Last time Hungary faced South Korea they had rained on Hungary’s parade in Budapest when they had upset the host country at the 2013 Division 1A world championships, with a 5-4 shootout win. Hungary hopes to return the favor by beating the host nation on their home ice on opening day. For Hungary it is important to start the world championships with a solid opening win.
From the 22 players who were in Budapest 19 are back including former NHL draft pick Brock Radunske who was the talk of the tournament last year. In the past year South Korea has picked up another two Canadiens, defenceman Bryan Young and his cousin, forward Michael Smith. These are two great additions to a team that everyone knew beforehand would already be a tough opponent to face. This Korean team is pretty experienced at the international level and wins will not be coming easy against them for anyone. This team knows how to skate and score, and through the years have picked up the hard hitting style in the high levels of international hockey.
Both goalies have been the starting keeper at a Division 1A tournament at one time or another in their careers, both Sung Je Park and Ho Seung Son can backstop this team to victory.
On the blue line the team is equally experienced as in the net with the youngest defenceman being 25 years old. The defencemen are made up of players who have been regulars in the Asian League for a number of year, but two players to keep on eye on are Woo Young Kim and Bryan Young. Kim is the captain of Anyang Halla, the team that has the most players on this South Korean team, who is one of the few home grown talents that has experienced hockey outside of Asia, Kim spent a part of one season in Finland. Whereas Young is a type of player that the team can rely on for years come. Young comes from Ontario, Canada and had spent parts of two season with the Edmonton Oilers as well as a number of years in the AHL and ECHL.
The forward unit is the one part of this team that everyone has to watch out for. It has a nice combination of Asian hockey, with some European and North American flavor in it as well. Brothers Ki Sung Kim and Sang Wook Kim both spent some time in Finland, Ki Sung also played in the CHL, both of them have been a real scoring threat in the Asian League. Wu-Sang Park is also a player that is known for finding the back of the net and can also use his size well.
The two biggest scores on the team and who have been terrorizing goalies in the Asian League for years now is Radunske and Swift, both are Canadian born with Radunske being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers. They both have played a number of years in the AHL before coming to Asia, Swift came up through the Canadian juniors, and Radunske played NCAA hockey. One player who looks to be the future face of South Korean hockey is Shang-Hoon Shin, who looks to be establishing himself in Finland.
Hungary’s view
Goalie coach Gary Clark: ”They are the host nation, they are very prepared to play in front of their fans, they have some new Canadians. They have a tendency to be too nervous, once you get past the first couple of minutes the game picks up its style. There is more pressure on their side then on us, they are a great skating team that transitions well. We have to make sure we don't shoot ourselves in the foot and just play our game. We are prepared and we are ready, too.”
Photo: László Mudra