second time they have made the playoffs and the first time they had over ten wins in a season. However, Silesian Metropolis would fall in the playoffs after the series was reduced to a single game. The icon of Polish hockey, Karolina Pozniewska, once again led the team in scoring with 30 points (15G-15A-30PTS) in 23 games; the next highest point total was 17. The depth scoring started to arrive this year, with eight players finishing with double-digit points. That is key, as the problem at last year’s World Championship event was Poland’s lack of offense. The national team only scored eight goals in the five-game event. Of course, the lack of scoring is often helped by goaltender and human brickwall Martyna Sass. During the EWHL season, Sass led the league in save percentage with a .941 mark.

The club season showed Poland’s potential and how good the national team can be when playing at their best. Having a season where a majority of the national team plays together against strong teams is also important for developing chemistry. This team also performed without key players Julia Zielinska, Magdalena Lapies, Tatiana Onyshchenko, and Wiktoria Sikorska, who all played outside Poland in stronger leagues.

When the team came together for non-IIHF appearances, it painted a few different pictures. The national team’s first appearance was hosting a future world champs foe in Italy, whom they played twice. Poland lost the first game 5-4 in overtime but would lose the next game 6-1. Poland was without star goaltender Sass in both appearances. Still, the second game is a concerning result, given Italy will not even be Poland’s toughest match this year. It did take an amazing 49-save shutout by Sass to beat Italy at last year’s tournament. On the bright side, this was not going to be the last matchup versus Italy at all.

Before the next national team appearance, there was a major shake-up in the team. A new national team head coach was named somewhat out of the blue. Canadian Joe Butkevich was named the new leader of Poland’s top squad on February 1st. The 42-year-old coach has Polish heritage and is no stranger to international hockey. He worked with the Chinese national team and was an assistant coach with their U18 squad. Most of his coaching career has been in Canada as the head coach of the Etobicoke Jr Dolphins Hockey program. He has also worked with the Team Ontario Blue and Red U18 squads. Development is a big part of his experience, which bolds well for the young Polish squad.

We wouldn’t have to wait long for his debut, as Poland would play in a four-nation tournament shortly after this hiring. This tournament would be difficult, as Poland would face Division 1 Group B foes Great Britain and Italy. It also included a match versus the Elite division in Denmark, which Poland would face in game one. Poland lost that first game 6-4 despite a strong comeback effort. Going one for five on the powerplay was their stumbling block. In game two, Poland came alive, dispatching Great Britain with a 5-1 final. Despite such a huge win, they saved their best for last with a 6-1 trouncing of Italy. With how the tournament worked out, Poland took first place, thanks to goal differential. A great coaching debut for Joe Butkevich.

Poland did not play another game as a national team until this past Friday, March 29th. Poland took on the newcomer to their group in Latvia. Poland fell 3-0 to the host country in the lone tournament tune-up match. This is a hard result as it may give a clear picture of Poland’s ceiling. Still, after the game, Poland played an overtime period that went scoreless while winning an exhibition shootout 2-1. When this team was at full strength, they showed they could play well above the rest of their group, but even then, with a new final boss coming, they didn’t beat the team that was promoted up from division Two. Will this be another year stuck at silver?

Roster Review

Goalies

Agata Kosinska	Martyna Sass
Nadia Ratajczyk

There is not much to say about goaltending. Zero changes from last season. Sass will be the starter, and Poland will rely on them to be a star at this event. Kosinska and Ratajczyk will be battling for the backup spot. The veteran Kosinska has often been given the backup role at past tournaments. Poland is guaranteed a medal finish if Sass plays up to her usual level.

Defensemen

Klaudia Chrapek	Dominika Korkuz	Patrycja Sfora
Wiktoria Gogoc	Anna Kot	Julia Zielinska
Wiktoria Kedra	Natalia Nosal

The defense has mostly remained the same but is getting a boost. Julia Zielinska returned to the national team this year. The young defender plays in Finland’s top women’s league, the Naisten Liiga. She is also the first Polish woman to commit to a NCAA Division One hockey program. Anna Kot also joins in after a terrific season with Unia Oswiecim. This group played great defensively last year, and the added offense prowess of Kot and Zielinska should improve the group considerably. There are a lot of good young defenders in Poland on the women’s side. This group is always up against good competition in the EWHL and internally. Thus, you get a nice mix of veterans and young players at the top of their game. I hope to see them help more on the powerplay, but this group will keep Poland in each game defensively.

Forwards

Maja Brzezińska	Weronika Huchel	Wiktoria Sikorska
Ewelina Czarnecka	Magdalena Lapies	Joanna Strzelecka
Wiktoria Dziwok	Tatiana Onyshchenko	Ida Talanda
Aleksandra Górska	Karolina Pozniewska	Olivia Tomczok

There are also only a few offensive changes; Wereonika Huchel enters for her senior debut, while Alicja Siejka and Aneta Syposz exit. The Polish offense showed their ability to finish during the run-up to the event. In their six exhibition games this year, they scored 20 goals, an average of 3.33 per game. Last year at this tournament, Poland only scored eight goals in five games. The offense needs to finish, especially on the powerplay. The greatest of all time in Polish hockey, Karolina Pozniewska, is guaranteed to continue being around a point-per-game player. Poland needs more from the rest of the offense. Poland needs someone from this group to step up and help lead the offense. My top candidates are Brzezinska, Onyshchenko, and Sikorska. Poland will live and die with this forward group at the tournament. I hope the problem was just a finishing issue last year. In 2023, Poland outshot their opponents in four of the five games with some decent margins. The one game they didn’t, though, was getting outshot 49-17 to Italy.

Predictions

Game 1. Poland vs. Slovenia. Slovenia doesn’t have much depth, but you have to watch out for their two stars. Sara Confidenti is a show on ice at the forward position, while Pia Dukaric is one of the best goalies in the NCAA and can steal any game. I think Poland has the better depth and will match them in the net. I see Poland opening up with a win! Record 1-0

Game 2. Poland vs. Great Britain. Poland plays Great Britain a lot and usually comes out on top. With a full-strength roster, I don’t see that changing. This tournament is a great group of goalies, and Nicole Jackson will keep the British in the tournament throughout. Poland saw that last year in a very tight game. Poland will get off to a strong start and win this one. Record 2-0

Game 3. Poland vs. Italy. This is the big matchup for Poland. These teams faced off three times this year, with each team winning big in one, while Italy a second game in overtime. These teams play a lot, and the result or game flow is never the same. Nadia Mattivi is a major game disrupter and will keep Poland’s top forwards in check. It’s the biggest toss-up in this entire tournament. I think a full-strength Polish team with their chemistry will come out on top when the stakes are highest. Third win of the tournament and 3-0

Game 4. Poland vs. Latvia. Poland lost to the host country just a couple of days ago, but I don’t see that result being repeated. Liga Miljone will be a challenge to shut down as she led the Austrian league in scoring this season. They will be new in the group and pose quite a challenge. Still, I think Poland will stay hot and win their fourth straight. Record 4-0

Game 5. Poland vs. Slovakia. This game will be for the gold, but unfortunately, I have Poland taking home the silver. Slovakia is going to be a rough matchup. Just two years ago, they were able to take bronze in the Division 1 Group A standings. Most of their squad played with SKP Bratislava in the EWHL. SKP Bratislava beat Silesian Metropolis in both of their 2024 games. One was an 8-0 blowout and the other was a close 3-2 overtime victory. Slovakia will add a few more key players. It is hard to predict Poland will overcome that challenge, but it is not impossible. Record 4-1 Silver Medal.

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