It was a Polish squad with quite a few fresh faces this year. The white and red opened up plenty of roster spots, looking for a new generation of Polish hockey players to step up. While the World Championship didn’t go as Poland wanted, it was still an excellent opportunity for young players. So, how did the new faces do in their first World Championship opportunity? 

Karol Biłas: C

I was excited to see Biłas on Poland. The young defenseman has great potential and could fill a significant role for the national team. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old didn’t get much action playing the fewest minutes of any Polish skater. He would average 9:49 minutes a game and pick up four shots. Biłas is reportedly leaving STS Sanok, so the Worlds could have been an excellent showcase for his free agency. In his limited action, nothing stood out too much in either direction. 

Olaf Bizacki: B+

The highest grade I will give to any newcomer, Bizacki found himself playing a top-four role for Poland. He finished with a goal and two assists on seven shots, averaging 16:54 minutes a game. His 3 points were part of a four-way tie for the lead in points on Poland. Bizacki was able to gain the trust of the staff and had the third-highest ice time among Polish defensemen. While his size sometimes limited him in the physical part of the game, the rest of his play was good to solid. Bizacki has cemented his role on the national team going forward. Also, during this tournament, Bizacki became a father. I wish him and his new family the best. 

Michał Naróg: B- 

After a career year with Sosnowiec, Naróg suited up in the white and red for the first time. The defenseman finished with two shots and an average ice time of 13:03 minutes per game. While he didn’t get to play a lot, I liked what he did defensively. I want to see more of him with Team Poland in the future. 

Kamil Sadlocha: B

Sadlocha is the first of two import forwards on the list, though he was born in Poland. He joined his dad, Pitor Sadlocha, in representing the national team on the international stage. Sadlocha was moved up and down the lineup, playing an average of 15:17 minutes a game. He showed some good looks with Alan Lyszczarczyk. In total, Sadlocha picked up three assists, which made him a part of the four-way tie for the lead in points. The defensive game could have been better, but Poland’s structure was poor among the entire group. Sadlocha is reportedly looking to move to a better league, and this was a pretty good audition. 

Mikolaj Sytyi: C- 

Sytyi is the other import to join Poland. The Belarus native gained his Polish citizenship just this year. The KH Torun forward was a huge offensive force during the non-IIHF year for the white and red, picking up seven points in twelve games. He was stuck on the fourth line at the World Championship with only 12:49 minutes per game and the lowest average shift time. He would finish with six shots. 

Damian Tyczyński: C+ 

With injuries hitting Polish forwards, one player they were hopeful for was Tyczyński. He is a dynamic playmaker in the THL and led the league in regular-season assists this past year. The forward has also brought that ability to the national team, with 11 assists in 18 non-IIHF games over the past two years. In the past he hasn’t made the team due to his limited defensive game. Kalaber and his staff were betting on the offensive upside. That bet seemed to pay off, as in game one, Tyczyński posted a goal and an assist. He would go pointless the rest of the way and see his ice time slowly drop. 

Mateusz Zieliński: C

The final and oldest debut player, Mateusz Zieliński, was another one who didn’t see much action. He would only play for 11:10 minutes on average per game and pick up one shot. I think Mateusz Zieliński is a solid player and another one whose use I felt disappointed by. Especially as Poland struggled late to finish their games, it felt like the ice time could have been spread out to keep players fresh. With his limited ice time, there were not many moments stood out good or bad.

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Photo Thumbnail via IIHF.com