The Hungarians are huge underdogs at the World Championship in Russia, but they have reason to be optimistic about the future. Two reasons for that are 19-year-old Vilmos Gallo of Linkoping HC and 21-year-old Balazs Sebok of KalPa Kuopio, who both spoke after their first game against Slovakia.

by Derek O'Brien

SAINT PETERSBURG – The Hungarian national team played its first game in the top group of the IIHF World Championships in seven years on Saturday afternoon, falling 4–1 to Slovakia in a border rivalry. Although they lost the game, the Hungarians put up a good fight and, judging from the size and enthusiasm of their crowd of supporters in attendance, the sport is becoming more and more popular in Hungary.

“Yeah, it's a great feeling,” 19-year-old winger Vilmos Gallo said about playing in front of such enthusiastic fans. “They were really loud when we came out onto the ice for the start and they kept it going the whole game. You know, they're really excited to be in the top league, just like we are, and we're glad they're here with us.”

Gallo is one of the young bright lights on this team along with 21-year-old centre Balazs Sebok. Both left Hungary at a young age to pursue their hockey dreams in Sweden and Finland, respectively, and they are now regulars in those countries top leagues for Linkoping HC and KalPa Kuopio.

Sebok: “I was 14. The biggest reason I went was to be a hockey player, and it's helped me get the kind of opportunities that I have today. Playing in the men's league there and now the World Championships – I'd say it's worked out pretty well.”

Gallo: “I moved to Sweden when I was 13 years old. I was there alone in the first year, then my family moved to Sweden a year later. It was difficult at first – I didn't know the language or anybody, but it got better. I'm in Linkoping, we've got a really good team and I'm happy there.” 

Gallo split the 2015–16 season between the SHL and Linkoping's junior team, tallying 9 points (5 + 4) in 41 regular-season games for the big club. He also got into four playoff games. Sebok played in his first 46 Liiga regular-season games, registering 14 points (5 + 9), and three playoff games.

Both players also made their Champions Hockey League debuts, playing four games each, although neither managed to register a point.

On his rookie season, Sebok said, “It went pretty well. I wasn't expecting I'd play that much. I played a pretty big role for a young player and I guess I played pretty well, so I'm ready to take the next step next year.”

The older of the two players, Sebok has represented Hungary in Division 1A in each of the last two years, while Gallo made his World Championship debut of any kind against Slovakia. For the whole team it was a new experience and a bit of an adjustment to a superior opponent.

S: “I think it went how we expected. A different type of hockey than we saw last year in Division 1. We've got to learn from this but I think we played pretty well in the third period so that's something we can build on.

“I've played in Finland for a few years now and in the first league last year, so I'm used to it. Obviously this is a step up for us from last year, but we're getting used to it. It's gonna be fun.”

G: “It was a good game, I think. We had some good chances and we played a pretty even game against a team that's always in the top group.

“We had some chances in the third period and we had them under pressure on the power play. If we'd managed to finish one of our chances to get within a goal it could have been an exciting finish, so that's maybe something we need to work on is making sure we finish our chances.”

With Slovakia leading 1–0 in the first period, Hungary tied it on the power play in the 14th minute, with Gallo drawing an assist.

G: Our player Istvan Bartalis went around the net and passed me the puck. I shot it quickly and it hit somebody's leg and went behind the goalie, then Frank Banham got his stick on it and put it in the net.” 

On what the pair brings to the team, Sebok said, “We bring some speed and we have a few other young guys here who can really skate as well. We've got a young team and I think the future looks pretty bright for us.”

However, they both made it clear that it doesn't mean that they have any special status on the Hungarian national team.

S: “It's a team game so I'm going to play the role that the coach wants. If they want me to be a fourth-line winger, I'll be a fourth-line winger. If they want me to be a first-line centreman, I'll be a first-line centreman. Whatever's gonna help the team.”

G: “We're a team and we have to play as a team when we're facing some of these other teams that might have more talent than us.”

Speaking of teams that have more talent, up next for the Hungarians is Canada on Sunday afternoon. Nobody is expecting the Hungarians to compete and they seem quite comfortable in that role.

Looking ahead to Sunday, Sebok concluded, “We've got no pressure on us so we're just going to go out there, stick to the game plan, play our game and see what happens.”