2025 is the 100th year of Polish hockey. It is a significant anniversary, and the federation and fans celebrated it recently. However, as this season has progressed, it remains unclear if Polish hockey will see another 100 years. Two more teams may disappear from the Polish hockey map. Many players with Podhale Now Targ have accepted their fate, hanging up their skates. Battles with the sponsors, the Ministry of Sport, and others have seen the federation make multiple comments about the lack of funds and the risk of missing tournaments. It all accumulated with the PZHL announcing that they couldn’t afford to send the women’s national team to Japan for the final round of Olympic qualification and asking for government assistance. 

Now, the men’s national team begins their training camp for what may be the most pivotal Division 1 Group A World Championship in the country’s history. If the team can get back to the top of the IIHF, it will likely be able to attract new sponsors for hockey and have another chance to play big matches that will hopefully gain a large audience as they did in 2024. The clock is ticking on Poland’s best contention window. 

While the white and red have undoubtedly improved in recent years, it must also be noted that their path to the World Championship is easier now than it was for most of the 2000s. Russia and Belarus’s suspension from IIHF play due to their invasion of Ukraine means there are two open spots at the top level. This has allowed Poland to compete in Group A without facing strong rivals like Austria, Kazakhstan, Hungary, and Slovenia.

Poland’s 2025 competition is still no cakewalk. Great Britain has shed many imports and veterans, but it has always been a thorn in Poland’s side. An unpredictable team Italy has picked up 20-plus, while quickly disposing of plenty, imports to try and boost its squad ahead of the 2026 Olympics in its country. Despite the war, a familiar Ukraine, playing with a lot of pride, has seen a burgeoning junior program. Japan may enter this tournament without their biggest stars, but they are scrappy and never easy to beat; last year, every game was decided by two goals or fewer. Then you can never count out Romania, who always seem to pick up one shocking upset as they did last year, beating an eventual promoted Hungary squad.

The challenge is clear for the white and red, but it will also be a new look and generation wearing the eagle crest. Five defensemen from last year’s World Championship will not be returning. That includes Marcin Kolusz, the most recent Polish player to be picked in the NHL draft, who has played at 16 World Championships for Poland. Head coach Robert Kalaber expressed his respect for those who bled and competed for the national team for so long, but emphasized that Poland has to look to the future.

There is a lot of truth to what he is saying as well. If you remove Kacper Macias, who was only added as an injury replacement, Poland only had one defenseman under 30 years old on its initial 2024 roster. That defenseman also turned 30 a short time after the event. To take it a step further, only three defensemen were under 35. I am among the many who stressed that Poland needs to get younger and develop more defenseman. But now, Poland will head into this crucial event with an inexperienced defensive core on the international stage. 

While the changes at defense may have been on purpose, the current turnover of top six forwards was never intended. Injuries have started to rack up for the Polish national team on the front end. One of the biggest standouts from last year, Bartosz Fraszko, suffered an injury towards the end of the THL season. He tried to return in the playoffs only to play part of one match and re-aggravate his injury, which ended his season. 

While Frazsko is the only confirmed absence right now, the team may be without its biggest stars in Grzegorz Pasiut, Kamil Wałęga, and Patryk Wronka. All three suffered injuries during their club’s playoff runs, jeopardizing their World Championship status. Poland will also have to be careful, as one of their new imports, Kamil Sadlocha, is dealing with an elbow injury. That injury caused him to miss both warm-up matches against Lithuania. Rising star Szymon Kiełbicki left the national team during the first practices due to being cut and requiring stitches. 

Injuries and the natural need for a refresh will see a new generation of Polish stars take over the white and red. While veteran leaders Krystian Dziubinski, John Murray, and Mateusz Bryk are still there for Poland. The roster is screaming for someone to step up and take charge right now. In what may be a do-or-die tournament for Polish hockey, they are looking to players like Karol Bilas and Krzysztof Macias to take significant steps. The future of the sport will depend on whether young players sink or swim, and they’ll have to do so without the players who kept Polish hockey afloat for so long.

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Thumbnail Photo via polskihokej.eu