During the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, short profiles of each of this year's Hall of Fame inductees will appear on IIHF.com in the build-up to the IIHF Hall of Fame weekend (May 24-25). There will be two ceremonies. The Contributors' Awards ceremony takes place on May 24, followed by the IIHF Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on May 25. Both ceremonies will be shown live on the IIHF's YouTube channel and IIHF.TV.
During a pro career that lasted more than two decades, Leszek Laszkiewicz played pro in four countries in Europe as well as an astounding 18 Men’s World Championships.
In Poland, Laszkiewicz won the national championship eight times, five with Cracovia (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), playing with his brother, Daniel, and three with Unia Oswiecim (2001, 2002, 2004). In 17 years in the Polish league, he surpassed the 1,000-point plateau and became the all-time scoring leader. In his one year playing in Italy, 2004-05 with HC Milano Vipers, he won the national championship and the Italian Cup.
Born in Jastrzebie-Zdroj, Laszkiewicz first made a name for himself at the 1996 European U18 Championship, leading the tournament in scoring and drawing interest from Nurnberg Ice Tigers in the German League, where he played from 1997 to 1999.
In IIHF play, he first appeared at the top level of the 1997 World Juniors, the last time Poland played up in U20 play. In 1998, he played in B Pool of the World Juniors. That year, he also appeared in his first senior Men’s Worlds, also B Pool, playing on a line with Mariusz Czerkawski and Jacek Plachta.
Most significantly, Laszkiewicz played at the 2001 Men’s Worlds when it finished first in Division I-A under coach Wiktor Psyz to earn promotion to the top for the first time in a decade. Although the return lasted only one year, Laszkiewicz continued to represent his country every year through 2015. That year, he announced his retirement from the national team, although he played in the Polish league another four years. At the end of his final WM game, he was named Best Player. In all, he was national team captain for four years, 2008-2011, and played 216 times for his country. His 96 games played at the World Championship is second all time in Poland behind the legendary Henryk Gruth.
After retiring, Laszkiewicz became general manager of his hometown JKH GKS Jastrzebie as well as the national team. In 2024, under his leadership, the team returned to the top level of the Men’s Worlds for the first time since 2002, when he played.
During a pro career that lasted more than two decades, Leszek Laszkiewicz played pro in four countries in Europe as well as an astounding 18 Men’s World Championships.
In Poland, Laszkiewicz won the national championship eight times, five with Cracovia (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), playing with his brother, Daniel, and three with Unia Oswiecim (2001, 2002, 2004). In 17 years in the Polish league, he surpassed the 1,000-point plateau and became the all-time scoring leader. In his one year playing in Italy, 2004-05 with HC Milano Vipers, he won the national championship and the Italian Cup.
Born in Jastrzebie-Zdroj, Laszkiewicz first made a name for himself at the 1996 European U18 Championship, leading the tournament in scoring and drawing interest from Nurnberg Ice Tigers in the German League, where he played from 1997 to 1999.
In IIHF play, he first appeared at the top level of the 1997 World Juniors, the last time Poland played up in U20 play. In 1998, he played in B Pool of the World Juniors. That year, he also appeared in his first senior Men’s Worlds, also B Pool, playing on a line with Mariusz Czerkawski and Jacek Plachta.
Most significantly, Laszkiewicz played at the 2001 Men’s Worlds when it finished first in Division I-A under coach Wiktor Psyz to earn promotion to the top for the first time in a decade. Although the return lasted only one year, Laszkiewicz continued to represent his country every year through 2015. That year, he announced his retirement from the national team, although he played in the Polish league another four years. At the end of his final WM game, he was named Best Player. In all, he was national team captain for four years, 2008-2011, and played 216 times for his country. His 96 games played at the World Championship is second all time in Poland behind the legendary Henryk Gruth.
After retiring, Laszkiewicz became general manager of his hometown JKH GKS Jastrzebie as well as the national team. In 2024, under his leadership, the team returned to the top level of the Men’s Worlds for the first time since 2002, when he played.