coaches at
Ziętara
camps
2026
First Minute discount €75
until 31.01.2026
Meet the lineup of Ziętara Camp coaches
Walenty
Ziętara
A legend of Polish hockey, whose career and successes inspire subsequent generations.
Piotr
Ziętara
Walenty's son, who is determined to continue the family tradition by organising professional hockey camps for young talents.
Krzysztof
Zborowski
A trainer and camp manager who has been supporting the development of our camp participants with his knowledge and experience for years.
For over 30 years, Ziętara Camp has been bringing together a unique team of coaches who passionately and enthusiastically support the development of young hockey players. Our staff combines experience, professionalism and a love of hockey, making each camp an unforgettable sporting and educational experience.
This exceptional team is led by the Ziętara family, whose hockey roots go back many decades.
Each member of our team brings unique skills and values, providing irreplaceable support for young athletes.
Meet our team and discover what makes Ziętara Camp a unique place for young hockey players!
head coaches the foundation of the Ziętara Camp programme
Our head coaches are experts who prepare the programme for each camp, tailoring it to the specific expectations and needs of the participants. They are responsible for the comprehensive planning and implementation of on-ice training, ensuring the highest level of training.
Some of them are specialists in stick technique and skating, helping players improve their precision and control. Others are excellent tactical coaches who teach how to work effectively as a team and play key match situations.
Thanks to their experience and passion, young hockey players have the opportunity to develop comprehensively and acquire skills that will take their game to the next level.
Andrei Gusov
Winner of the prestigious Spengler Cup and multiple Polish champion with GKS Tychy. Coached the Belarus U18, U20 and senior national teams. Currently coach of the Polish U18 team. Works with the Ziętara Hockey School as the head coach, sharing his international experience and knowledge with young players.
Marcin Cieślak
Trained by Cracovia Kraków, former player of the Polish youth national team, with which he won promotion to an U20 Group A.
As a senior he won two Polish Championship titles and two bronze medals with Cracovia.
He currently coaches youths at MKS Cracovia and has been working with the Ziętara Hockey School since 2011, leading camps and selections and participating in tournaments around the world, including three times at the prestigious Pee Wee in Canada.
Steve Baek
A former professional player and now a coach who has trained players in many countries, including Canada, the USA, Russia, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic and China.
His protégés play in the world's top leagues, such as the NHL, AHL, KHL and OHL. He is a well-known and respected specialist in stick technique and skating. Steve is the founder of BK Hockey, where he focuses on full commitment and the pursuit of excellence.
During Camp No. 2, he will be the head coach, wishing to share his international experience with the participants.
Patrick Spesny
Raised in the Czech premier league club HC Verva Litvínov, where he gained experience on top-level rinks. As a youth he won a gold medal in the Czech provincial championships. During his career he also represented HC Most and HC Draci Bílina teams. In the Polish top division he played for Naprzód Janów, TKH Toruń and STS Sanok. For the past three seasons he has been the goalkeeper of EC Będzin Zagłębie Sosnowiec. Despite being an active goalkeeper, Patrik also trains goalkeepers. Hi is a professional in his field and a favourite of young adepts in this position.
group coaches support at every step
Group coaches are irreplaceable individuals who ensure the safety and comfort of our camp participants 24 hours a day. Their commitment and care make every participant feel part of a unique team.
Our coaching duos or trios are carefully selected for their character traits so that they complement each other perfectly – both during and outside of ice training sessions. Thanks to their cooperation, participants can count on an individual approach, professional support and a positive atmosphere in every group.
Group coaches are the real foundation of every Ziętara camp's success!
Adam Rajski
He started his adventure with hockey in 2004. He won Polish and Silesian Championship titles in the youth teams of Naprzód Janów and represented Poland at the U18 and U20 World Championships, winning the silver medal in Tallinn in 2015. As a player of the Naprzód Janów senior team, he played in the Polish top division and 1st league for 6 seasons. He currently teaches at the ‘Młoda Gieksa’ Hockey Academy and at the Strzelnica Hokejowa ABC Hokeja he founded, focusing on shooting technique and power skating. He holds a degree in sports management and coaches at the Ziętara Hockey School.
Wojtek Milan
Two-time Polish Champion and Polish Cup winner with his home club from Sanok, former player of Cracovia Kraków, TKH Toruń and Haringey Greyhounds. Currently a coach at SMS Toruń, MKS Sokły Toruń and an assistant of the Polish U18 national team, leading club teams to successes, including gold medal in the Polish Youth Championships. He has been working with the Ziętara Hockey School since 2013.
Patryk Wajda
He is a long-standing representative of Poland, having played in the Polish Hockey League for many seasons and currently playing for Cracovia Kraków. He is a multiple medalist of the Polish Championships, with 11 medals to his name (7 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze), as well as a two-time winner of the Polish Cup and a four-time winner of the Polish Super Cup. He is also a certified personal trainer and physical trainer and has been working with the Ziętara Hockey School for a year, sharing his experience and passion.
Sebastian Kłaczyński
He was raised in Polonia Bytom. For many seasons, he represented the club as a striker at the highest level of competition in Poland, and during his club career, he won, among other things, a bronze medal in the Polish championships. After ending his playing career, he began coaching and has over 10 years of experience in this field. He currently works with youth groups at Polonia Bytom, with the senior women's team BS Polonia Bytom – Polish champions – as well as in the EWHL and the senior women's national team.
Łukasz Podsiadło
Raised by Zagłębie Sosnowiec, he is a former player of the top division teams such as Naprzód Janów, GKS Katowice and KH Energa Toruń. As a coach he led youth groups in Sosnowiec and Toruń, and since 2021 he has been an assistant coach in the top division team from Toruń. Since 2022 he has also been an assistant coach of the U18 national team. He has been working with the Ziętara Hockey School for many years, constantly developing his coaching competences.
Patryk Wsół
Raised by Podhale Nowy Targ, he played in the Polish Hockey League for many seasons, representing Podhale Nowy Targ, SMS PZHL and Automatyka Gdańsk, among others. During his club career, he won a bronze medal in the Polish championships and represented his country in the U18 and U20 youth teams. A coach of the younger generation, he has been working at Legia Warsaw for two years, leading senior and mini-hockey groups. He is currently also the assistant coach of the Polish national team for players under 18.
Łukasz Dybaś
Raised by BS Polonia Bytom, former player who won a bronze medal in the Polish Championships with the Polonia Bytom team in the Polish top division. Currently a coach of youth groups and provincial teams, where he is committed to passing on his experience and passion to young hockey players.
Adrian Słowakiewicz
He was raised in Podhale Nowy Targ. He played in Polish league competitions and trained in Slovakia and Sweden. He represented Poland in the U18 and U20 national teams, and in 2021 he was called up to the senior national team. Currently, he conducts technical and power skating training in Nowy Targ for most age groups and studies sports psychology.
Maciej Ożóg
Originates from Toruń hockey, former player of the top division and the Polish U16, U18 and U20 youth national teams. During his career he played for such clubs as SMS Sosnowiec, BTH Bydgoszcz and WTH Wrocław. He currently leads youth groups at MKS Sokły Toruń and OSM Północ (U11). He regularly participates in coaching training. He has been working with the Ziętara Hockey School since 2017, supporting the development of young players
Tomasz Marznica
He has always been associated with Naprzod Janów, where he took his first steps as a hockey player and coach. As a coach, he won the Polish Champion title in the youth category and repeatedly triumphed in the Silesian Championships with youth teams. From 2017 to 2020, he was the head coach of the women's national team, with which he won World Championship medals (bronze and silver) and advanced to the final tournament of the Olympic qualification. He currently works as a coach and coordinator at Naprzód Janów and has been working with the Ziętara Hockey School for many years.
Łukasz Zachariasz
Former player in the Polish top division player and Polish national team player, raised by Zagłębie Sosnowiec, where he ended his career in 2016. A two-time participant in the U18 and U20 World Championships, he won a bronze medal with the youth national team. He made 13 appearances for the Polish senior national team. After his coaching career, he trains youth in Sosnowiec and his sons continue the family's hockey tradition. He has been working with the Ziętara Hockey School since 2018.
Michał Kalinowski
He grew up in Toruń and is currently playing another season in the senior team, as well as coaching the youngest hockey players at Sokoły Toruń. During his career, he represented Poland in youth teams, competing in the U18 and U20 World Championships, among others. For two years, he has been associated with the Ziętara Hockey School, where he shares his experience and passion for hockey with the youngest players.
Hubert Demkowicz
Raised by STS Sanok and Polish champion in the 2013/2014 season. A graduate of SMS Sosnowiec, he began his coaching journey at UKS MOSiR Niedźwiadki Sanok, working with the youngest adepts of field hockey. Since the 2022/23 season, he has been serving as an assistant coach of the Swedish under-20 team, Järna SK. He is a young, ambitious coach who is constantly developing his skills and gaining valuable experience in the field hockey community in Sweden. His commitment and passion for working with youth are a guarantee of his professional approach to the players
Aleksander Gniewek
Raised by Zagłębie Sosnowiec and a graduate of the Sports Championship School in Sosnowiec. Two-time Polish CLJ Champion (2013 and 2016) and two-time Polish First League Champion with Zagłębie Sosnowiec and Naprzod Janów. He started working as a youth coach at his home club while still competing, where he continues to train young hockey players. As a coach, he won the Polish U-12 Championship with UKS Zagłębie Sosnowiec. Since 2024, he has been an assistant of the U-16 National Team and has been working with the Ziętara Hockey School since 2022.
Julka Zielińska
Raised by MUKS Naprzód Janów, she represented the club until 2019, playing in both the boys' and women's teams. In the 2018/2019 season, she won the Slovakian Championship with the Poprad Lisky team, playing in the Slovakian women's top division. She represented Finnish club Kiekko-Espoo for five seasons, winning 2 gold and 2 silver medals at the Finnish Women's Championships and gold with the U20 team. Currently, she is the first Polish woman playing in NCAA D1 at Bemidji State University. She has represented Poland, previously on the U18 and now senior women's national teams. She joined the Ziętara Hockey School in 2024
team of mental coaches psychological support
Mental coaches and sports psychologists are specialists who care about the development of not only the athletic but also the mental aspects of our camp participants. In today's sport, the psychological aspect plays a key role – it affects self-confidence, concentration, and coping with stress and pressure.
Their knowledge and experience are invaluable in helping young athletes build mental resilience and the ability to make informed decisions on and off the ice. Thanks to their work, Ziętara Camp participants develop comprehensively, preparing themselves for both sporting and life challenges.
The contribution of our mental staff to the success of Ziętara camps is invaluable.
Julia Badowska
She is a graduate of social psychology (SWPS) and physical education (AWF). She also completed postgraduate studies in positive sports psychology, mental training and psychodietetics. For many years, she was actively involved in sports as a ski instructor and coach, which allowed her to gain extensive experience in working with athletes at various stages of development. She currently works as a sports psychologist, supporting athletes from many disciplines, coaches, and parents in the area of mental preparation. For many years, she has also been cooperating with the Ziętara Hockey School, taking care of the mental development of players.
Pola Weiner
She is a sports and performance psychologist (MA, University of Gdańsk). Since 2019, she has been a psychologist for the Polish Tennis Association, and since 2023, she has been the coordinator of a team of psychologists supporting players in the U12–U18 categories. She works with individual and team sports players, including the National Paralympic Team. She collaborates with SWPS University and the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. She has been working with the Ziętara Hockey School continuously for seven years, i.e. since the beginning of the implementation of mental training.
off-ice coach – the key to comprehensive development
Each camp includes carefully prepared off-ice training sessions, which play an extremely important role in today's sport. Our off-ice coach ensures that participants not only develop their motor skills and coordination, but also gain knowledge about proper physical preparation for the season.
During the sessions, participants learn how to individually strengthen their skills, improve their endurance, strength and speed, and recover properly after intense exercise. Thanks to this comprehensive approach, young hockey players can take their physical abilities to the next level, which translates into better results on the ice.
Off-ice training is an integral part of every player's comprehensive development!
Jakub
Maciejewski
trainees inspiration and support for participants
We invite one male or female player to each camp who has participated in our camps in the past and now represents their country in the U18, U20 or senior national team.
Just a few years ago, they were in the same position as the current participants, and today they return to support the younger generation of hockey players. Their role during the camps is not only to assist with exercises on the ice, but also to motivate and share valuable advice. Their presence shows that dreams are within reach and that hard work at the camps can lead to the top.
Praktykanci to żywy przykład sukcesu i najlepsza inspiracja dla uczestników naszych campów!
Join us and develop
your skills!
This season's coaching staff has already been announced. It's up to you to decide who you want to meet and work with! Choose one of our camps that suits your hockey goals and coaching preferences.
See you on the ice – together we will achieve your sporting dreams!
