Head Coach Rich Chernomaz has decided to give Zoltán Hetényi the start in net, with Bence Bálizs as the backup. Getting back into the lineup is Bronson Kovács, Chris Bodó and Karol Csányi. Resting up before the international break ends is János Hári, János Vas and Miklós Rajna with Brance Orbán and Dániel Kiss sitting out because of the rotation.

Hungary had a power play in the early part of the first period, the closest they got scoring a goals was off of a Tamás Sárpátki chance. Korea scored first when Hungary was unable to clear the puck and Sang Hoon Shin put a shot on net from the slot that slipped through the legs of Hetényi.  Korea would go on to hit the outside of the post but the next goal in the game came off of a Hungarian stick. Bronson Kovács picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, skated in but his shot was blocked, the puck ended up on the stick of Csányi who put it past the goalie.

Korea switched goalies after the first period because of an injury. Head Coach Rich Chernomaz shuffled the lines a bit as Bodó and Bálint Magosi switched spots and on the back end Bronson Kovács and Szabó as well. Five minutes into the period Bronson laid out Mike Testwuide. Later in the period Andrew Sarauer had a chance when the shot squeezed through the Korean goalie but it was cleared off the goal line. Hetényi made a great save after a turnover in the Hungarian end. The energy in the arena picked up after Hungary killed a penalty late in the middle period.

Dániel Kóger skated in off the opening faceoff and fired a shot but Sung Je Park, the Korean goalie made the save. Hungary’s first real scoring chance in the period came on a power play when Andrew Sarauer centered the puck to Sofron who took a touch shot that went off Park’s glove. The pace of the game became hectic at the midway point of the period, Krisztián Nagy had a breakaway that Park saved, on the next Korean rush Bronson had his second big hit of the game. With just under ten minutes left in the game Korea when back up by one goal as they scored on a two on one. The Hungarian chances kept on coming as Magosi hit the crossbar and a Gergő Nagy chance went wide. As the game wound down Hungary pulled thier goalie for the extra attacker but in the end Korea scored an empty net goal. On the following shift István Terbócs skated in and lifted the puck over the goalie to make it 3-2.

Text: Szabolcs Závodszky

Photo: László Mudra