JKH GKS Jastrzębie have had a season to remember – not only did the Polish club beat rivals Comarch Cracovia to the Ekstraliga title to secure their first-ever Polish Championship, but they also qualified for the Champions Hockey League for the very first time.
Elite European hockey is not only something new for most of Jastrzębie’s players, but it will also be a new experience for Head Coach Robert Kaláber,
We’re extremely glad to be able to participate in such a prestigious competition like the Champions Hockey LeagueRobert Kaláber, JKH GKS Jastrzębie Head Coach
“It’s going to be a huge learning experience for the players and will give them lots of experience. Each international match is a good chance to learn something new. It’s not only the players who will benefit from participating in the CHL – the club, the fans and Polish hockey in general will all benefit. We’re extremely glad to be able to participate in such a prestigious competition like the Champions Hockey League,” said Kaláber, who has been with the team since 2014.
Jastrzębie will make their debut in the CHL later this year and follow in the footsteps of Cracovia and GKS Tychy as the third Polish team to qualify for the CHL. Tychy, who participated in the previous two CHL seasons, also recorded the first win for a Polish team in their previous campaign.
Kaláber is also Head Coach of the Polish National Team and some of his players have extended their season and joined him for National Team training.
“Our foreign players are on breaks, a few of our Polish players have joined me for National Team training, others have started training for next season individually. The entire team should be back together by mid-July.”
Club management has a lot of work cut out for them until then. “Lots of our academy players have moved on, so we need to regroup and rethink our entire roster for next season,” said Kaláber.
The CHL Group Stage Draw took place on Wednesday, May 19. “We’ll face whoever we draw, we don’t have any dream opponents,” said Kaláber before the draw, adding that his side will give their all in every match.
Jastrzębie were drawn into Group H and will face 2018/19 CHL Semi-Finalists Red Bull Salzburg, Frisk Asker and ICE-HL Finalists HC Bolzano later this year.
A few of Jastrzębie’s players have experience that could help their team - Maciej Urbanowicz featured in ten CHL games for Cracovia, Zack Phillips scored four points in eight CHL games whilst playing for the Nottingham Panthers in the 2017/18 season of the CHL and Marek Hovorka has also played on international level with HC Košice.
Ex-GKS Tychy players Marcin Horzelski and Mateusz Bryk have also played in the CHL and even goaltender Patrik Nechvátal has been in the net of a CHL game.
“We are a small club, of course we won’t win the CHL. But every match starts at 0-0 and we will do everything we can to win. Each point is vital for us,” said Kaláber.
“Our biggest advantage could end up being our discipline, collective strength and devotion. We will try to use these qualities to surprise our more experienced opponents. We’ll see later in the year,” he ended.