After a long break, hockey is back in Warsaw. Since September, hockey players from the club CWKS Legia Warszawa have played at the Torwar II arena.

After 10 rounds, Legia players are ranked in the middle of their league. They have many fans and usually attract large audiences. "It is very important that hockey enjoys such enormous interest in Warsaw. Remember that Legia's hockey division was only reactivated this year, a 'second wind' of sorts. Every fan mean tremendous support for the club," said Patryk Rokicki, Legia hockey spokesman.

The Warsaw hockey tradition dates back to prewar times. The division, established in 1927, won the Championship of Poland 13 times, including seven times in a row from 1951-57. The team stood on the podium 23 times altogether. The last major success of the team was a gold medal in 1967. Then a crisis followed and the division was disbanded for years.

When in July this year the CWKS decided to reopen the hockey division, few believed that the undertaking would be successful. The chief obstacle was a lack of funds, a problem faced earlier by the club's volleyball and basketball divisions. "Thanks to an agreement with the Hockey Students Sports Club (HUKS) Mazowsze, Legia took over their senior team. In the first division, the club hockey players play under the name CWKS Legia Warszawa, and younger players continue to perform as HUKS Mazowsze," adds Rokicki.

Cooperation between the teams is progressing. Legia offers optimum conditions for first division games, while HUKS has an excellent youth base. "Our players are very ambitious and some of them have already performed in the Polish national team. Strange as it may seam, the goal of the CWKS is not to fight for titles. For the time being, our priority is for the young players to gain experience and practice and then to build a great team," says Rokicki.

CWKS authorities are aware that the middle position on the league ranks is the best result the team can achieve for now. Teams from the south such as KS KTH Krynica, TMH Polonia Bytom and MUKS Naprzód Janów are beyond reach. However, within the next two to three seasons, Legia-strengthened with some experienced players-might strive for more. CWKS team potential is attested by the youth in HUKS Mazowsze, where young players are trained in three age categories: 12-13; 14-15 and 16-17.

Today, Legia's basic lineup includes 25 players. Six play in the Polish national team for youth under age 18. The team stars are goalies Wojciech Rocki-a former Canadian team player-and Michał Strąk, defense Mateusz Wardewski as well as wing and forward Michał Stajak and Damian Smoliński. The coach of the first team is Marian Pysz, former coach of the Polish national team and of Stoczniowiec Gdańsk, which he led to a bronze medal in the 2002/03 season during the Polish Championships.

Enrollment in the hockey school is conducted on a regular basis; the next sign up period is January, when boys born from 1993-99 will be recruited. "Foreigners are welcome-all those who want to become more than fans and play on a real rink are invited to Torwar," says Rokicki. CWKS Legia also wants to build a new sports hall. Torwar is a small ice rink-the stands accommodate about 700.

Przemysław Molik
Upcoming games in Warsaw will be played between CWKS and JKH Jastrzębie. Games will take place at Torwar II Dec. 10 and 11. Tickets: zl.5 discount and zl.10 full price. For women admission is free. More information about the club is available at: www.warszawa.hokej.net