The number-one ranked player is here. The only-second ever player to hold the number one spot holds on to it for a second season.

Players had to be under 20 and at least 13 years old on June 1st, 2024. 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. One hundred fifteen 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 2023, change in rankings) 

1 – Julia Zielińska (D), 20, Kiekko-Espoo, (1, +0) 

Zielińska remains at the top of our rankings for a second straight season. She would play one more season in Finland in 2024 after making her NCAA commit to Bemidji State the previous offseason. The young defenseman rose to be one of the best in the Naisten Liiga, Finland’s top hockey level. During the regular season, the Sanok native had 28 points (12G-16A-28PTS) in 29 games. This placed her tied for fourth among all defensemen in the league. Among U20 defenders, it was second in the league, only to fellow NCAA commit Siiri Yrjölä. It is also the ninth-best point-per-game average ever by a 19-year-old. It was a historic U20 season for a player in the league, regardless of nationality. She would help Kiekko-Espoo to a second straight silver medal finish, adding four more assists in 10 playoff games. 

Zielińska also represented Poland at her second IIHF World Championship. While Poland would be relegated to Division 2 Group A, that wasn’t any fault of Zielińska. She scored once on 16 shots and assisted on two more goals in five games. Her three points made her a part of the three-way tie to lead team Poland. 

Elite defensemen are a lot harder to come by for non-top hockey countries. If you look at the NCAA, there are 369 defensemen on rosters. Only 30 of those players are from Europe, with about a third of them being Swedish. Zielińska making it to the NCAA is a massive achievement. It shows that this is possible for Polish hockey players. That is something that Zielińska herself knows as she told The Hockey News, “I truly hope that my journey, which began in Poland and has since moved to Slovakia, Finland, and the USA, will open up new opportunities for young girls in the future. It is an honor for me to begin this incredible experience and perhaps pave the way for future Polish stars.”

Zielińska excels in each zone of the ice. On offense, she is brilliant and crafty, finding ways to move up or get into high dangerous areas to fire off her quick and accurate shot. That part of her game will likely need some adjustment on smaller NCAA ice against better players. She is the modern offensive defenseman desperately needed to lead the powerplay for the national team. I think playing at Bemidji State will only round out her game more, especially defensively. This experience she’ll get against top players could push her to be in the Professional Women’s Hockey League one day. There will be an adjustment to North America, so I don’t expect an insane freshman season. 

Zielińska ages off the ranking with two back-to-back number-one rankings. She took all the massive risks needed to become a top hockey player from Poland. Simply put, staying in Poland won’t produce NHL or PWHL players. It also will rarely make those who can play in stronger European leagues. Zielińska left Poland for Slovakia when she was 13 and then moved to Finland at 14. That is a challenge for anyone to leave their family, let alone to do it while also training to play hockey against adults at that age. Those are sacrifices Polish hockey players have to make to be great. So many reports from Finnish coaches or teammates praised her willingness to learn and work harder than most. Being the first Polish woman and only fifth Pole ever to play Division 1 NCAA hockey results from that dedication. At Polish Puck, we wish her all the best at Bemidji State.

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Thumbnail Photo via polskihokej.eu