Two years ago, Poland unexpectedly found itself relegated to Division 2 Group A for the first time since 2016. It was a shocking demotion for the white and red as they had claimed silver medals in both 2022 and 2023. 2024 was supposed to be another chance at gold and a first-ever promotion to Division 1 Group A.

With all that in mind, the relegation was expected to be a one-year bump in the road. The 2025 Division 2 Group A tournament saw Poland with a few teams not on their level, and the results reflected that. In the first four games of the tournament, Poland won over DPR Korea, Iceland, Mexico, and Chinese Taipei, with a combined score of 28-4. The tournament all came down to one game against the team closest to Poland’s level, Spain. 

Spain is a rapidly rising program thanks to significant investment. Head coach Juan Bravo was joined by NCAA coaches Ashley Salerno and Taylor Wasylk. A budding young core with veterans that have hung on saw them pounding at the door after winning two straight silver medals in Division 2 Group A. 

When the puck dropped on that final gameday, it was all Spain. In the first ten minutes, Spain put up three goals. The Poles attempted to fight back, but Spain was just a much better team that day. Poland lost 4-2 and would be down in Division 2 Group A for another year. 

Despite the disappointment in April, it was still a good year for the national team. They showed their potential with a solid performance at the Olympic qualifiers, earning a point against 11th-ranked China. Plus, there were some huge young prospects on the way who would become eligible for senior play in 2026. 

European Women’s Hockey League

The story of the 2026 national team can’t be told without talking about the European Women’s Hockey League (EWHL) season. The Polish national team competes in the Austrian-based hockey league during the club season as Tauron Metropolia Silesia. Of the 25 players named to the entry list for Poland, only 4 didn’t appear for the EWHL squad this year. 

The results were not great for the team. A big part of that was an often inconsistent and incomplete lineup. But maybe the bigger reason was the loss of goalie Martyna Sass, who raised Poland a level up with stellar play in net. 

Tauron Metropolia Silesia missed the playoffs, finishing with a 4-16-0-2 record. Their 14 points had them at 11th place in the 12-team league. They struggled at both ends of the ice, allowing the most goals in the league and also scoring the third fewest. The icon Karolina Późniewska led the team in points with 26 (15G-11A). That was 16 more points than the second-leading scorer and saw her involved in just over half of the team’s total goals (50). 

National Team Games 

With the EWHL schedule, the national team doesn’t play too many exhibition games during the season. In August, they had an interesting matchup against the back-to-back champions of Norway, the Stavanger Oilers. Three members of Norway’s World Championship team were on the roster. Poland swept the two-game series with a 4-1 and a 2-1 win. Późniewska led the way with three goals, while Natalie Nosal also found the back of the net in each game. 

In December, the national team would get back together for another two-game set. This time against the 23rd-ranked Latvia. The last time these two played at an IIHF event, Latvia won 6-0. Latvia is a country with a journey similar to Poland’s, showing how quickly things can flip at this level. 

From 2016 to 2018, they won three straight medals at the Division 1 Group B level, aiming to return to Group A. Then, in 2019, they found themselves relegated to Division 2. After COVID delays, they got their first shot to move back up, but instead took silver. After winning gold in 2023, they have once again won back-to-back medals in Division 1 Group A with silvers in 2024 and 2025. 

The two December matches were close, but both went to Latvia in the end. Latvia picked up a 3-1 and 3-0 win. Wiktoria Sikorska was the lone scorer on the Polish squad. 

The national team returned for their final warm-up matches in February. Traveling to the Netherlands, they took on the 16th-ranked host and the team that upset them at last year’s Worlds, Spain. In the first game against the higher-ranked host, they held a 3-2 lead going into the final ten minutes. They collapsed late and would fall 6-3. Poland would play a more complete game against Spain, picking up a 3-1 win, avenging last year’s loss. Spain only got their first goal with less than three minutes left in the game. 

The Roster 

This roster isn’t at 100% as a few key players will miss the event, but there’s enough talent here to be the favorites for gold. There is quite a bit of shake-up. Six players from last year’s roster were not named to the entry list for this year’s squad, split evenly with two at each position. At an average age of 22.00, it will be the youngest team Poland has fielded since 2019. 

Goalies

The only returning goalie is Nadia Ratajczyk. Agata Kosińska and Katarzyna Radomska will not return this season. It will be the first World Championship for Poland without one of Kosińska or Martyna Sass in goal since 2011. This will be a young goaltending room for the white and red, with Ratajczyk being the oldest at 20. It will be interesting to see who starts as Ratajczyk split with Kosińska last year. 

Alicja Kobiela (18). Kobiela was the regular-season starter for Naprzód Janów this year. She had been with Podhale Nowy Targ for the best couple of seasons before returning to Janów for 2026. She has served as the backup to both other goalies on the roster, which leads me to believe she is likely the third for this event. This will be her first World Championship for Poland. 

Justyna Koszyk (16). One of the best goaltending prospects Poland has ever seen, Koszyk may be ready for senior duty at just 16. She moved over to Canada this year to play for the Purcell Hockey Academy. She also served as Poland’s starter at the D1B U18 World Championship. Koszyk is still so young but so talented. I expect her to get at least one start during the tournament, maybe fully split the starts. This will be her first World Championship for Poland. 

Nadia Ratajczyk (20). Ratajczyk is the lone returning goalie and the oldest at 20. She earned the crucial start against Spain last year after posting a shutout against Iceland. Unfortunately, that start against Spain did not go well, as she was pulled after a first period in which she allowed three goals on nine shots.

After spending the past couple of years in Sweden, she returned to Poland this year, serving as Metropolia Silesia’s starter in the EWHL and with Naprzód Janów for the playoffs. She showed her potential to be a top-end starting goalie during the TLHK playoffs. Against Polonia Bytom, she recorded a .931 SV% in three games despite facing at least 38 shots in all three games. Ratajczyk also put the Spain game past her, only allowing one late goal in their February rematch. This will be her second World Championship for Poland.

Defensemen 

On the defense, the white and red will probably have the most veteran-led group, but will still feature plenty of young talent who broke out in 2026. Julia Zielinska and Nikola Isztok will not return from last year’s roster. This group dominated last year, allowing less than 20 shots in four of the five games. 

Wiktoria Kędra (22). One of the stars of Tychy, Kędra has grown into a solid presence on the defense. She was only one of two defensemen to appear in all 22 games for Metropolia Silesia in 2026. This will be her fourth World Championship for Poland.

Dominika Korkuz (28). Korkus is always among the leaders in points by a defenseman in the TLHK. The longtime Gdańsk star has not always seen that production translate to the international stage, with just four points in 40 games. With the opponent level this year, I think she should be able to produce a bit more. This will be her ninth World Championship for Poland.

Anna Kot (21). The leader of Unia Oświęcim didn’t play a lot this year, but she really has the potential to be one of the most dynamic players on the ice. Her strong traits allow her to play both forward and defense at a solid level. This will be her third World Championship for Poland.

Barbara Mitukiewicz (15). Mitukiewicz is the youngest member of the defensive group. She has emerged as a top prospect from Poznań. Mitukiewicz played a lot of hockey this year and put up points wherever she went. How she will hold up defensively against senior competition will be interesting to see. This will be her first World Championship for Poland.

Natalia Nosal (21). With good size and defensive ability, Nosal is considered one of the best defenseman on the roster. She led the Metropolia Silesia defensemen in points with seven in 22 games. In the game against Slovenia, she will be relied on heavily to shut down some of their stars. This will be her third World Championship for Poland.

Patrycja Sfora (32). Sfora is the most reliable defenseman Poland has. She excels in the defensive zone and raises the team’s floor. She would be a top-pairing player for any team. This will be her 11th World Championship for Poland.

Natalia Wańczuk (17). Wańczuk was one of the breakout players of the year. She made her EWHL debut this year and picked up six points in just 14 games. She found similar success at the D1B U18S, picking up six assists and a crazy +16 rating. This will be her first World Championship for Poland. 

Forwards

The forward group for Poland doesn’t undergo much change. Veterans Joanna Strzelecka and Wiktoria Dziwok don’t return to the squad. Top prospects Agata Cybulska and Malgorzata Zakrzewska will join after high-scoring performances at the U18s. With only three players over 23, this group is really showcasing the future of the white and red. 

Maja Brzezińska (20). Brzezińska is one of the most underrated players in the offense. She split her season between the EWHL and Slovakia, posting strong numbers in both leagues. Brzezińska will likely be top five in points at the event. This will be her fifth World Championship for Poland.

Agata Cybulska (17). Cybulska was the leading scorer of Poznan and really elevates her team. She is a dynamic playmaker and showed that off with eight assists at the D1B U18s. This will be her first World Championship for Poland.

Ewelina Czarnecka (36). Czarnecka is one of the few veterans on the roster, but has shown no signs of slowing down. She has been with Poland from the very beginning of their IIHF journey. In fact, she has appeared in all 144 games the national team has ever played! This will be her 14th World Championship for Poland.

Aleksandra Górska (22). Górska has continuously developed into one of the better two-way forwards in the Polish system. This season, she posted a career high in EWHL points with six in 18 games. I expect her role to increase this year. This will be her fourth World Championship for Poland.

Weronika Huchel (19). Huchel is another underrated two-way player. She is still searching for her first IIHF senior point, and I would bet it comes this year. This will be her third World Championship for Poland.

Magdalena Łąpieś (20). Łąpieś is one of Poland’s most skilled forwards. She was the second leading scorer on Metropolia Silesia and the only other to hit double-digit points. She forms a lethal duo with Gdańsk teammate Julia Łapińska. Łąpieś will likely be among the top scorers in the white and red. This will be her fifth World Championship for Poland.

Julia Łapińska (20). Łapińska is the other half of Gdańsk’s lethal offensive duo. Her game has not yet reached the same level outside the Polish league, but she did score four at last year’s D2A event. This will be her third World Championship for Poland.

Alicja Mota (21). After playing sparingly in 2023 and 2024, Mota has been one of the top scorers in the TLHK over the last two seasons. She’ll likely serve a bottom-six role at the event. This will be her second World Championship for Poland.

Tetiana Onyshchenko (26). Onyshchenko was born in Ukraine, but played in Gdańsk for years and gained Polish citizenship. The talented playmaker has become a mainstay of the national team and the top six. She is one of the few players who play abroad, as she appears for Neuchâtel Hockey Academy Dames in the top level of Switzerland. This will be her fifth World Championship for Poland.

Karolina Późniewska (34). The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be. Późniewska is a living legend of the national team and one of the only few players to record 100 points across any World Championship level. She remains the engine of the national team, driving play and almost always leading in scoring. This will be her 14th World Championship for Poland.

Wiktoria Sikorska (23). One of the best players on the white and red, Sikorska is a power forward with a nose for the net. She is the lone Polish skater ever to play at the top level in Sweden. This year, she scored at a higher than point-per-game rate in the second level of Sweden. This will be her sixth World Championship for Poland.

Ida Talanda (22). Talanda emerged as one of the top scorers on Poland last year. After just one goal in her first three IIHF events, she had 12 points (5G-7A) in 11 games during the last season. I expect her to put up big numbers once again at this year’s event. This will be her fifth World Championship for Poland.

Malgorzata Zakrzewska (16). It is fitting that we talk about Zakrzewska last. The 16-year-old has the potential to be the player Poland has ever had. This year, with the Purcell Hockey Academy 16U in Canada, she had 102 points (60G-42A) in just 35 games. That was 29 points more than any other player in the league. She appears to be the future of Polish hockey, and I expect this to be a high-scoring debut. This will be her first World Championship for Poland. 

Predictions 

Poland should win gold this year. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, but any other result besides four wins would be a disappointment. The only two returning opponents, Chinese Taipei and Iceland, were outshot by Poland 47-13 and 52-13. Slovenia beat Poland in 2024, behind a 65-save performance by now-retired Pia Dukaric. In 2023, Poland won 2-0, outshooting them 52-18.

To note as well, this tournament is shorter than typical. DPR Korea withdrew from the tournament the week before puck drop due to unforeseen logistical issues. The IIHF has already announced that there will be no relegation from Division 2 Group A. 

April 13th, 2026. Game 1: Australia vs. Poland.

Player to watch: Olivia Last

A pretty veteran-led team, Australia earned promotion last season after four years in Division 2 Group B. Most of the team plays in the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League, but also has a few homegrown players in NCAA Division 3. Goaltender Olivia Last. who also holds Polish citizenship, plays for Elmira College. She was also previously a starter in Finland’s top league. If the offense can find a couple of goals, Last can steal games. 

Prediction: 5-2 Poland W

April 15th, 2026. Game 2: Poland vs. Iceland

Player to Watch: Andrea Bachmann

Iceland won Bronze at last year’s event, only losing to Poland. Their impressive tournament included a shootout win over Spain. A large part of that was the outstanding performance of starting goaltender Andrea Bachmann. In her game against Poland, she stopped 45 out of 47 shots. Iceland has a few players in Sweden’s lower leagues who give them some offensive potential. They might be the hardest team to put away in the tournament.

Prediction: 3-1 Poland W 

April 17th, 2026. Game 3: Poland vs. Chinese Taipei

Player to watch: Ai Chung

It’s going to sound like I’m repeating myself, but this team will go as far as their star goalies can take them. They have two goalies with high-level North American experience: Ai Chung and Tzu-Ting Hsu. Chung’s name might sound familiar to Polish fans as she was in the net for a U18 game that Poland lost 2-1 despite outshooting Chinese Taipei 66-7. Poland got to her last year, and she was pulled halfway through the game. 

Prediction: 6-1 Poland W

April 18th, 2026. Game 4: Slovenia vs. Poland

Player to watch: Julija Blazinšek

The game that will likely decide gold. Poland and Slovenia were rivals at the D1A level over the past few years. They have now both found themselves back in Division 2. For Slovenia, a big part of the reason they remained up was the performance of former Yale goalie Pia Dukarič. Dukarič was one of the best goalies in European hockey, and her retirement is a major blow. Last year in their first World Championship without her, they went 0-5 and allowed 46 goals. The most goals they have allowed in an IIHF tournament since 2001. It is also more than double what Dukarič ever allowed. 

That doesn’t mean there isn’t any talent on this squad; in fact, it might be the best they have had in years. Julija Blazinšek had a breakout year in the EWHL. At the same time, Sara Confidenti remains an offensive threat. They have quite a few quality pieces overall, but lack depth on the defense and in goal. If Poland is a division one team, this is a game you win. 

Prediction 4-2 Poland W.

It should be a gold medal year for Poland. But IIHF tournaments can be cruel. One upset and your chances are gone. This group has multiple teams capable of causing those upsets.  There is no opponent to look past, and everyone will give their best against the group favorite. I’m still picking Poland to win it all.

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Thumbnail Photo via polskihokej.eu