Hungary Shuts Out Norway
2/9/23
J.J. Pavlick
Hungary came into today’s game with a win already under its belt. They beat Slovakia in a wild game that ended 7-6. It saw two of the Professional Hockey Federation's (PHF) Metropolitan Riveters players shine. Fanni Garat-Gasparics, the captain for Hungary, already has 2 goals in the tournament, and her fellow standout teammate Reka Dabasi has 3 assists. Both players were buzzing all over the ice and even when they weren’t scoring, they helped create goals for their team. The game against Norway today will be a tough challenge for the Hungarian team who, despite recent success overall, have a losing record. All their games have been close fought, decided by an average of 1.5 goals.
The first period started with lots of back-and-forth action between the two sides. Both goalies made key saves early and often in the period. Both teams had numerous chances but neither side found the back of the net. The first period was your typical feeling-out period between the two nations. Photo Credit: IIHF
The second period started the same for the first ten minutes. Then the dynamic duo did what they do best for Hungary. Fanni Garat-Gasparics broke into the zone drawing defenders her way. She placed a perfect cross-ice pass to Reka Dabasi who made a perfect one-time pass to a wide-open Emma Kreisz sitting in the slot and she fired a rocket into the back of the net. Hungary took an early 1 – 0 lead with just under ten minutes to go in the period. Norway and Hungary would battle in the final half of the period and saw Norway take 3 penalties. However, Hungary wasn’t able to capitalize on the advantage. They fired numerous shots at the Norway goalie but she stood tall and was Norway's best penalty killer. The period would end with Hungary up 1 – 0. With 20 minutes left to the game and a chance to be the only team that is 2 – 0 – 0 in the tournament. Photo Credit: Tumbasz Hedi
The third period saw Hungary widen the gap when Jokai Szilagyi Kinga intercepted a bad pass by Norway. She went in all alone beating the Norwegian goalie five-hole. Hungary now up 2 – 0 with 9:06 remaining in the game started opening up the Norwegian defense. With a minute thirty remaining in the game, Fanni Garat-Gasparics found a loose puck in the neutral zone and went in on goal with teammate Reka Dabasi holding the Norwegian defenders back giving Fanni the time and space to net the empty net goal and sealing the win for Hungary 3 – 0. Photo Credit: Hockey Hungary and Manny Fernandes @mdphotoandink
Hungary with another dominant performance and this one is their best in the tournament so far. Hungary will face France on 2/11/23 at 10:30 AM EST. Photo Credit: Hockey Hungary