Macias added to Poland’s Men’s National Team
While his season with the Prince Albert Raiders ended on Friday night, import winger Krzysztof Macias will be seeing more ice back overseas. After the Raiders bowed out of the playoffs in a game five defeat to the Saskatoon Blades in round one of the 2024 WHL Playoffs, the Polish National Team was quick to add Macias to their national team roster.
Krzysztof Maciaś has been called up to the national team!
— Polish Puck (@PolandHockey) April 8, 2024
While Macias still has to attend a training camp to have a shot at cracking the roster, he said it was exciting to receive the phone call from the national team.
“I had it in the back of my head after this season that this opportunity might come,” he said. “Fortunately I got the phone call from the national team that I am going to be given the chance to fight for this spot. Obviously I’m very excited because I didn’t want my season to end so fast. This makes it last a little bit longer, I’m not sure how much longer because it depends on if I make the team or not. I will have a chance to prove to them that I am worthy of this spot, and I’m going to have a chance to fight for it. Everything depends on me now, and I’m very excited to be given this chance.”
Macias became just the second player of Polish decent to ever play in the WHL (Marcin Kolusz, 2003), and he made it into the record books. In 65 games this season, he became the all time leading Polish scorer in the WHL, scoring 22 goals and adding 25 assists for 47 total points. Actually, it only took him 13 games to become the all time leading Polish goal scorer in the dub.
“I think my season with the Raiders was good,” Macias said. “I think I could have done some things better and played better in some situations, but I gave it 100% every shift I had. The mistakes I made were purely tactical, it wasn’t about attitude or not wanting to do something. I think it helps me get a better chance at this spot, so I think I made some progress this season on some of those things that I was lacking skill or confidence in. I hope that will help me. I’m more of an all around player than I was when I came to Prince Albert.”
Macias is no stranger to the national stage, as he has suited up with Poland at both the U-18 and U-20 levels. In 2021-22, he was the captain of the U-18 Polish team that competed in the World Junior Division 1B Championship. He also played for the U-20 World Junior team on two different occasions in 2022 and 2023. In the most recent tournament, he scored seven goals and added three assists in five games.
While he has the experience at those levels, Macias explains what the biggest difference jumping up to the Men’s National Team is.
“Even though Poland is not so famous for hockey, the Polish players are still really strong and they know what they’re doing. I’d say the biggest difference in the style of hockey is everything is faster than the younger groups, and the players are much stronger and bigger because they’re adults. To be given this chance to play with the best Polish hockey players that are playing right now, it’s awesome. I grew up watching most of them, and it’s going to be very fun to be with them in the locker room and to just listen to them talk and joke around about stuff. It’s going to be a cool experience to share the ice with them.”
If Macias cracks a spot on the roster, he could have the chance to play against powerhouse teams from the United States and Sweden, just to name a couple. That’s something he said would be another incredible experience.
“It would be cool, because I would maybe get to play against some NHL players or prospects. Just to see in person how big the gap is at that level, to compete against them. It would be an honour, and they would teach me so much. They can capitalize on every one of your mistakes, so it’s fun to play against them, but at the same time you have to pay attention to every single detail. They know what they’re doing, they’re coming for you.”
Macias was voted the Raiders’ hardest working player at this season’s year end awards banquet. With adapting to the different style of hockey in North America, playing on a smaller ice surface, and working with new players and coaches, he explains what he learned about himself over the course of the 2023-24 season.
“I learned a lot about myself actually, because I was put through things I’ve never been put through before. The ice is smaller, the game is faster and more physical, the players around me were better. I had to start thinking faster and playing a more heavy game than I did in the beginning. I learned a lot about playing in the defensive zone. That was my biggest lack before I came here. I learned a lot about that and I think I made some progress with that stuff.
“I was fortunate enough to have amazing coaches to help me with anything I needed. I learned a lot about playing on the powerplay thanks to (Ryan) McDonald. He showed me a lot of video about different players and a lot about me, what I’m doing right, what I’m doing wrong. I think I developed as a player, but I think I also developed as a human being here in Canada. I’m very excited to grateful to be given this chance this season, and we’ll see what happens next season.”
