The more things change, the more they stay the same. Polonia Bytom once again completed an undefeated season en route to their 11th straight championship. Despite the same victor, it was a much different year in the Tauron Liga Hokeja Kobiet (TLHK). 

The league was split into two leagues. A top-level that would feature: BS Polonia Bytom, Kojotki Naprzód Janów, GKS Stoczniowiec Gdańsk, PTH Kozice Poznań, SKKH Atomówki GKS Tychy, and UKHK Unia Oświęcim. This group would play 20 games, then hold a playoff round featuring the top four teams from the regular season. 

While TLHK Division 1 would feature: MMKS Podhale Nowy Targ, KS Cracovia 1906, SMS Bytom, Kojotki Naprzód Janów II, and SKKH Atomówki GKS Tychy II. This group would play 16 games, with the standings leader being crowned as champion. 

The only team not to return from the 2025 season would be UKH Biale Jastrzebie. Three additional clubs joined the competition with the second squads for Bytom, Janów, and Tychy. 

This change sought to create more competitive games on a more consistent basis. I think it was a step in the right direction, but only time will tell how Polish players develop. 

This season, 199 skaters played in at least four games across either of the divisions. Only three players were not from Poland, with two from Ukraine and one from Spain. The lowest average age in the top division was 19.35, with the oldest being 22.06, a difference of 1.71 years. The oldest three players in the league were 48 and 45. The youngest three players were 12. Only 5 players at this year’s national team camp did not appear in the TLHK (Malgorzata Zakrzewska appeared in one game during the TLHK finals). 

With all the numbers out of the way, it’s time to review the season. 

1. BS Polonia Bytom. Record: 20-0-0-0. Playoffs: Champions

Polonia Bytom remains the pinnacle of Polish hockey. While the playoff series have gotten closer in score, Bytom went perfect in the regular season and playoffs. The living legend Karolina Późniewska once again led the league in points with a remarkable 88 points (56G-32A) in just 21 games. Alicja Mota, Ida Talanda, and Wiktoria Dziwok all hit the 20-goal mark. Alicja Hudziak became the full-time starter and excelled, posting a .948 SV% and allowing just 21 goals across 24 games.

After their undefeated regular season, they faced SKKH Atomówki GKS Tychy in the first round. It would be a quick series as they won both games with a combined score of 24-0. In the finals, they faced a third straight rematch against Kojotki Naprzód Janów. In game one, they took the opening advantage with a 3-1 win. Game two was the Późniewska show as she scored four goals to lead Polonia to victory. Polonia finished off the series with a 2-1 win to capture their 15th championship title!

MVP: Karolina Późniewska

2. Kojotki Naprzód Janów. Record: 15-4-1-0. Playoffs: Finals Loss

Janów showed that they were getting close to taking down Polonia with a win in game two of last year’s finals. I said last year that if they kept the team together, they could finally break the streak. Unfortunately, things were not meant to be. In the offseason, young stars Malgorzata Zakrzewska and Justyna Koszyk departed for Canada. Veteran forward Joanna Orawska stepped away and would go on the coach Janów’s TLHK Division 1 team. They did make strong reinforcements with national team goalies Alicja Kobiela and Nadia Ratajczyk, and the return of rising defenseman Lena Kabelis-Szostakowska. 

Kamila Wieczorek took over the team leads in scoring, posting 42 points (25G-17A) in 23 games. In a balanced attack, Janów had ten players hit double digits in points. Alicja Kobiela got a bulk of the regular season starts in goal, but it would be Nadia Ratajczyk taking over the postseason. In the playoffs, Ratajczyk shone with a .936 SV%. 

Janów proved once again that they’re above most of the league. They only lost a single point in games not against Polonia. In the first round of the playoffs, they faced Gdańsk. Gdańsk was the only other club to steal a point from them. To start, Janów looked to be on their way to a third straight final with a 7-3 victory over Gdańsk in game one. Game two was a rare loss for Janów, as they were shut out 1-0. With advancing to the finals on the line, a tight game three was deadlocked at two heading into the final ten minutes. Ewelina Czarnecka broke the struggle for Janów, sending them to the finals for a third straight season.

In the finals, Janów proved they’re getting closer to claiming a title, but not there yet. Each game of this year’s final was decided by two or fewer goals, despite the sweep for Polonia. 

MVP: Kamila Wieczorek

3. GKS Stoczniowiec Gdańsk. Record: 10-8-1-1. Playoffs: Bronze Game Win 

The last team outside Polonia to win a championship, Gdańsk has fallen from the finals to the bronze series over the past few seasons. They have won three straight bronze medals in that stretch. Poland U18 head coach Magdalena Jabłońska took over the club midseason with the goal of rebuilding Gdańsk into a contender. It was a talented squad, if top-heavy. The offensive duo of Julia Łapińska and Magdalena Łąpieś once again led in scoring. A veteran-led defense that excels both ways saw Anna Zdziechowska and Dominika Korkuz tied for the league lead among defensemen in scoring. 

Gdańsk took third in the standings, battling Janów in a close series that came down to the final 10 minutes. They would fall in the opening round, meaning a third straight bronze-medal series appearance. Against SKKH Atomówki GKS Tychy, Gdańsk flexed its offensive strength, scoring six goals in two straight games to sweep. 

MVP: Magdalena Łąpieś

4. SKKH Atomówki GKS Tychy. Records: 8-11-0-1. Playoffs: Bronze Series Loss

The big story for Tychy this year was the return of Katarzyna Frąckowiak. The former national team star showed she hadn’t lost a step, leading the club in points with 28 (10G-18A) in 22 games. Young stars Aleksandra Górska and Wiktoria Kędra continue to help raise the floor. Bianka Miodek got the starting duties at just 15 years old and had flashes in a challenging spot. The club showed their potential by picking up a win and stealing another point from Gdańsk during the regular season. 

Tychy, led by former national team defender Dariusz Garbocz, headed into the playoffs with a rough matchup against Polonia Bytom, where they suffered a couple of blowouts and were eliminated. In the bronze series, they managed to keep up with Gdańsk’s offense in game one, scoring five in a 6-5 loss. They would only find the back of the net once in their game two series-clinching loss. 

MVP: Katarzyna Frąckowiak

5. PTH Kozice Poznań. Record: 5-15-0-0. Playoffs: Missed

Poznań is the youngest team in the league, year in and out. While other programs get more attention, Poznań has consistently developed impressive talent; quite a few of its alumni are major contributors across the league. Staying home and leading the team this year were Agata Cybulska and Weronika Świątek. Antonina Kaczmarek and Marta Krzyzanowska are showing a lot of promise on the defensive end. The switch to the two leagues definitely hurt their record compared to past seasons, but they remain an important part of Polish hockey. 

MVP: Agata Cybulska

6. UKHK Unia Oświęcim. Record: 0-20-0-0. Playoffs: Missed 

With the leagues split, Oświęcim became the new team at the bottom. Just a few seasons ago, they were winning in the bronze series. They just haven’t been able to find offensive talent, and this year finished with just 15 goals in 20 games. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, as 30 different skaters suited up for Oświęcim this year.

MVP: Monika Chodak. 

TLHK Division 1

The first division would follow a similar trend at the top, with Bytom and Janów fighting for first place. It would go to Bytom, who only lost a single one of their sixteen games. With every team picking up points, the group was slightly more competitive. There was a larger age gap in this league, with Cracovia and Pohdale both having average ages of over 22, while the rest were under 16.5 years.  It was very valuable for so many Polish players to play more games this year that were not immediately blowouts.

1. SMS Bytom. Record: 15-1-0-0. MVP: Karolina Gawandtka

2. Kojotki Naprzód Janów II. Record: 11-3-1-0. MVP: Lena Kabelis-Szostakowska

3. MMKS Podhale Nowy Targ. Record: 8-7-0-1. MVP: Magdalena Mroszczak

4. KS Cracovia 1906. Record: 2-14-0-0. MVP: Magdalena Olszewska

5. SKKH Atomówki GKS Tychy II. Record: 2-13-0-0. MVP: Zuzanna Majksner

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Thumbnail Photo via polskihokej.eu