Polska Hokej Liga started - An introduction

Semifinalists of last season can’t find their way – JKH Jastrzebie and GKS Tychy

Let’s start with 2 teams, which in my opinion are making really bad at the start of the season: JKH Jastrzebie and GKS Tychy. Both are last season’s semifinalists, Jastrzebie even grabbed bronze medal after a battle with GKS Tychy in third place series. 

Now in this season campaign you couldn’t recognize them, as Jastrzebie started season with 2 disappointing games losses 0-4, first to Zaglebie Sosnowiec and second to Podhale Nowy Targ, which are not predicted to be at the top of the table. After those 2 games, their play improved a little bit but they still didn’t manage to get any points due to losses to very strong teams of GKS Katowice and Unia Oświęcim (L1-2 ag. Katowice, L0-3 ag. Oswiecim). At last they grabbed a win in 6th round of games against mentioned GKS Tychy, last Friday they earned their first points of this campaign after a 3-0 win. After first 4 games of new season, they are currently on 8th place with only 3 points in their bag.

GKS Tychy started this season with smooth victories over Zaglebie Sosnowiec away (3-1) and Podhale Nowy Targ at home (6-1).  But then they lost consecutively to GKS Katowice (0-1), Unia Oswiecim (2-4), STS Sanok (4-5) and last Friday failed to deliver good perfomance against Jastrzebie losing 0-3. So after 6 games GKS Tychy is currently 6th in standings with only 6 points.

Champions hockey league participants with mixed feelings – GKS Katowice and Comarch Cracovia

Let’s get on to 2 Polish team which are participating in Champions Hockey League – GKS Katowice and Comarch Cracovia. Just a reminder – GKS Katowice is the current champion of Poland, Cracovia earned a ticket to Champion League as a winner of Continental Cup 

GKS Katowice after some good perfomances in CHL facing teams from higher ranked Europe leagues, started this season according to the expectations. With four wins in first four games, they are alongside Unia Oswiecim still unbeaten in Polska Hokej Liga. Supporters of GKS Katowice after sensational win over Zurich and putting up on fight with Rogle at home in CHL, have another reasons to have big smiles on their faces in the beginning of the season. GKS Katowice is on 2nd  place in the table of Polska Hokej Liga, only due to better goal bilance by Unia Oswiecim.

On the other side Cracovia after some successes in CHL (including a victory versus Austrian VSV Villach) can’t be so happy with start of the season. They postponed few games due to CHL commitments. At this moment they are presenting unsolid hockey, and for sure this is not a place where Cracovia fans would like to see them. After four game Cracovia managed only once to be victorious against weak Podhale Nowy Targ and after 4 games they have only 3 points and currently sit on the 7th place in league standings.

Mid-table teams at their level – KH Energa Toruń and HK Zagłębie Sosnowiec

After some good moves on the transfer market, next 2 teams are Energa Torun and Zaglebie Sosnowiec. Both of these teams have been busy on transfer market this season and made some good improvements.

First Energa Torun, this team showed us last season that they can compete with everyone in Polska Hokej Liga. Current season isn’t any different, they grabbed wins with STS Sanok and Podhale Nowy Targ, suffering one loss against Zaglebie Sosnowiec. Last week again they showed that even CHL participant Comarch Cracovia aren’t big issue for them when they are in top form beating them 6-2. After that win team lost one more match against current title holders GKS Katowice. After 5 game they grabbed 9 points,and are currently ranked 3rd in Polska Hokej Liga.

Zaglebie Sosnowiec is playing solid hockey, but nothing impressive so far. After big opening win against favourites JKH Jastrzebie, there came loss against GKS Tychy, then another win against Energa Torun and loss to STS Sanok. They are mixing good perfomances with these worse ones. All summed up give them 6 points in four games and places them 5th in rankings by now.

Outsiders and underdogs – Tauron Podhale Nowy Targ and Marma Ciarko STS Sanok

Before the seasons those 2 teams seemed to be outsiders of the league. We are talking about STS Sanok and Podhale Nowy Targ. Only one of these predictions appeared to be truth.

STS Sanok had big issues in summer brake due to fire in their sponsors warehouse and nobody was 100% sure if team with so big financial troubles can ever start season. At last moments before start of the season they confirmed start in league. They started poorly losing against Energa Toruń 2-3 in their first season appearance. Surprisingly after this loss, they started to fight back and won every game they played, first aganist Zaglebie Sosnowiec 2-1, then they won with GKS Tychy after sensational comeback in 3rd period 5-4 and at last smooth win against Podhale Nowy Targ 7-3 at home ice. That means they are currently in 4th spot in league table with 9 points in their pockets.

Podhale Nowy Targ also had some financial issues before they started the season, but in their case results of the team aren’t so good as STS Sanok.  In opening game they lost to Unia Oswiecim 1-5, then they struggled and won against big favourites JKH jastrzebie 4-0, but after this win form of Podhale team started regressing and they noted 4 consecutive losses against GKS Tychy, Cracovia, Energa Torun, STS Sanok. That leaves them with 3 points on the botoom of league standings.

Last year finalist want to fight for the title – Re-Plast Unia Oświęcim

Last team in our quick summary is Unia Oswiecim which is currently leading Polska Hokej Liga with 4 wins in 4 games. 

Unia started season with quite easy victory over Podhale, then came wins with Jastrzebie 3-0, Tychy 4-2, Cracobia 5-2. They seem to be really motivated after last season when they finished as runners up to claim this year title and bring it back to Oswiecim. 

Predictions for the season.

Many experts predictions were wrong before start of the season, so it’s hard to predict who will get the title. In my opinion the teams that will fight for the title are reigning champions GKS Katowice and last season runners-up Re-Plast Oswiecim. One thing is sure Polska Hokej Liga become really interesting to watch and anyone can win with anyone. I recommend you to follow Polska Hokej Liga stats on our eurohockey page, there is still a lot more games to come. 

Tweets by @eurohockey