Mariusz Czerkawski

Jest najbardziej znanym polskim hokeistą. Karierę zaczynał w polskim klubie GKS Tychy. Przez wiele lat był zawodnikiem czołowych klubów ligi NHL i najlepszych klubów Europy. Dzięki dobrej grze w pierwszej połowie sezonu 1999/2000, został powołany przez władze NHL do historycznego 50 meczu gwiazd NHL – All Stars Game, który odbył się 6 lutego 2000 roku w Toronto.

Wykładowca, komentator sportowy, uczestnik debat publicznych. Juror konkursów telewizyjnych, uczestnik programów rozrywkowych, grał w wielu filmach i serialach telewizyjnych. 21 czerwca 2004 roku za wybitne zasługi dla rozwoju hokeja na lodzie oraz za osiągnięcia w działalności społecznej prezydent Aleksander Kwaśniewski nadał Czerkawskiemu Krzyż Kawalerski Orderu Odrodzenia Polski.
W 2009 roku zdobył Superchampiona w plebiscycie „Przeglądu Sportowego” i TVP za całokształt kariery oraz „Złoty Krążek” od dziennikarzy TVP Sport, Magazynu Hokej i portalu Sport24.pl w uznaniu za całokształt kariery i działalność na rzecz rozwoju hokeja w Polsce. W lipcu 2012 roku biegł ze zniczem olimpijskim przed Olimpiadą w Londynie. We wrześniu 2012 roku ukazała się książka „Życie na lodzie”. Jest to wywiad-rzeka z Mariuszem Czerkawskim, w którym opowiada o życiu na lodzie, począwszy od lodowiska na osiedlowym parkingu, aż do zakończenia kariery.
W październiku 2012 roku został powołany na funkcję team leadera reprezentacji Polski na turniej kwalifikacyjny do Zimowych Igrzysk Olimpijskich 2014 w Soczi.
Wciąż wspiera polski hokej, jako doradca prezesa Polskiego Związku Hokeja na Lodzie.

Beginning

He started to play hockey in the age of 8 to join GKS Tychy team in the age of 16. In the age of 19 he represented Poland at the World Junior Championships (1991). Mariusz was a three-time member of Poland’s World Championship team (1992, 2000, 2002), and played for the Polish national team at the Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France in 1992. Being 19, he moved to Sweden where his international hockey carrier and road to NHL started.

NHL

Mariusz’s first stop in Sweden was Djugardens of the Elitserien. In 1992, he played for SC Hammarby leading the Swedish first division with 55 goals and 92 points. In that time, he was also drafted for the first time by the Boston Bruins in the NHL Entry Draft, however, his NHL debut was 2 years later, in 1994. He first appearance in Boston Bruins was in a play against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After year and a half in Boston, middle of 1995-1996 season Mariusz was traded to Edmonton Oilers where earned 38 goals in 113 games.
In the summer 1997, Mariusz moved to New York to join the New York Islanders. He considers the time spent with NY Islanders as the most fruitful and important in his sports career. Between 1999-2001 he was considered the best and most effective shooter on the team, earing in 2000 the title of the Islander of the Year and appearing in the World All-Star game in Toronto. For his beloved New York Islanders Mariusz (No 21) played 389 times, earned 246 points, and 120 goals.
In 2002 Mariusz Czerkawski was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens for one season, next he made a return to the Islanders. In 2005 Mariusz joined Toronto Maple Leafs to move to the Boston Bruins in the middle of the season, where he appeared his last time in play in 2006. In total, in the NHL Mariusz played for 12 seasons, in 745 games, earned 435 points and 215 goals, while in play-offs he did 12 plays and earned 13 points and 7 goals. He is considered the best and most recognized worldwide Polish player in NHL

Business, NGO, sports

In 2008, after 17 year Mariusz Czerkawski announced to finished a professional sport career. From that time on, he has been focusing on the NGO activates in his Sport7 association set up in 2011, through which he is popularizing hockey among the youth. In the business filed he plays a role of an investor, Business Angel, mentor or PR sponsor for different business and sports projects. He is also a hockey expert, an advisor to the Polish Hockey Association and sports commentator.
For almost 10 years now, Mariusz has been following his other passion – golf. Here, a combination of passion, ambition, hard work and determination that led him to be the best in hockey, transformed quickly into success in the amateur golf. In November 2017, with the HCP below 5 he represented Poland in the most prestigious amateur golf treatment in the world – World Golfers Championships, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In 2004, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewki awarded Mariusz Czerkawski the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.

Individual and team awards:

• Golden Stick for the 1990/1991 season for the best hockey player in Poland (as the youngest winner in history at the age of 19),
• European Cup and Vice-Championship of Sweden in the colors of Djurgårdens IF (1992),
• Record (and top scorer) in the Allsvenskan league with Hammarby IF – 93 points in 45 games (1993),
• Participation in the Allsvenskan All-Star Game (1994),
• Ranked 3rd in assists and 5th in rookie scoring in the 1994/95 NHL season with the Boston Bruins,
• The „Islander of the Year 2000” award in the colors of the New York Islanders,
• Appeared in the Toronto All Stars Game (2000), scoring a point for an assist on Miroslav Šatan’s goal,
• Top scorer for the New York Islanders (1999, 2000, 2004),
• Top scorer for Rapperswil-Jona Lakers (2007, 2008),
• The title of „Superchampion” in the Przeglad Sportowy plebiscite for all sports achievements (2008),
• „Złoty Krążek” award from the journalists of TVP Sport, Magazyn Hokej and Sport24.pl portal in recognition of his entire career and activities for the development of hockey in Poland (2009).
TOPICS:
• Insights into what it takes to be the Best.
• Sucess factor – the importance of preparation.
• How to manage conflict in team.
• Teamwork & decision making under pressure.