Hungary held its last practice Saturday before Sunday’s opening game of the Division 1/A World Championships against Japan. János Vas will be available for Hungary whereas István Sofron will not be.
Before the start of practice a team photo was taken as well as the official portraits as well. After the weather had been very spring like the day before on Saturday the temperature plummeted to a very winteresque feeling. The atmosphere in the arena wasn't much warmer, István Sofron will not be allowed to play the first two games of the tournament because of IIHF bylaws.
Sofron had been suspended for three games in the DEL playoffs, he was able to serve was one of the games but his team was knocked out of the playoffs before he could sit out the next two games. Because of this his suspension carriers over to the next IIHF games that he plays, which happens to be against Japan and Kazakhstan.
The injury bug started when Roland Hajós broke his hand which was then followed by the ankle injuries of Ladislav Sikorcin and Viktor Tokaji and the last practice before the team travelled to Krakow István Bartalis had a knee ligament injury. One good news that the team received was that János Vas will be available from the start of the tournament.
Rich Chernomaz had to reshuffle the lines again after this latest issue.
Expected line combinations for the game against Japan:
Kóger, Sarauer, Banham
Sebők, Hári J., Vincze
Kovács Cs., Vas J., Erdély
Benk, Nagy K., Magosi B.
Orbán, Vas M.
Metcalfe, Szirányi B.
Gőz, Kiss D.
Pozsgai
Rajna (Bálizs)
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
13:00 Hungary-Japan
16:30 Ukraine-Kazakhstan
20:00 Poland-Italy
Monday April 20
13:00 Kazakhstan-Hungary
16:30 Italy-Ukraine
20:00 Poland-Italy
Tuesday April 21-Off day
Wednesday April 22
13:00 Kazakhstan-Japan
16:30 Italy-Hungary
20:00 Poland-Ukraine
Thursday April 23
13:00 Japan-Italy
16:30 Ukraine-Hungary
20:00 Kazakhstan-Poland
Friday April 24-Off day
Saturday April 25
13:00 Japan-Ukraine
16:30 Italy-Kazakhstan
20:00 Hungary-Poland
Photo: Szücs András