Summer in war

Last summer was held a great war in Polish hockey. Until 4^th of September there wasn't any sure information, not even when Polish League will start, but if it will start at all. Lets take a look on short calendar about Polish Hockey War.

-- May 2012 – elections in PZHL (the polish Federation) , first promises about full professional league.

-- May 13^th, 2013 – in a meeting between PZHL and clubs was discussed ideas about next season of the league, main subjects are “wild cards”, limit for foreign players, youth players and relegation from league;

-- May 25-28^th, 2013 – meeting of PZHL board, where was made some decisions about league, which I described it here:http://eurohockey.com/article/2704-poland-creates-a-professional-league.html

-- June 3^rd, 2013 – PZHL published a pack of regulations in PHL, looks like PHL will run without problems;

-- June 15^th, 2013 – some clubs decladed they don’t like regulations because these regulations “are not matched to present possibilities of clubs”, they also didn’t like to determine the conditions of marketing and advertising spaces at ice-rinks and some more things, looks like there is no chance for a quick end of conflict;

-- June 19^th, 2013 – PZHL announced they find a way to compromise with clubs;

-- June 23^rd, 2013 – during the General Assembly of PZHL clubs accepted decision of creation PHL, however without some important details, like regulations and disciplinary rules;

-- June 30^th, 2013 – on the end of June just three clubs have signed agreement with PHL: Polonia Bytom, HC GKS Katowice and Zagłębie Sosnowiec (last team was provided as a club, where could play Polish NT players with some foreigners, however some weeks later club was moved to Krynica due to fail of looking for a sponsor,and probably will play as KTH Krynica next season);

-  -July 2^nd, 2013 – clubs sent a proposals to regulations, PZHL said “we’ll get a agreement”;

-- July 3^rd, 2013 – meeting of five clubs (Cracovia, JKH, Tychy, Sanok and Unia) in Cracow, where clubs made decision about caring of good regulations in PZHL and PHL;

-  -July 5^th, 2013 – PZHL answers, that all things was discussed with clubs; in the same day five clubs published a statement they don’t agree for a actions made by PHL, the conflict is began, which main problems are, as usuall, finances, but also almost whole regulationsonthe basis of whichleague would run;

-- July 9^th, 2013 – both sides claim they have a right, and as usuall, the truth is in the middle, and none would to yield; in the same day Hałasik announced PZHL will get a 1 million euro from sponsor on August 15^th, 2013 (

-- July 11^th, 2013 – end ot time for signings agreements with PHL, there is still three clubs with, five rebellious clubs didn’t make it, final date is moved on July, 16^th; Podhale Nowy Targ announced they would to play in PHL;

-  -July 15^th, 2013 – meeting clubs with Piotr Hałasik in Tychy, there is made a decision, that clubs would play in PHL, but firstly the regulations have to be fixed;

-  -July 18^th, 2013 – PZHL announced that every club which sign deal with PHL will get a license for next season;

-- August 3^rd, 2013 – PZHL and PHL announced a fixtures for next season, despite of only three clubs areauthorized to play, league would start on September 6^th, 2013; in late July-earlyAugust the situation with Zagłębie Sosnowiec stayed to be clear – there won’t be a PHL team in Sosnowiec.

-- August 12^th, 2013 – PZHL give license forHC GKS Katowice, Ciarko PBS Bank KH Sanok, GKS Tychy, Aksam Unia Oświęcim i 1928 KTH Krynica; earlier get it: TMH Polonia Bytom, MMKS Podhale Nowy Targ i JKH GKS Jastrzębie, still without stay Cracovia;

-- August 13^th, 2013 – clubs accused PZHL of not striving to solve the impasse, and announced they won’t play in PHL if there will be take effect rules adopted byPZHL in May; club demanded four things: PZHL should the a control over League instead of PHL, move a dates for sending documents, creating new regulations and adopting to league Podhale Nowy Targ without any fees; PZHL answered but without good will to create compromis;

-- August 23^rd, 2013 – meeting of PZHL board, which decided to: PHL will lead the league next season, all regulations are in power and no one would play without buying “wild card”, if did not take a promotion last season, moreover a date for documents and fees is moved on August 31^st, 2013;

-  -August 29^th, 2013 – hockey is a subject of Parliamentary Commission of Sport, Hałasik said that no one will play in professional league (which gained the support of Comissions’ Members) which won’t accept regulations and make a fees;

-- August 30^th, 2013 – clubs answers to Hałasik: there is still no sponsor for league as well as for PZHL (which was promised), PZHL and PHL didn’t co-work with clubs to make a compromise, which will run well-organized (especially in financial cases) league; it’s almost sure league won’t start on Septemper 6^th, as a fixtures says; after clubs didn’t accept changes, PZHL start to look an agreement, however due to they still didn’t find a sponsor for league (which was the most important promise), looks like they will be forced to accept many of clubs’ demands;

-- September 2^nd, 2013 – PZHL announced that league will be lead by PZHL until Ministry of Sport won’t accept agreement between PLH and PZHL in case of leading the league,however clubs has to pay all fees; clubs didn’t agree for it and answering that proposal from PZHL can’t be accepted due to: fees are still as high as in PHL regulations, “wild cards” are not provided in PZHL regulations,league would function according to rules from 25^thand 28^thof May and possibly take a lead over league by PHL; looks like PZHL don’t have any adventage to force clubs to accept their decisions, and…

-- September 3^rd, 2013 – Hałasik announced a meeting of PZHL’s board on next day;

-- September 4^th, 2013 – after meeting of PZHL’s board Hałasik announced league will start on September 13^th, 2013 - according to an old rules and old fees, but with some changes: every club can sign 8 foreigners (or more, but every over 8^th will cost 25.000 PLN for PZHL), there will be no relegation, two clubs was invited to league for 100.000 PLN, and fixtures will be announced in a few days, but it’s sure league will start on September 13^thwith game JKH Jastrzębie – Polonia Bytom.

With this decision we have an end of conflict in Polish Hockey with compromise, however it looks like it’s success of clubs and fail of PZHL, which had no power to force their own decisions. I only hope this sick situation will not happen ever again.

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