Hungary entered the last game of the World Championships in control of their own destiny, one point was to be enough for promotion back up to the A Pool for the first time since 2009. In the way of the Hungarian squad was the home team Poland who felt confident in their chances against the favored Hungarian.
Head coach Rich Chernomaz left everything the same in his lineup, Rajna who played great against both Italy and Ukraine remained the starting goalie. On the Other side Przemyslaw Odrobny took over as the number one goalie after the first game and has played outstanding, posting a save percentage of 96%.
The Hungarian fans showed up strong up to 4000 supporters came for the Saturday night game.
Hungary pressed hard from the start like they did in their last two games, they created a number of chances but were not able to put the puck into the back of the Polish net. The home team statistically did manage some shots but really chances were not created.
In opening the minutes of the opening minutes of the third period Frank “the Tank” threw a light shot on net, the puck bounced out and János Hári put it in for the 1-0 lead. Hungary kept up the pressure on the Polish net, but as the period went on Poland took back the momentum of the game. With under five minutes left in the game Poland called timeout and pulled their goalie since they need to win in regulation to have a chance at promotion, being one goal down they needed two for the win. The strategy worked out as Poland scored on screened shot that Rajna did not ‘see. With two minutes left Poland pulled their goalie again, Bence Szirányi capped it off with an empty net goal for the 2 -1 win.
Today's Lineup
Kóger, Sarauer, Sofron
Sebők, Hári, Banham
Kovács, J.Vas, Erdély
Benk, Nagy, Magosi
Vincze
Gőz/Kiss, M.Vas
Metcalfe, Szirányi
Orbán, Pozsgai
Rajna (Bálizs)
View from the ice
Frank Banham-”Its unbelievable three weeks age we set out on this journey, all the work that the management, coaching staff and the players put in, its incredible feeling”
The Hungarian Squad
Goalies (2): BÁLIZS Bence (Miskolci Jegesmedvék) RAJNA Miklós (Fehérvár AV19)
Defensmen (7): KISS Dániel (Újpest) ORBÁN Attila, SZIRÁNYI Bence (Fehérvár AV19) POZSGAI Tamás (Dab.Docler), GŐZ Balázs, METCALFE Tyler (Miskolci Jegesmedvék), VAS Márton (Löwen Frankfurt, DEL2)
Forwards (13): BANHAM Frank, BENK András, EREDÉLY Csanád, KOVÁCS Csaba, KÓGER Dániel, MAGOSI Bálint, SARAUER Andrew, VINCZE Péter, (Fehérvár AV19) NAGY Krisztián (Miskolci Jegesmedvék) SEBŐK Balázs (Hokki, FIN2) SOFRON István (Krefeld Pinguine, GER), VAS János (Slavia Praha, CZE) HÁRI János (MODO, SWE)
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Rich Chernomaz
Assistant Coaches: Gergely Majoross, Tamás Sille, Diego Scandella
Goalie Coach: Gary Clark
World Championships Schedule
Sunday April 19
Monday April 20
Wednesday April 22
Thursday April 23
Saturday April 25
20:00 Hungary-Poland
Photo: László Mudra