Machine-translated from Hungarian.
In the second round of the Hungarian Cup, we took to the ice in Miskolc, at the home of the Erste Liga side DVTK Jegesmedvék. We knew we were in for a tough challenge, but we did everything we could to prove ourselves worthy opponents against what was perhaps the strongest team in the round – and we managed to keep up with them for two periods.
In the first period, the home side set a fast pace and took the lead with two quick goals in six minutes (Doyle, Csiki). We didn’t give up; even when a man down, we attacked bravely, and following a fine piece of combination play by the Dézsi brothers, Barnabás Dézsi found the net, scoring our first goal. At the end of the period, Szathmáry’s goal made it 3–1.
In the second period, the team showed a completely different side to themselves: we played with courage, skated a lot, and managed on several occasions to pin the home side back in their own third. Midway through the period, Márk Almási scored a fine goal to bring the score to 3–2, which was thoroughly deserved. Our team had more shots on goal than our Erste Liga opponents, which is a great demonstration of our attitude and fighting spirit. Although Szathmáry’s latest goal restored the two-goal lead, we displayed confident, courageous and dynamic play throughout the entire period.
In the final period, unfortunately, the difference in pace became apparent, and DVTK ruthlessly capitalised on their opportunities. We conceded two quick goals whilst a man down (Doyle, Kinloch), which broke our momentum, and Czecze, Pineo, Lövei and Farkas also found the net. In the closing stages, Richárd Horváth pulled one back whilst we were a man down, but in the final seconds, Doyle’s third goal sealed the 11–3 final score.
Although the outcome of the match is almost certainly decided, the lads put up a great fight once again and showed that they can hold their own even against an Erste Liga rival. We hope that next Tuesday, 28 October, at home at the Győr University Ice Sports Centre, we can play an exciting and spectacular return leg in the Hungarian Cup.
Hungarian Cup – Round 2, Match 1 DVTK Polar Bears – UNI GYŐR ETO HC 11–3 (3–1, 1–1, 7–1)
Fotó: Nagy Gábor Sándor