At the beiging os September icehockey.hu has started a new series in which readers can become familiar with the youth programs around the country. This week Tibor Marton from MAC Budapest took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions.
How far does the history of MAC hockey date back to?
When KSI folded at the beginning of the 1990s there was a small group of people who tried to keep hockey alive at the Kisstadion. First under the name Liget SE, then MAC Népstadion and finally MAC Budapest. It all started with a small group of kids born in 1988-89-90 as a supermini team who then grew up and played in all the age groups. As there were tams in all the age groups coaches from hockey countries were also brought in, from Finland, Sweden, and Canada. It was a great boost that the kids could learn from real professionals. The next step was when the Sapporo heros started to retire and some of them started to coach at MAC, they have been a great help and will continue to help. We are always looking for the best ways to improve, always trying to find teams to face that will push us, we have reached the point where we have an adult pro team as well.
How long have you been working for MAC and what roles have you had with the club?
This is my 16th or 17th season with the club, I have worked with every age group throughout my career. I have worked my way up through the age groups, but I feel that this never ends, I am always open to learning something new. Currently I work with the U12 and U18 teams at MAC, and I am also the director of youth development. In short, next to my coaching responsibilities I try to take care of any other problems that may arise.
What should people know about your playing career and how long have you been working as a coach?
I started playing in 1985 for Újpest under coach János Buzás, I had a another brief stint with UTE but I spent my youth years with MAC. I felt that I would not be able to make the jump to a an adult team, I did not have enough creativity in my game, but luckily around the age of 15-16 I had an opportunity to get into coaching. I worked for seven years with the national youth teams at the U16 and U18 levels. Last season I started to work with the women's national team, this has been a lot of fun.
A number of national team players have grown up under your guidance, why did you become a coach originally?
As I mentioned earlier I knew that once I hung up the skates I still wanted to work in hockey. It seemed obvious that I would become a coach, back the opportunities were different and also different than what you might find in real hockey countries, but I looked up to every coach I ever had and I learned something from everyone. I had ideas as how to improve the development of hockey players. I feel that MAC is the perfect situation for me, there is a calm environment surrounding the organization, it's a place where a coach can really make an impact on a young player’s life as well as his hockey career. I don’t think anyone will be surprised when I say not every kid will become a pro hockey player, but it is important that they be a down to earth, sport loving, goal oriented citizen. The best part of my job is seeing the kids grow up, there were players that when we travelled away for a training camp they would cry every night and now will be playing in the A-Pool.
What are the strengths of the MAC Ice Hockey Academy and what are something that you need to overcome?
One of the strengths is that it is really one big family, also regardless of it being a player, coach, parent or manager, everyone always try to put something extra to it. For example when the Kisstadion had water damage, coaches, parents and managers alike came together to fix the problem. The foundation of this club is the sacrifices that the parents, the players and the coaches make. Mike Babcock once said that hockey is an incredible sport because the players are incredible. I say that it is great to be a part of MAC because of the people involved with the club are great. With regards to problems that we may have all I can say is that we have problems that can be solved and we are lucky that there is always someone who is up for solving whatever it is.
Looking at the future what does it mean for the academy that MAC has a pro team?
I would like to answer this question from the point of youth development, when we started this project we wanted our players to stay with the club as long as possible, for us to care for them as long as possible. Now with a senior pro team someone can start out at the super mini level and stay in the MAC family all the way until they turn pro. It is great there are so many junior players that are getting a chance to play with the MOL League squad. The team was only formed two months ago and we have already had about 20 junior players that have practiced or played with the senior team already. This is a great opportunity for the younger players and it gives them the motivation to work hard, they also get to see up close, what it takes to become a true professional. It also helps that the coaching staff is made of people that have coached for MAC at the youth level and know the players that could be called up to the senior team.