Coached by Finns with major international experience, Hungary’s men’s and women’s national ice-hockey teams are both in action in Budapest this week.
Under Jari Risku, the women’s team are preparing for the Division 1A Group World Championship with matches against China and Denmark, with knock-out rounds to follow. Admission is free to these games at the Kaposztásmegyer rink, which will also be the stage for the world finals next spring.
As for the men’s team, coach Jarmo Tolvanen struck a positive note at the pre-tournament press conference: “Last season, our coaching team got to know the players, all 56 of them. Our aim was to find the right tactics to play successful matches, highlighting players and team strengths. Our current goals now include finding new faces and new names. This is especially true for young players. I would like to give them more and more chances to prove themselves, helping them reach international level. We have a lot of new ideas for our tactics, looking for more successful systems. We want to find the most optimal configuration, the strongest line-ups”.
Tolvanen’s men’s team take on Kazakhstan tomorrow, South Korea on Friday at 7.30pm and Italy on Saturday at 4pm. Their games take place at the Tüskecsarnok, just over Petőfi Bridge in Buda. Ticket prices for matches involving Hungary are 2,990-3,390 forints (under-14s 1,490 forints, under-4s free), and for all other games, 900 forints each. All four-day passes have already sold out. All English-language ticket information can be found here.
Women’s matches also take place between 7-10 November, at the Jégpalota in Kaposztásmegyer, admission free.
Jégpalota, Kaposztásmegyer
District IV. Homoktövis 1
Tüskecsarnok
District XI. Magyar tudósok körútja 7
More details can be found on the website of the Hungarian Ice Hockey Federation.
