The Canadian ambassador Lisa Helfand hosted a reception at the embassy for both the U-18 women's ice hockey teams of Canada and Hungary before the upcoming world championships that are being held in Budapest, the tournament runs from the 23rd until the 30th of March at the Ice Palace.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Canada having foreign relations with Hungary, among other events in the upcoming year the Canadian embassy invited the two hockey teams for the reception.
At the reception three specially designed jerseys that had a 50th anniversary logo on the chest were signed by the players of both the teams, one of which will be auctioned off at an event. Ms. Helfand also received a Hungarian and Canadian team jerseys signed by the respective teams. Soon after arriving the two teams were mingling, chatting and laughing as one would expect when you have a group of teenagers meeting for the first time.
Both head coaches, Laura Schuler of Canada and Norbert Buzás of Hungary said that this is a great experience for the girls, and its a great opportunity for them to experience something that they normally would not have had a chance to experience if it was not for hockey.
Also in attendance were two Canadian coaches who are associated with Hungarian ice hockey, Gary Clark goalie coach of the Hungarian mens senior team and Glen Williamson head coach of the Hungarian mens U-18 team.
The two teams are in separate groups for the championships, Canada will be playing Japan, Finland and the Czech Republic, host nation Hungary has Sweden, Russia and U.S.A. as their opponents. Hungary would not face Canada until the knockout part the tournament.
The two teams will play a friendly game on Friday afternoon, and after the event at the embassy it will be truly a friendly matchup.
Szabolcs Závodszky @Zavodszky