The 59-year-old replaces Jacek Plachta after his contract was not renewed following three years in charge. 

“Canada has been the best in the world in recent years and I’m glad we have been able to find an agreement with such a great coach,” the Federation’s President Dawid Chwalka said.

“Ted Nolan has worked in Latvia and knows European hockey.

"We expect that with this staff we will reach improved results.”

After promotion to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group A, Poland has quickly established itself in the second tier with two third-place finishes on home ice in Krakow in 2015 and Katowice in 2016.

Last year in Kyiv, Poland finished fourth. 

During his coaching career, Nolan has taken charge of the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League (NHL) over two spells between 1995 and 1997 and then from 2013 to 2015.

He also led the New York Islanders from 2006 to 2008.

Between 2011 and 2014, Nolan was coach of the Latvian national team.

At the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games they defeated Switzerland 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals, but were eliminated by Canada 2-1.

“I love challenges," said Nolan.

"I’ve always been an underdog my whole life.

"When this opportunity came and seeing where Polish hockey has been for a while, hopefully I can make a difference and rise up to a higher level.

"I’m really looking forward.

"It’s probably my biggest challenge to date and my biggest excitement to date.

“I looked at when they’ve been in the top division competing against the bigger nations and they haven’t been for a while so I’m really looking forward to getting to that level."

Nolan also took charge of Latvia at the IIHF World Championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014 where they finished 10th, 11th and 11th respectively.