Plucky Poles eye more surprises

WARSAW－Surprise package Poland is dreaming of producing more ice hockey upsets at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, with the team ready to "do everything to secure a ticket to the Games",according to head coach Robert Kalaber.

Last February, Poland stunned the Netherlands, Ukraine and Kazakhstan to emerge as the shock winner of a preliminary Olympic qualifying event.

Kalaber's players will bid to secure a Beijing 2022 spot at a final qualifying tournament in Bratislava in August, when they will face Belarus, Austria and Slovakia.

"We are very happy we have advanced into the final round of qualification. We have to do everything to play three good games and get the best possible results. We dream of qualification," Kalaber told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Wednesday as the one-year countdown to the Winter Games began.

Poland has not featured in a Winter Olympic hockey tournament since 1992 in Albertville, France.

Host Slovakia is considered the hot favorite to win the qualifying tournament, but Kalaber remains optimistic.

"Slovakia has played just one match this season until now, so it's hard to predict how they will perform against us. They have players from the NHL and other strong leagues. I'm sure it will be difficult to beat them," the 52-year-old said.

"I'm aware we are an underdog in this group but we are able to spring a surprise. Any victory would be a success for us and I treat every tournament as a chance to develop the team. We go step by step and we just think about showing our best hockey," he added.

Last December, Poland outplayed Hungary 2-1 in a friendly game in Katowice, Poland.

"It's difficult to maintain our momentum due to the pandemic, as in all countries there are many safety restrictions to follow, but I was happy we could play against Hungary.

"The national team's next training camps are planned for June and July. I hope the epidemiological situation will be better and that we won't have to change our plans due to the pandemic."

Xinhua