Oświęcim wins Polish title in 7th game OT

The seventh and decisive game of the Polish Hockey League finals between GKS Katowice and Unia Oświęcim was scoreless after regulation time, but in the seventh minute of overtime, Lithuanian winger Mark Kaleinikovas delivered the title-winning goal for visiting Oświęcim.

This is Oświęcim’s ninth Polish title but its first since a run of seven straight from 1998 to 2004.

“The Katowice team played really good hockey, and we were patient, we did great defense and in the extra time we scored the decisive blow. We are very happy,” said Oświęcim captain Krystian Dziubiński.

“We are disappointed because we worked hard all season. We feel sad that the two best teams of the season met in the final. Congratulations to Unia,” admitted Katowice defenceman Kacper Maciaś.

Katowice finished first in the regular season of the nine-team PHL followed by Oświęcim in second. The two cities are 40 km apart in south-central Poland. In fact, most Polish hockey players and teams come from that part of the country, which borders both Czechia and Slovakia.

Next month, the Polish national team will compete in the top division of the IIHF World Championship for the first time since 2002. Poland will play in Group B in Ostrava, which is less than 100 km from Katowice, and therefore a healthy contingent of Polish fans is expected. Last season in Division I Group A, 19 of the 23 players on the Polish roster were from PHL clubs, including captain Dziubiński and American-born Katowice goalie John Murray, who is now a naturalized Polish citizen.

With the win, Oświęcim qualifies for the Champions Hockey League for the first time. Previously, Poland has been represented by Cracovia Krakow, GKS Tychy or GKS Jastrzębie in the European club competition. However, no Polish team has ever reached the round of 16.