Interest in college hockey is growing. A new team is to be added, a newcomer from Slovakia is also on the way

The European University Hockey League (EUHL) is currently played in four countries, in eight cities. Already from the upcoming season, a team from the Polish city of Łódź should be added to the list of participants.

In the case of the team of Łódź, it would be the second participant from Poland – the university team from Oświęcim is currently participating in the competition. It regularly tests its strength on the ice with students from Slovakia (Trenčín, Nitra, Žilina, Banská Bystrica, Košice), Hungary (Győr) and Romania (Cârța / Karcfalva).

„Recently, we had a meeting in the city of Zgierz, where we discussed the possibility of a new team entering the EUHL with the competent authorities. The meeting was attended, among others, by the chairman of the Board of the Polish Ice Hockey Association Mirosław Minkina, the dean of the Ozorków Academy of Social Sciences Dr. Marek Wojciechowski, representatives of the Łódź-Zgierski Hockey Club, namely its president Janusz Michaluk, vice-president Michał Ciepłucha and board member Artur Michalski, as well as the vice-president of PUHA (Polish University Hockey Association) Lubomír Witoszek. The mere participation of these people is a clear sign that there is interest in the EUHL.

Our long-term goal was and still is to expand into new cities, or countries, and it is in Poland that great possibilities open up for us. They are very interested in university hockey in several cities. We will try to ensure that as many students – hockey players as possible find their, let’s call it, application in the EUHL,“ said the general manager of the EUHA (European University Hockey Association) Peter Špankovič.

The Polish city of Łódź should be part of the EUHL from the coming season. „I firmly believe that it will succeed. Of course, it will only be certain when the contract between the team and the EUHA is signed. Well, honestly – I think that nothing prevents Łódź from entering the competition and fighting for the Sekeráš Trophy from the next season,“ continued Špankovič.

At the same time, he revealed that the effort is to expand the competition even with the Slovak team. „When we started as EUHL ten years ago, we had several teams from the Slovak capital city. Unfortunately, the conditions in Bratislava did not favor them, so these teams disappeared. There were problems with the ice surface – even if there was some free ice, it was financially difficult for the teams,“ he explained. „However, we are currently trying to get several schools in Bratislava to join forces and create a joint team. I would be very happy if the EUHL returns to the capital,“ he added.

Author: EUHA