Known at the Metodikai Központ, or in English the Methodical Center is the Hungarian national team system’s off ice training facility, but this could easily be confused as the Glen Williamson’s or Sándor Puskás’ laboratory.
Kevin McLaughlin,the general manager of the United States U18 national team and assistant coach Nick Fohr gave their opinion about Hungarian National Program training facility, and compared to what USA Hockey has in Colorado Springs, Colorado as well as the brand new facility that the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) uses in Plymouth Michigan. Both coaches also mentioned how important a trip like this is for the USA junior program and what they think about Budapest.
“This has been perfect for our pre-tournament training camp, the city has been fantastic, this is a beautiful world class city. The people have been great, the hotel and the meals have been fantastic. Zoltán Kovács, who is a friend of mine, he has been a fantastic to offer this opportunity to come here and practice and to play the exhibition game here.” said the general manager. McLaughlin not only had great superlatives for the capital of Hungary but also the Tüskecsarnok where they defeated Hungary. “The rink is obviously beautiful, as is the skybox from where he have been able to film practice.”
When asked about the Metodikai Központ, McLaughlin had similar words, “what you have here is a first class facility with the gymnasium, the strength and conditioning opportunities, the video classroom and with the locker rooms and the ice, it is a first class facility.”
From what Nick Fohr mentioned about USNTDP center in Plymouth, the Budapest facility is not missing that much from what USA Hockey has built.
“This is gorgeous, that you have here, we just bought a facility in Plymouth Michigan, we basically bought an arena. Up until now we were renting a place in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The rink has two sheets of ice, and we renovated the inside, new boards and glass, the NHL quality stuff. We added about 20,000 sq feet to the building, about half of that is a weight room and training facility, with a ⅓ of that is turf for sprints and plyometrics. There is also a shooting area, for off ice skill training. In the upstairs there are the staff offices as well as video classrooms to break down game film and practice as well as showing examples from NHL games.”
From the way it sounds we are not that far off, we are a shooting area and upstairs away from being where USA Hockey is.