The MOL League preview series on icehockey.hu continues with one of the winningest clubs in league history, and perenial playoff team Dunaújváros
The MOL League preview series on icehockey.hu continues with one of the winningest clubs in league history, and perenial playoff team Dunaújváros
After having one the strongest sponsors in the MOL League Dunaújváros has lost their benefactor and this year things will be a bit harder financially for them. General manager and team president Zsolt Azari has taken a back seat to his son Zsolt Azari Jr. who has taken over the day to day management from his father along with still being an active player. Taking over behind the bench from Don MacLean is another Canadian coach, Lee Gilbert. Gilbert has multinational background as he has worked in Norway, France and the United States. The past three years he has been working in private consulting.
Overall the team will be weaker than last season but this will give younger players a valuable experience.
ROSTER
In between the pipes Dunaújváros has had the best goalie combo in the league for the past two seasons, this year they will be heading into the campaign with last years number three goalie Márk Hajek, Dávid Duschek who came over from Miskolc and made an appearance in the national team as well as import Brett Lindoff fighting for the number one spot. Duschek has a chance to get back in the national team picture with a good season.
Defensively they have a combination of young players with very little experience at the adult level or veterans are are at the twilight of their career and are not a top pair defenseman anymore. Two former players are back and can teach the young guys something new is Tamás Lencsés and Zoltán Revák. Bence Dörök, Gellért Hruby and Rene Léránt are playing their first season of a career that can be long and successful.
Like on the back end up front the SteelBulls have veterans that are playing their last few years before hanging the skates up or young guys that have a long career ahead fo them. The leader of the group is Dunaújváros legend Imre Peterdi who has also started coaching on the side as well. Joining Peterdi is another veteran and former national team player Gergely Borbás. Look for Azari and Dusan Sijka to also to be responsible for scoring. Gilbert has to hope that the import forwards he brings Phil Bushbacher, Brad Smith and Mike Mccann have the skill level to keep up with the other teams top lines. Mátyás Odnoga and the Szepessy twins have a chance to play valuable minutes this season.
COACHES' CORNERZsolt Azari Jr.:The team is coming together however we still need some time for all the pieces to fit together since we have a new coach and a number of new players as well. The league has one more team than last season I think the league split in two and there will be an exciting race at the top of the standings as well as for the final playoff spots, five and six in the standings.
Expert Opinion*
If the new coach in Dunaújváros is a good coach or can bring something extra to the table then the playoffs is realistic with this roster.
*Recently retired former MOL League player
Additions: Duschek (Miskolc), Lindoff (Danville, FHL), Han (Brasov), Lencsés, Németh, Revák (Ferencváros), Borbás (Tisza Volán, Serbia), Bushbacher (Evansville, ECHL), McCann (Mississippi, SPHL), Odnoga, Sijka (Debrecen), Smith (Hong Kong, CIHL), Rasulov (without a team)
Departed: Kalnins (Fehérvár AV19), Sevela (Skalica, Extraliga), Erdély, Kovács (Ferencváros), Mestyán, Pozsgai, Szappanos (MAC), Croteau (Cornwall, LNAH), Eskelinen (Memmingen, German 4th), Galanisz, Pavuk, Somogyi (DVTK), Gröschl (UTE), Hüffner, Martine, Nagy, Papp (?)