Stoczniowiec Gdańsk hockey player Magdalena Łąpieś is moving to Canada after 4 years in Gdańsk. The Polish representative told us about the unusual behind the scenes of this transfer and also evaluated her stay in the Gdańsk team. Meanwhile, Stoczniowiec hockey players will start the Tauron Hockey League women’s season without their most effective hockey player. Rafał Cychowski’s players started the season with a 9-0 (4-0, 1-0, 4-0) victory over Unia Oświęcim.

Updated at 4:30 p.m.

Mikołaj Pachniewski: You became a Canadian Hockey Academy player in Ontario. Why did you decide to go to Canada? How did it happen? Was it the club that noticed you or did you decide to apply and look for your chance?

Magdalena Łąpieś: A coach from Ontario wrote to me that he was looking for a striker and if I was interested. After exchanging a few emails, the offer seemed more and more interesting. I decided to try my hand at it. I am happy because I managed to realize my dream and cross the ocean. I always dreamed of playing hockey abroad.

Magdalena Łąpieś was the heroine of the series Sport Talent. Read the interview with the Polish representative

You have joined a club where you will combine playing hockey and studying. How will it work?

The club I am currently in is also a school, so it is the responsibility of every player here to study. The lesson plan is organized so that everyone gets on-ice and on-ice training every day. However, school here is as important, if not more so, than hockey.

Was there any hesitation between staying in Gdańsk or going to Canada or was it an easy decision?

This was a difficult decision for me from the start. Going so far from home and family is not easy. However, Canada is famous for hockey and I felt that this was a great opportunity for me to develop, not only in terms of hockey, but also in life. That’s why he decided to make this trip.

How do you evaluate the 4 years you spent in Gdańsk? Did you learn a lot?

I believe that these 4 years spent in Gdańsk taught me a lot. Both in hockey and in life.

Fudeko GAS Gdańsk hockey players won the first match. We know the budget and objectives

Is it a shame that we failed to win the Polish championship with Stoczniowiec even once and all 4 seasons ended with a silver medal?

There remains a bad taste after these lost finals. However, I hope that this year the girls will finally manage to win the Polish championship. I’d probably enjoy it almost as much if I played it. My heart always remains in Gdańsk.

What is Stoczniowiec missing to fight for gold with Polonia Bytom?

I think what Stoczniowiec is missing is more girls willing to play. The matches with Bytom are really balanced and show that the level is similar. The limit lies in the narrow composition.

How big is the gap between women’s hockey in Poland and Canada?

The main difference between hockey in Canada and Poland is undoubtedly the number of girls willing to play. Only in my club there are more than 60 players, including 3 teams and all of them are junior teams.