Continuing with the MOL League preview series after MAC Budapest, FehérvárAV19 is the other new team in the league.
After playing in the championship series in just about every age group last season, it would be only fitting that the club with the top two youth systems would also face off at the senior level in the MOL League. After a three year hiatus Fehrvár has a farm team in the MOL League again, unlike in the past they plan on being a competitive club with a chance of making the playoffs. Much like with MAC Budapest, Fehérvár felt that they needed a senior team for the players that have “graduated” from their youth system, also this could bridge the U20 and the EBEL squads.
Coaching the team will be Tyler Dietrich who is heading into his fifth season with the club after already leading the U18 and U20 teams to championship titles. Dieterich will be coaching a roster full have players that he has mentored from being young teenagers to grown hockey players. Helping out Dietrich will be long time Fehérvár and former national team assistant coach Lajos Énekes. The team will be made up of a handful of imports all in their mid twenties, former Fehérvár players also in their mid twenties and players who last season were either were on the U18 or U20 roster.
THE SQUAD
The original plan at the goalie position was to have U20 national team goalie Dániel Kornakker to play a healthy dose of games and also to learn from Latvian import Janis Kalnins. Kalnins represented his country at last year world championships and was arguably the top goalie in the MOL League with Dunaújváros the past two seasons. Just before the start of training camp Kornarkker who was expected to make the jump from U20 to the MOL squad, decided to try his luck playing junior hockey in the WSHL. Replacing Kornakker is Alex Scola, it's not the ideal situation to play the season with two import goalies.
The defensive unit has potential but right now they are very inexperienced as Ádám Z. Hegyi and Devon Krogh are the only two players above the age of 25. With Attila Reiter, who will also be playing with the EBEL squad, there are three players with any real senior team experience. Bence Szabó who is only 17 has the chance to show that he is a really special player and Mark Szaller is also a young blueliner to keep an eye on.
The forward unit is equally young and inexperienced as the D-men, the “grizzled” veterans are a pair of 26 year old Canadians, Brance Orbán and Preston Shupe who are both going into their third year of pro hockey. There is plenty of young talent among the forwards as Tamás Sárpátki, Ferenc Kocsis, Péter Vincze, Chris Bodo and Mitch Holmberg can all light the lamp. Donát Szita and Dániel Vizi are two young bucks to keep an eye on as they are 17 and 18 respectively.
COACH'S CORNER
Tyler Dietrich: "We will be an energetic group that will rely on bringing an exceptional work ethic every game. Our core group of Hungarians have excelled at the junior levels and we'll have large number of first time pro's. This might make for some growing pains and obstacles to overcome early but ultimately we can use it to our advantage throughout the course of the season. The mix of imports we've brought into the group bring a lot of skill, speed, and character. It seems the MOL Liga has gained in strength rapidly throughout the past few years, and we know the competition will be tough."
EXPERT OPINION*
"I think like MAC Fehérvár will also be a team that will compete and will have energy. They will have more young players, the question is will be who will the young players play in a league that is result driven. These players played on youth teams that won a lot more than they lost, will they be able to bounce back from a big loss."
*Recently retired former MOL League player
New additions: Kalnins (Dunaújváros) Scola (Heilbronner, DEL2) Hegyi, Reiter, Tóth (UTE) Krogh (Greenville, ECHL) Bodo (Mercyhurst, NCAA) Holmberg (Elmira, ECHL) Orban (Kallinge/Ronneby, Swe Div1) Shupe (Strasbourg, France)
Departed: None