Last year, the women’s national team was highly hyped. The team made a big move to hire Canadian Joe Butkevich. Under their new head coach, the team got off to a hot start, winning a four-nations tournament. Poland beat or finished above higher IIHF-ranked countries, including Denmark. On top of that, the Polish club in the Austrian-based European Women’s Hockey League (EWHL), Silesian Metropolis, had a fantastic year and finished at the top of the regular season standings.

The team was looking to finally move past silver, which they had won in 2022 and 2023. Unfortunately, the tournament would go south fast as Poland could not find any offense. At the end of the event, they only scored six goals in five games and were relegated to Division 2 for the first time since 2016.

The disappointing results led to a significant coaching refresh. Joe Butkevich resigned as head coach, and Jaroslaw Rzeszutko would not return as assistant coach. 

Arkadiusz Sobecki took over as head coach for the national team and Silesian Metropolis. He previously worked as a goaltending and assistant coach for the men’s national team. Sobecki is also the goaltending coach for GKS Katowice and has worked in the same role with the men’s senior and U20 national teams. Sebastian Klaczynski and Tomasz Cichon joined him on the staff as assistant coaches. 

A new coaching staff wasn’t the only change for national team players. The women’s hockey league decided to do away with its Polonia Bytom playoff-only experiment. Polonia Bytom, who has won the TLHK ten years in a row, only joined league play during the playoffs for 2024. SMS Bytom, a team of U18 players, instead played in their place during the regular season. This change allowed Bytom players, who comprise most of Silesian Metropolis, to focus exclusively on their EWHL season. 

European Women’s Hockey League

On the EWHL side, Silesian Metropolis took a step back from 2024. At the half way point, they had one win. My big concern was that there was still no scoring, as the club barely had a goal per game average. It doesn’t help that the team’s second-leading scorer, Malgorzata Zakrzewska, is not eligible for senior IIHF competition as the 14-year-old prodigy is too young.

The first half of the season saw the Polish club go 1-9 with only 13 goals. They finished the year with a 3-2-2-3 record and 26 goals for. It was a hot stretch that saw them make the playoffs for the second straight year. The first time in team history they have had consecutive playoff appearances. 

The sign of their improvement was league-wide.In the EWHL, the top seed can pick their playoff opponent. Top seed HK PSRZ Bratislava chose the seventh seed over the eighth seed, Silesian Metropolis. Unfortunately, the Polish squad would later lose in the quarterfinals. They put up a good fight against the eventual champions, Aisulu Almaty. The team missed several notable players late in the season, which we will discuss later.

National Team Games 

2025 was a roller coaster season for the national team. It was already set to be a long IIHF year, as Poland would compete in the Olympic Qualifiers. 

The national team would only get together as a whole squad before the Qualifiers for two games versus Great Britain in November. Great Britain is ranked 21st in the IIHF world rankings, just one spot behind the Poles at 20. It was a perfectly even matchup, and the results reflected that. Poland would win the first game 3-2 in overtime but lose the second game in a shootout 4-3. These results are the same as when the two played at last year’s World Championship, in which Poland won 3-2 in overtime.

The Olympic qualifiers were a massive opportunity for Poland to get back on track. While you never want to overlook an opponent, the first two games were on the warm-up side. They would win 5-1 against Chinese Taipei and then beat Mexico 9-0. This led to a match against the group favorite South Korea. 

South Korea was the better team in that game for the first two periods. But Poland held the lead with the only goal of the game. In the third period, South Korea was desperate. This is where games are won and lost. Your stamina and fundamentals are tested. It is an area where, in the past decade, many Polish teams have fallen apart. That didn’t happen to the 2025 squad. They put their foot down and scored four more goals to win 5-0. It was a performance to be proud of. It also meant that for the second straight Olympic cycle, Poland would head to the final qualification round. 

They were going to Japan with plenty of momentum on the ice. Off the ice, it was a different story. The team’s victory in Korea had some minor viral moments in Poland and got tons of positive attention. Which may have meant it was the perfect moment for some politics behind the scenes to go public. It was a drama filled and controversial year for the Polish Ministry of Sport. Plenty of sponsors withdrew and criticisms rose across the country. Many federations in Poland have issues and are in debt or facing it. Plenty of procedure changes were announced and implemented for how the ministry would distribute funds.

On December 27th, 2024, the PZHL announced it did not have the funds to send the Women’s National Team to Japan for the final round of Olympic qualification. The federation said it was appealing for government support and had received an initial assistance declaration. 

Ultimately, everything would settle, and the plane tickets to Japan were purchased. Some people I talked to behind the scenes told me there was never any actual threat to the trip, while others felt it could fall apart in the end. It doesn’t matter. They put the women’s national team in a rough spot. It was a bad look. 

From the outside, it looked like those in Poland disrespected the women’s team. Multiple people reached out to me in frustration or to see if they can support the players and donate money to try and help with their trip. This shouldn’t be the case at all. In the mess that is Polish hockey, I have always believed the women’s national team and its players are doing most things the right way with good intentions. They continue to grow the game. They promote players to stronger leagues. They have a team that allows the national team to compete in a stronger league for their club season.

The players don’t get paid or receive anything close to what the men’s teams in Poland receive. Despite all that, they continue to prevail and grow. But when it comes to support from higher levels, whether the PZHL, Polish government, or even the IIHF, they seem to get the short end of the stick.

The national team traveled to Japan for its most challenging opponents in team history. The red and white would face off with 13th-ranked France, 12th-ranked China, and 7th-ranked Japan. Sobecki and his squad were heavy underdogs in each matchup. 

Poland played one of their best games ever in the opening match, going toe-to-toe with China. Never giving up and looking at times like they might upset the 12th-ranked squad. The game would go to a shootout, where China would get the lone goal to win. It was the first ever point Poland picked up at the final round of Olympic qualification. This group didn’t know until the last minute if the PZHL would have the money to fly them to Japan. They showed that this program is growing fast and deserves respect.  

The following two games would go as the oddsmakers expected. Poland would lose to Japan 6-0 in game two, but it didn’t allow a goal for the final 42 minutes. In their final match against France, they would suffer a bitter 9-0 loss. France had to score as much as possible to keep their Olympic hopes alive.

Before the World Championship in April, Poland was able to play one warm-up match against their projected biggest threat, Spain. The red and white picked up a 4-1 win. The team rested some expected roster players, so a three-goal win looks good for Poland. 

Ending on a loss to a strong Kazak team in the EWHL playoffs, along with blowouts to France and Japan, shows the work that still needs to be done inside Polish hockey. But the second half of the EWHL season, winning against South Korea and the game against China, shows Poland’s potential. Now with the World Championships about to start, it’s time to prove that last season’s relegation was a fluke and head back up to division one. 

Roster 

Poland has always done a great job of incorporating new talent into the lineup. This year, there will be many changes due to the availability of a few national team regulars. Olivia Tomczok and Wiktoria Gogoc will miss their first tournament since 2015, when both were U18 squad representatives. This will be only the second time defensemen Klaudia Chrapek has not been on team Poland for the Worlds, the other being 2011. The biggest absence is star goaltender Martyna Sass. 2025 will be the first time a goalie other than Sass has led Poland since 2015.

Goalies 

Without Sass, the starting goalie spot is an interesting battle. It’s tough to gauge who the national team may go with. Although Sass is a massive loss with the level of competition, I have faith in each option.

Agata Kosińska-Horzelska. At 36, she is the group veteran and remains a top goalie in Slovakia and Poland. She helped Popradske Lisky to a Slovakian championship. Kosińska-Horzelska also made the most recent start for the national team against Spain. This will be her 11th World Championship for Poland. 

Katarzyna Radomska. The starter for Atomowki Tychy this year and a massive part of their bronze medal series appearance. She was impressive in a short time with Silesian Metropolis, posting a .935 SV% in four matches. She has never appeared for the national team at the IIHF level, senior or junior. This will be her first World Championship for Poland.

Nadia Ratajczyk. The youngest goalie of the group, Ratajczyk spent her club season in the second level of Sweden. She did receive a call-up to the SDHL and would serve as a backup with Frölunda HC. Ratajczyk made her first appearance for the national team during round one of the Olympic Qualifiers versus Mexico. This will be her first World Championship for Poland. 

Defensemen 

Dominika Korkuz. Korkuz has often served as a top-four defender for the national team. The long-time Stoczniowiec Gdansk leader excels at both ends. She was also one of the most reliable players for Silesian Metropolis. This will be her seventh World Championship for Poland. 

Joanna Strzelecka. A very versatile player, Strzelecka has long been a leader for Oswiecim. Although listed as a defenseman, she plays all around the lineup. This will be her tenth World Championship for Poland. 

Julia Zielinska. The first ever Polish woman to play in the NCAA, Zielinska is a strong two-way player. She wrapped up her freshman year at Bemidji State University and has entered the transfer portal to continue her college hockey career. She joined the squad for the second round of Olympic qualification this year, playing on the third pairing. This will be her third World Championship for Poland.  

Natalia Nosal. At 20, Nosal has already become one of Poland’s best defensemen. She played on the top pairing during the Olympic qualifiers. At 5’10″, she is the tallest player on the national team. She adds a lot to the squad with her good size and poise. This will be her second World Championship for Poland. 

Nikola Isztok. One of the top players out of the Cracovia, Isztok has been a star for the U18 program the past few years. In 2025, she played at both rounds of Olympic qualification. This will be her first World Championship for Poland. 

Patrycja Sfora. An active national team legend, Sfora has been with Team Poland since the beginning. She is a talented two-way player and led all TLHK defensemen in points in 2025. A top pairing player, she is the leader of the Polish defense. This will be her tenth World Championship for Poland. 

Wiktoria Kędra. A solid defender who excels most without the puck, Kedra has been a consistent squad member since 2023. She has been a key Tychy and Silesian Metropolis leader the past couple years. This will be her third World Championship for Poland. 

Forwards 

Aleksandra Górska. A multifaceted player, Górska is the leader of Tyhcy in the TLHK. She has had a growing role with Silesian Metropolis, scoring in the playoffs this year. Earlier this year, she had her first multipoint game and first career points for the national team with a goal and an assist versus Mexico. This will be her third World Championship for Poland. 

Alicja Mota. Mota did not play much over the previous two years, but 2025 was a massive year with Polonia Bytom and Silesian Metropolis. She also made her first senior team appearances at the Olympic Qualifiers, posting two points versus Mexico. This will be her first World Championship for Poland. 

Ewelina Czarnecka. Another active great of the national team, Czarnecka has been with Poland since their first World Championship. She sits seventh all-time in national team scoring and could reach top five at this tournament. The veteran forward showed that she is still a top player for the national team, scoring five points in six games during the Olympic Qualifiers. This will be her thirteenth World Championship for Poland. 

Ida Talanda. In the top three in scoring for Polonia Bytom and Silesian Metropolis, Talanda was an assistant captain at the Olympics qualifiers. The young forward is quickly becoming one of the go-to offensive generators for the national team. This will be her fourth World Championship for Poland. 

Julia Łapińska. An offensive leader for Gdansk, Łapińska is still trying to find her footing internationally. Her World Championship roster inclusion is her first IIHF appearance since 2022. A top TLHK goal scorer, Łapińska could be a bottom-six sniper. This will be her second World Championship for Poland. 

Karolina Późniewska. The greatest of all time for women’s hockey in Poland. Even late in her career, I believe she is one of the most underrated players in European hockey. She is the heartbeat of the team. After Poland’s heartbreaking loss to China, she gave a speech on the ice to the team, and you saw a squad instantly re-energized. An extremely talented playmaker, Późniewska brings her country to a new level. This will be her thirteenth World Championship for Poland. 

Magdalena Łąpieś. One of the best young players in the country, Łąpieś returned to Poland this year after spending last season in Canada. She has some top-tier puck skills, but needs to hit another gear on the international level. Łąpieś has been held pointless at the last two worlds, but scored twice during this year’s Olympic qualifiers. Depth scoring has been an issue for the red and white, and I think Łąpieś is the player to fix it. This will be her fourth World Championship for Poland. 

Maja Brzezińska. A champion in Slovakia, Brzezińska proved to be an offensive weapon in Slovakia and the EWHL. In a combined 28 games, she posted 45 points this year. Brzezińska came up huge for her country with a goal against China, and I expect she’ll keep scoring big goals in 2025. This will be her fourth World Championship for Poland. 

Tetiana Onyshchenko. One of two Polish women to play in Switzerland, Onyschenko has been a star ever since joining the national team from Ukraine. In her first three World Championships with Poland, she posted 9 points in 15 games, the second most during that span. This will be her fourth World Championship for Poland. 

Weronika Huchel. A very busy player this year, Huchel has already played in 49 club and IIHF games. She showed her ability at both junior and senior levels. With her good size, she will be a key member of the bottom six. This will be her second World Championship for Poland. 

Wiktoria Dziwok. Another member of the fantastic Bytom trio, Dziwok was second among all players in TLHK scoring this year. She has played a top-nine role during the qualifiers. This will be her seventh World Championship for Poland. 

Wiktoria Sikorska. The only Polish player to play in the top level of Sweden, Sikorska is one of the country’s top two forwards. After four seasons in the SDHL, she moved to the second level of Sweden and dominated with 59 points in 23 games. An offensive force for her country, I expect her to put up big numbers in Bytom. This will be her fifth World Championship for Poland. 

Predictions 

Usually, I would do more in-depth game-by-game predictions, but there is not much of a need here. It would be repeating many of the same talking points. If the team’s goalie does well, they could cause trouble for Poland, but I believe their depth will win out in the end. There is a significant talent gap here outside of one opponent. Poland has played three of their opponents this year. In those games, Poland is 3-0 with an 18-2 goal differential. Against Mexico and Chinese Taipei, they fired over 50 shots while limiting their opponents to under 20. You don’t want to overlook countries, but the talent gaps are real. Poland saw this for themselves when going up against France and Japan earlier this year. 

Game 1: Poland vs. Mexico

Prediction: 8-1 Poland Win

Game 2: Poland vs. Chinese Taipei

Prediction: 6-0 Poland Win

Game 3: Poland vs. Iceland

Prediction: 10-0 Poland Win

Game 4: Poland vs. DPR Korea

Prediction: 5-1 Poland Win

Game 5: Poland vs. Spain 

This is the big match. Spain is a growing program, and in a few years, they could be really good. Defenseman Indira Bosch is teammate of Sikorska’s and among Södertälje SK defensive leaders. Poland saw at the U18 level how dangerous Claudia Castellanos can be offensively. Alba Gonzalo was also lights out in net for Rögle BK this year. They got some big names, but they’re young team and depth is not there yet. This match will not be easy. In the tournament warm-up match, we saw the red and white pick up a 4-1 win without a 100% lineup. I expect Poland to finish their quest for gold and promotion on the final day. I would not count out Spain as a strong division one opponent in the future. 

Prediction: 5-1 Poland Win 

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Thumbnail Photo via polskihokej.eu