The Women’s U18 national team under the direction of Norbert Buzás will be opening up the Division 1 World Championships this Sunday on home ice in Miskolc. The U18 national teams has gone through a lot of changes over the past season both on and off the ice.
The Hungarian national team two years ago was relegated from the A-Pool, last season they finished tied for fourth place. Since 2013 there has been a complete turnover on the roster and it is time to look towards the future. At the beginning of the season head coach Norbert Buzás said that the goal for the season is to gain experience for this young team throughout the year and to avoid relegation, the goal of the season has not changed. “The goal has not changed during the season, we are trying to avoid relegation, our opponents are somewhat ahead of us however in women’s hockey a lot can happen” said Buzás when asked if the goals of the season have changed at all.
The final roster was set earlier than expected because of injuries, Blanka Timko and Adrien Paulheim did not recover from their injuries in time and will not be on the final roster. Also not making the roster today was Csenge Kovács and Jozefina Koczka. However defenceman Lotti Odnoga thinks that the strength of the team is not found in one position but more on the mental side. “Our strength is that we have a great will to compete and to win, the girls never give up and are always working. If the opponent is winning in the closing minutes we do not take the defeat, but turn it up another notch.”
Hungary will be facing the U18 national teams of Denmark, Germany, Japan, Norway and Slovakia. Last year in France, Hungary beat up on Slovakia but finished one point behind them but lost to Germany who they were tied with at the end.
“It is very important that we bring all that we have against each opponent and we play at a consistent level throughout the week, if we do this anything can happen” said Odnoga.
Japan could be the toughest opponent for Hungary as they are the team that was relegated down from the A-Pool. However with U18 women’s hockey generally being built on one generation or line that can carry an entire team anything can happen. This is what Hungary is doing at this time, one generation has “graduated” and they are building for the next one with the current team holding the place in Division 1.
Roster
Goalies (2): HORVÁTH Vanessa, MARUYAMA Yumi (KMH Budapest)
Defenseman (8): CSONTOS Katalin, FODOR Lili (MAC Budapest), GAITZ Hanna, HOLZER Bernadett, PREISINGER Dorka (KMH Budapest), MAYER Fruzsina (Vasas SC), ODNOGA Lotti (Vermont Academy, USHS), SZŰCS Anita (UTE)
Forwards (12): EGYEDI Noémi, PAVUK Petra, PINTÉR Hanna (KMH Budapest), GALÁNTAI Maja, SZICK Dorka (MAC Budapest), GOTTLIBET Zóra (Vasas SC), HORVÁTH Dominika, PÁTERKA Lilla (UTE), SŐLÉD Orsolya (KSI), VÁRADI Orsolya (Ferencváros)
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: BUZÁS Norbert
Assistant coaches:KIS András, TOMCIKOVA Zuzana, BEDŐ Botond
Schedule:
Jan. 10th 19:30 Hungary-Slovakia
Jan. 11th 19:30 Hungary-Norway
Jan. 13th 19:30 Hungary-Japan
Jan. 14th 19:30 Hungary-Germany
Jan. 16th 19.30 Hungary-Denmark