All four lines were grinding hard against a team that last year was playing two levels above them since Poland dropped down from Div1/A last year whereas Hungary was promoted from Div 2/B. It was an exciting start to finish as both teams played great on the defensive zones of the game. In the end it was a battle of goalies.
Head coach Rich Chernomaz decided to go with Gergely Arany in net for the opening game. The first twenty minutes started balanced but as the period went on Hungary took over the puck position of the period. At the halfway point of the period Márk Egyed lifted the puck over the empty net which ended up becoming the biggest scoring chance of the period. Poland had an interference penalty during the period, Márk Szaller had a long shot that looked to have crossed the goal line before it was swept aside but the refs did not give the goal.
The second period was much like the first as Hungary had puck possession but was not able to put the puck past Polish keeper Michael Luba. Vilmos Galló had an early chance but Luba stood tall. In the middle of the period with Tamás Láday serving two minutes for interference Hungary had a great penalty kill with Galló and Erik Keresztúry keeping the puck down in the Polish end and also creating a couple of scoring chances. The first real scoring chance for Poland came on a late penalty kill as Arany snuffed out a short handed breakaway with style.
Hungary started the period with killing the remaining minutes that were left from an Egyed penalty. There were a number of opportunities for Hungary through the third period but the Luba wall stood tall. At the midway point of the period Keresztury dropped a puck for Gallo who shot the puck over the net. As the minutes rolled off the clock Hungary kept on crashing the net and fighting for every rebound but Poland also stayed aggressive and were also created chances but Arany stayed shot for shot with Luba. The Poland had a real chance as Radoslaw Sawicki hit the post, in the dying minutes of the game seemingly every forward for Hungary had a scoring chance. After 60 minutes of hockey both Arany and Luba had pitched a shutout.
In overtime Hungary kept on dominating the net Szaller had a shot that Galló flipped over the net, Galló later had a goal disallowed as the refs said that he had kicked it in the net. In the shootout after the three rounds it was 2-2 as Galló and Csanád Erdély scored for Hungary, the shootout ended up going six round when Péter Vincze scored the winner as Hungary picked up two out of the three points.
In the end the two goalie was the players of the game for their respective teams.
Coaches Corner
“We dominated the game but there were two reasons why we could not score, the Polish team played great and their goalie was outstanding he stopped everything. In the third period we outshot them 20-5, about 10 or 15 of these were big saves. Aside from this I think we played a great game and we fought hard. Of course we had some mistakes but Arany was good in net he played a large part in our victory.” Rich Chernomaz
View from the Ice
“We played a good game, the only problem was that we couldn't convert on our scoring chances. The opposition played good defense and blocked a lot of our shots so we have to work on that.” Bence Stipsicz
“It was good game, we attacked from start to finish whereas they only really had chances from counter attacks. We had a lot of shots on goal I’m confident that the next game these shots will find the back of the net. Our defence and goaltending did what they were supposed to, we do however have to cut down on the penalties” Ferenc Kocsis
Other Results
In the early game of the day Japan beat France in a thrilling shootout win. France held a 1-0 lead after a Fabien Kazarine goal, in the second period Yushiroh Hirano scored to make it even at 1-1. The period both teams scored a period as Hirano scored his second goal and Floran Douay put the puck in the net for France. Japanese team captain Hirano scored the winning shootout goal to give Japan two out of the three goals.
The late game of the day was between Ukraine and Kazakhstan, both who clearly play in the Russian style of hockey, which Kazakhstan won handley 5-1. After a scoreless first period Ukraine opened up the scoring in the second period before Kazakhstan scored four straight goals in the period and fifth one in the third period.
Standings
Kazakhstan 3 points
Japan 2 points
Hungary 2 points
France 1 point
Poland 1 point
Ukraine 0 points
Scoring leaders
Points:3, Yushiroh Hirano, Japan
Goals: 3, Hirano, Japan
Assits: 2, Stanislav Zinchenko Kazahkstan
All information from the IIHF Division 1/B can be found here