Aleksander Kowalski | |||||||||||||||||
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 Lucjan Kulej | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1896-11-26)26 November 1896 Danków, Poland | ||||||||||||||||
| Died | 13 July 1971(1971-07-13) (aged 74) Katowice, Poland | ||||||||||||||||
Ice hockey player
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| Military career | |||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | Poland | ||||||||||||||||
| Branch | Army | ||||||||||||||||
| Unit | Bełt Battalion | ||||||||||||||||
| Battles / wars | Warsaw Uprising (World War II) | ||||||||||||||||
Lucjan Kulej,nom de guerreOstoja (November 26, 1896 inDanków – July 13, 1971 inKatowice) was a Polish jurist,rower, andice hockey player who competed in the1928 Winter Olympics.[1] Kulej was among the athletes who spread and sustained the sport of ice hockey during thePolish-Soviet War; he and his brother also helped establish the hockey club inAZS Warsaw.[2][3]
Kulej studied law at theUniversity of Warsaw, where he was part of therowing team. In 1915, he joined thePolish Military Organization and was assigned to theMounted Rifles Regiment in 1918. He became a prisoner of war in December 1918 after being injured in the field, but managed to escape in April 1919. He participated in a rowing competition held in 1920 to inspire Polish masses during a crucial deciding point of thewar and was chosen to represent the country in the1920 Summer Olympics, however he was called back to the front before he could compete.[3][2]
Kulej played for the national team between 1925 and 1931, appearing in 29 matches and scoring two goals. In 1928, he participated with thePolish ice hockey team in theOlympic tournament. He co-founded the Silesian Ice Hockey Association and the Silesian Skating Society and later coached the Polish Olympic team alongside former AZS teammateAleksander Tupalski in 1936.[3][1][2]
Kulej was aprosecutor in district courts inWarsaw,Sosnowiec,Katowice, andŁomża in the 1930s. DuringWorld War II, he was a member ofArmia Krajowa and was a judge in an underground court. He took part in theWarsaw Uprising as part of theBełt Battalion under the name Ostoja. Though wounded, he managed to escape to Warsaw with his wife and lived under the name Wiśniewski. After the war, he opened a private practice.[3]
