Long time MAC coach Tibor Marton has an opportunity to coach an adult team and he is not going to pass it up even if it is in New Zealand. The Canterbury Red Devils have hired Marton to be their coach for the upcoming 2014 season.
New Zealand is not exactly a hockey country, the top league is made up of five teams with the season going from the end of May to the middle of August with matches only being played on the weekends. The schedule is set up so that a team plays two matches every weekend either at home or on the road. Both matches are always against the same team. In the 16 match schedule every team plays each other twice on the road and twice at home.
The hiring of a Hungarian coach by a team from New Zealand might sound random but in reality it is not. Former Hungarian national team player János Kaszala played down there with some success, being named MVP, winning the scoring title and a championship. Since retiring he has coached in the league and has also become an assistant coach with the national team as well.
Another connection to Hungary is the young Red Devils forward Jaxon Lane, his father Jake Lane is part of the management of the organization that brought in Márton to the club. Two seasons ago Jaxon Lane had played for Márton on the MAC U18 squad and before for the Budapest Stars youth teams.
Tibor Márton says that this is a great opportunity for him to develop as a coach and at the same time not leave what he has accomplished with MAC. Because of the season being played during the European offseason he can gain valuable coaching experience that will not interfere with his time at MAC. As more and more young players are getting into the Hungarian national team it is safe to say that Tibi has had a hand in developing the future of Hungarian hockey. He has not only spent years coaching various teams for MAC but also been coaching a number of the youth national teams as well. For his valuable work Marton has been voted Best Youth Coach of the Year in Hungary in 2012.
It is safe to say that not only will Marton be gaining a valuable experience but the Red Devils are getting an excellent and committed coach at the same time.
Szabolcs Závodszky
@Zavodszky