One of my favorite experiences during last year’s World Championship was discussing the Polish national team with media outlets in over 20 countries. I also got asked by media members from 20 countries why the Polish defense was so old.  Until Kacper Macias was named to the team as an injury replacement, Poland had only one defenseman under 30. That player also turned 30 a month after the tournament. The belief of those I talked to inside Polish hockey is that 2025 was the final appearance for quite a few members of the Polish defense. As they move on, are there players ready to replace them? 

When I last I took inventory of the Polish defense, I called the situation desperate. There were gaps of talent caused by lost generations of Polish defensemen who didn’t move on to senior hockey after strong junior careers. Only 19 of the 48 defensemen who represented Poland U20 from 2010 to 2020 are active players. It was a situation where I thought Poland might have to turn to imports to stay alive. Has the outlook improved in 2025? 

Taking Inventory: 2025 Polish Goalies

Defenseman 35 and Over

Player	Age	Team	League
Kamil Górny	35	JKH GKS Jastrzebie	PHL
Maciej Kruczek	37	Cracovia Krakow	PHL
Marcin Kolusz	40	Unia Oswiecim	PHL
Mateusz Bryk	35	GKS Tychy	PHL
Michał Kotlorz	37	Zaglebie Sosnowiec	PHL
Patryk Wajda	36	Podhale Nowy Targ	PHL
Paweł Dronia	35	Bietigheim Steelers	Oberliga

Six of the seven players in this group represented Poland at last year’s World Championship. Having 60% of your defenders over the age of 35 is not ideal, especially with the speed of the game. The only member of this group who is not an active national team member is Michał Kotlorz, who has not represented Poland since 2018. While the negatives are clear on paper, these players have also been Poland’s best options. They are still on the squad because no one else can beat them for roster spots. Five years later, will any of these players be here for Poland? It’s unlikely, except for Kolusz, who I expect to be playing until his 60s. 

• Kamil Górny (35) has been a longtime star of JKH GKS Jastrzebie. However, he has only recently become a regular on the national team, having played in three straight World Championships after only two during the first 14 years of his career. He has mostly played on the bottom pairings for Poland, forming a pair with Bryk at times at last year’s Worlds. Gorny played at the Sosnowiec Cup for Poland this year. 
• Maciej Kruczek (37), a four-time PHL champion, has been one of Poland’s best defenders over the past three seasons. A late breakout star after he did not represent Poland from 2019 to 2021. He has yet to play for Poland in 2025
• Marcin Kolusz (40) is the last Polish player to be selected in the NHL draft. He has represented Poland at 16 World Championships and remains one of the smoothest skaters in the country. Even at the World Championship last year, he was on Poland’s top pairing and had the highest TOI among defensemen in the crucial match against Kazakhstan. A living legend of Polish hockey, Kolusz has not yet represented Poland in 2025. 
• Mateusz Bryk (35) is a solid hand who can play up and down the line-up in any role you put him in. I hope Bryk can stick around the squad for a few more events, as he can mentor young players while being a solid presence in his own zone. He played for Poland at the Sosnowiec Cup this year. 
• Patryk Wajda (36), a seven-time PHL champion and 12-time World Championship member, has had a fantastic career in Poland. He showed last year at the World Championship he is still a smart player with a bank shot goal vs Germany. His role would decrease as the tournament went on. He has yet to represent Poland in 2025

Super smart bank shot by Patryk Wajda. Poland was finally able to rotate the puck in the German zone.

3-1 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/1XUEPKbSj6

— Polish Puck (@PolandHockey) May 18, 2024

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• Paweł Dronia (35) is the lone Polish defender to play professional hockey outside Poland. The longtime DEL2 defenseman switched to the Oberliga this past year and has been impressive, with 43 points in 45 games. The assistant captain for the Bietigheim Steelers has yet to represent Poland this year, and I would be surprised to see him on the World’s squad. 

These players are likely done or will be finishing up some great national team careers in the next few years. As Poland tries to return to the Elite Division in a couple of months, I imagine they will still hope to have some of these veteran defensemen at their disposal. I expect three of the players from this group in the red and white. 

Players 30-34

Player	Age	Team	League
Arkadiusz Kostek	30	NA	NA
Bartlomiej Pociecha	32	GKS Tychy	PHL
Bartosz Ciura	32	GKS Tychy	PHL
Damian Tomasik	30	Podhale Nowy Targ	PHL
Jakub Gimiński	31	KH Torun	PHL
Jakub Wanacki	33	Cracovia Krakow	PHL
Robert Mrugała	33	Podhale Nowy Targ	PHL

This group includes a few national team defenders, and others I have wondered why they have never been given more national team chances. Only three players on the list have represented Poland at non-IIHF event in the last three years. 

• Kostek (30) has been one of the most consistent members of Team Poland since 2019. This year, he played three games with GKS Katowice in September before suffering an injury. The veteran defenseman would never return to the lineup and terminated his contract with the club in early January. He did not sign anywhere after the release. 

• Pociecha (32) resigned from the national team in 2019 over issues with wages. He was one of many players to boycott the team, but most would return. The team sorely misses the two-way defender, and if the elite division couldn’t entice him back, I doubt anything else would. 

• Ciura (32) is one of the most reliable defensemen for team Poland. In Poland’s opening 2025 Worlds match against Latvia, Ciura broke his finger. He finished the game, coming in at just under 17 minutes. It was a massive loss for Poland, but Ciura has been great this year. While he has yet to play for Poland in 2025, I don’t think his status is one to worry about. 

• Wanacki (33), at 6’4″, brings an element of size to the Polish defense. After being a healthy scratch for game one of the Worlds last year, Wanacki could be called into the lineup for the final six games, averaging just over 14 minutes a night. The Cracovia assistant captain has been a consistent member of team Poland in 2025 so far. 

This group shows why you need to build up depth. These players could last you the entire five year window or retire next year. Instead you have one that is not interested in team Poland and another who may not play again for a while, if ever. Only two members of this group are still national team members. When you think of all the talent retiring soon, having no veterans to replace them with is extra concerning. Poland may be turning over almost the entire defense within the next five years. 

Players 25-29

Player	Age	Team	League
Adrian Jaworski	28	KH Torun	PHL
Dawid Musioł	27	STS Sanok	PHL
Marcin Horzelski	28	Podhale Nowy Targ	PHL
Mateusz Zieliński	27	KH Torun	PHL
Miłosz Noworyta	25	Unia Oswiecim	PHL
Olaf Bizacki	25	GKS Tychy	PHL
Oskar Jaskiewicz	28	Cracovia Krakow	PHL
Oskar Krawczyk	29	Zaglebie Sosnowiec	PHL
Yevgeni Kamenev	27	Cracovia Krakow	PHL

With players supposed to be in the prime of their careers, Poland only has nine defensemen playing professional hockey. But on the bright side, eight players have represented Poland at an international event within the past three seasons. That experience will be valuable for Poland as the defense turns over. 

• Jaśkiewicz (28) is an interesting player and has been a good defender with a bit of a two-way game, if slightly inconsistent at times. The defenseman has played mainly in Poland but also had short stints abroad in Belarus, Slovakia (pre-season try-out), and Sweden. I was surprised when he was left off the roster for the Worlds last year. He has already made multiple national team appearances in 2025.
• Kamenev (27) has played for Poland in six international seasons but only once made an IIHF roster for the Olympic qualifiers in 2022. A gritty defender who isn’t afraid of physical play, Kamenev has value for the national team. He has been an active member of Team Poland in 2025. 
• Krawczyk (29) is one of the tallest Polish players at 6’5. A stay-at-home defenseman, he is having a strong year in Sosnowiec. He hasn’t appeared for Poland since 2022, but there could one day be a place in the bottom pairing. 
• Zieliński (27) is someone I think is going to be a key piece of the national team over the next five years. The Torun defenseman is solid all around. He made his IIHF debut last year at the Olympic qualifiers. A broken thumb likely kept him from securing a World Championship spot, but he did attend camp. He has been active at almost every national team event in 2025. 
• Jaworski (28) is another solid two-way defender in Poland. Although his national team appearances have been sporadic. His games with the squad in 2025 are his first since 2022. His 90 points rank him 11th in the PHL among Polish defenders since he entered the league in 2017. 
• Horzelski (28) has been making non-IIHF appearances for Poland over the last five years. He made the 2024 Olympic qualifying team but not the World Championship squad. This season, he has appeared for Poland while playing in a rough Podhale situation. 
• Bizacki (25) was a leading defender for Poland U20, and it’s good to see him starting to make significant strides in his senior career. After not making international appearances for Poland last year, he has been a consistent roster member in 2025. His Sosnowiec Cup performance was solid. I would not be shocked if Bizacki comes close to a World Championship spot this year. 
• Noworyta (25) made his senior debut for Poland this year. He has played in Oswiecim his entire career but started making a bigger impact this season as an assistant captain. Before this season, he had 12 points in 299 games. This year, He has nine points in 31 games. 

Over the next five years, I expect Jaśkiewicz and Zieliński to be key national team members. I do think the rest of the group has the potential to contribute as well, and they’ll be battling for spots. It is not great that Poland only has nine defensemen in this age group playing professional hockey, but there is some talent. The group doesn’t have a top-end player, but they would be fine filling in the rest of the roster. 

Notable 20-24

Player	Age	Team	League
Bartosz Florczak	22	STS Sanok	PHL
Eryk Schafer	20	KH Torun	PHL
Kacper Łukawski	20	Unia Oswiecim	PHL
Kacper Macias	21	GKS Katowice	PHL
Karol Bilas	22	STS Sanok	PHL
Michał Naróg	23	Zaglebie Sosnowiec	PHL
Oliwier Kurnicki	20	KH Torun	PHL
Szymon Bieniek	23	Cracovia Krakow	PHL

Poland had 16 defensemen in this age group playing in the PHL, an okay increase from last year. Part of that increase is due to the poor financial situations of Podhale Nowy Targ and STS Sanok. Five key players in this group will be critical to Poland’s future. Their order is random, not a ranking. 

• Biłas (22) is one of the best defensemen to come out of Poland in a while. I believe he could play outside Poland in a league like Slovakia’s. He would have already made his World Championship debut if not for injuries. He has been fully healthy for Sanok this year and has been a key member of the national team squad in 2025. 
• Florczak (22) is another solid defenseman from Sanok. Bilas and Florczak play on the club’s top pairing, and I could see that pairing on the national team. Florczak has had a career year production-wise and has been a consistent member of the 2025 national team roster. 
• Naróg (23) is amid a career year with Sosnowiec. He did not make any national team appearances in 2024 but did make them the previous two seasons. 2025 has him back on the national team roster with multiple appearances. He might not be on the World Championship squad this year, but the odds are high that he will make one during the next five years. 
• Maciaś (21) was able to play in last year’s World Championship after joining the roster as an injury replacement. He was the youngest defenseman to represent Poland at the IIHF’s signature event since Pawel Dronia in 2011. He has continued to grow in Katowice and represent Poland during the 2025 season. He should be in contention to play at the World Championship once again. 
• Despite being so young, Kurnicki (20) has appeared for the national team in two straight seasons. He will probably have to wait a few years before making the World Championship squad, but he will likely be in contention over the next five years. The Torun defender posted a career-high in points this year despite only playing 21 games. 

The other three players in this group likely need more time and have not had linear career growth. That isn’t to say they never will, but parts of their games need work before those national team chances arrive. The key five I talked about really need to hit for Poland, or that is when you risk falling below group A. There are not a lot of high-end prospects for Poland coming.  I would not say Poland is in an ideal place with this age group. But if at least four of these guys are national team locks, that is good for Polish hockey. 

Notable U20 Players

Player	Age	Team	League
Blazej Chodor	19	GKS Katowice	PHL
Filip Kopytko	17	DVTK Jegesmedvék Akadémia U18	Austria U18i
Filip Wojciechowski	17	JKH GKS Jastrzebie II	MHL
Ihnat Kashalevich	17	MOSM Tychy	MHL
Jakub Onak	18	JKH GKS Jastrzebie II	MHL
Kacper Niemczyk	18	STS Sanok	PHL
Kacper Prokopiak	18	Unia Oswiecim	PHL
Karol Sobecki	19	GKS Tychy	PHL
Mateusz Majkowski	18	HC Vítkovice U20	Czechia U20
Patryk Hanzel	18	JKH GKS Jastrzebie	PHL

The current crop of U20 defensemen doesn’t have many high-end players. Only a few, I project, have the potential to play outside Poland in stronger leagues. Some players have senior national team potential, but it will take a few years. The odds are not strong that any of these players will land on senior World Championship rosters during the next five years, which is fine. Most of these players will turn 23 or 24 when that window ends. Hopefully, Poland doesn’t need them until then. 

• Prokopiak (18) is the most intriguing player of the group. He has played forward at the lower level and has shown strong two-way ability. He is the tallest active Polish player in the PHL but is still a raw prospect.
• Majkowski (17) is playing at the top junior level in Czechia.  While the point production is not much, with three assists in 26 games, it’s not typical for even Czech defenders to play a lot at the top level at his age.
• Kashalevich (17) has good fundamentals for his age. He has been a really smart player in his appearances for Poland. I hope he can move to a better league or get some games with GKS Tychy soon. 

Many of these defensemen are starting to face the biggest problem of Polish development: where to play after turning 18. The development is not there in the MHL, and the roles in the PHL will likely involve playing sub-five minutes outside games against teams like Nowy Targ or Sanok. That game experience against good players is the most important thing for a defenseman, and they’re not getting that in Poland right now. Tymoteusz Wiktorski is a big one to watch for the even longer-term view. 

Import Options

Player	Age	Team	League
Jakub Šaur	32	Zaglebie Sosnowiec	PHL
Kalle Valtola	29	Unia Oswiecim	PHL
Matt Sozanski	28	Zaglebie Sosnowiec	PHL
Peter Bezuška	31	Unia Oswiecim	PHL
Roman Dyukov	29	Unia Oswiecim	PHL

To clarify on import options, these are only my suggestions. I have no information on whether these players are pursuing citizenship or have been approached by the PZHL. It’s an option Poland needs to consider to help rebuild the depth of this position. There are a lot of intriguing possibilities as well that have already fulfilled the playing time side of the equation. You could go the route with players who have been in Poland for 10 years, like Jakub Saur or Peter Bezuska. There is also the option of picking up a Canadian with Polish heritage, like Matt Sozanski, who is in his second season in Poland. 

You could also swing for the fences and address a need. Poland needs a strong offensive defenseman for the powerplay, and no one fits that role better than Kalle Valtola. The 29-year-old Finnish defender is third among all Polish defensemen in scoring since he came to Poland in 2022. That third place result comes with him coming in halfway through the 2022 season and missing the entire 2025 season. Oswiecim expects him back in Poland for a fifth PHL season in 2026.  

There is one other option that is worth a pitch in Roman Dyukov. The 29-year-old is in his third season in Poland but is signed with Oswiecim until the end of the 2027 season. He has represented Belarus internationally, including at two top-division World Championships. His prior play with his home country means he must play four seasons in Poland. He will play his fourth season next year, so there is no issue. He has not represented Belarus since signing in Poland so he will be clear on the IIHF side. His younger brother Anton Dyukov has also moved to Oswiecim and plays with the city’s MHL team. It seems Dyukov plans to be in Poland for a while. A hard-hitting and experienced defenseman would be a great addition to squad.

5 Year Outlook

Poland is in a rough place over the next five years. They have relied on many veterans to hold key roles for too long. Those veterans are starting to hang up their skates or experience natural decline, which will force Poland to look elsewhere. It is not good that so many players in their late 20s couldn’t find a way to beat them out for roster spots. While it’s hard to speak in absolutes about that due to injuries and coaching decisions, no team has experienced that level of veterans hanging on to spot like Poland. While I think many of the players coming can fill roles and gaps in the lineup just fine. They’re only around average for the division one international level. There is no Sam Ruopp (DEL, Great Britain), Thomas Larkin (DEL, Italy), Alex Trivellato (DEL, Italy), or Igor Merezhko (Extraliga, Ukraine). Poland doesn’t have a player who is a bonafide top pairing guy right now who can play over 20 minutes a night and shut the opposition down. 

Of the 22 active defensemen that have represented Poland over the last three years, you’re looking at about eight guaranteed to be retired over the next five years. That doesn’t give you a lot of depth to pick from. I am also willing to bet more of those players will hang up their skates based on PHL career trends. A couple of injuries, and you’re starting to go deep into bag. The national team must find depth in upcoming U23 players or via the the import route.

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