Hungary Women’s National Hockey Team

Women’ s Final Olympic Qualification Group C Tournament For 2022 Winter Olympics

by Derek O’Brien|14 NOV 2021

There was a big-game feeling in the air in Chomutov on the final day of qualifying for the women’s ice hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics, prior to the start of the all-important clash between the Czech Republic and Hungary. Two 2-0 teams that had come close before but had never reached the Olympics, but only one would make history while the other would have to wait another cycle.

But on this day, the Czechs weren’t in the mood for drama and made it clear right from the get-go that this spot was not up for dispute. They scored three times in the first period before cruising to a 5-1 victory, and punched their tickets to Beijing.

“We played extremely smart, extremely composed, we waited for our scoring chances,” said Czech head coach Tomas Pacina. “We played well offensively and scored on our chances, but also extremely well defensively. I’m very proud of the girls, very happy for Czech women and for women in general. Finally, Czech women’s hockey will be represented where it belongs, and that’s at the Olympic games.”

Just 1:24 into the game, Aneta Tejralova, fresh off a five-assist performance against Poland, added another helper to her total when she came out of the corner and found Klara Hymlarova at the far post for the tap-in, sending the already excited Czech crowd into a frenzy.

Talking about the source of the team’s energetic start, captain Alena Mills said: “It comes from the group of girls we have and the coaching staff. We all work for each other, we all get along on the ice and on. We’re always singing, which makes for a fun game and you see the result. We’re a team and we can build on the little things, support each other and give each other energy.”

A Hungarian power play stemmed some of that early momentum but the Czechs soon went back to the attack again, and in the midst of a goalmouth scramble at 12:15, Lenka Serdar got her stick on the puck and whacked it inside the post to make it 2-0.

Hungary needed to stem the tide and had a chance to do something on the power play when Daniela Pejsova was sent off for interference at 13:45. But after Alexandra Huszak won the attacking-zone faceoff, Vendula Pribylova beat everyone to the puck at the point and was off to the races, beating Nemeth with a forehand deke.

“Obviously, we were the underdogs and it was a quick turnaround after playing late last night, so maybe our gas tank wasn’t quite full,” said Hungarian head coach Lisa Haley. “Playing against a team that has as much speed as the Czechs do, it was a mountain we couldn’t quite get to the top of. We couldn’t afford to fall behind like that. We needed to keep the game close into the third period, but that’s probably the best I’ve ever seen the Czechs play and they’re deserving of this.”

Hungary’s best chance of the opening period went to Reka Debasi, who was robbed by the glove of Klara Peslarova from point-blank range with just over five minutes to go.

After holding a 12-7 advantage in shots over the opening 20 minutes, the Czechs were even more dominant in the second with a 14-3 edge. By this time, they didn’t seem as concerned with adding to their lead as they were managing the puck, and didn’t generate a lot of great scoring chances.

They did score one goal in the 28^th minute, with defender Samantha Kolowratova joining the rush to make it a 3-on-2, and converting the backhand pass from Noemi Neubauerova.

“We had our ups and downs,” said Hungarian defender Lotti Odnoga. “I think we could have attacked the net more and closed the gaps and stayed closer with them, but it doesn’t do much good to think now about what we could have done better. I think the Czechs just played better than us and it shows in the result.”

Hungary showed some life on a third-period power play but it came to an end when Hayley Williams was called for slashing while digging at a puck under Peslarova’s glove. On the ensuing Czech power play, Denisa Krizova put in a rebound with 4:30 to play.

The only question remaining was whether Peslarova’s shutout would remain, and with 2:01 to play, spoiled it, Huszak forced a puck over the goal line that the Czech goalie quickly pulled out, but video replay confirmed that it did indeed cross the line.

But that did little to dampen the spirits of the 1853 in attendance, as the tense pre-game air was replaced by one of anticipation. They stood for the final minute and as the seconds ran off, the celebration was on throughout the arena.

Turning his attention to the Olympics, Pacina said: “We have a little bit of breathing room now as a coaching staff and we have a tough job to do picking the team. Two of our best players aren’t here. We’ll get together in December and we’ll centralize on January 5^th, two weeks before we fly to the Olympics.”

Women’ s Final Olympic Qualification Group C Tournament For 2022 Winter Olympics

In a game of wild momentum swings, Emma Kreisz’s power-play goal with 4:46 to play capped a Hungarian comeback from a 3-1 deficit that became a 5-3 win. The loss eliminates Norway, whose only hope was to win and keep alive the possibility of a three-way tie. Hungary will face the Czech Republic on Sunday which will see the winner advance to Beijing.

The first period was scoreless, despite Hungary outshooting Norway 16-3 and having three chances on the power play.

Hungary opened the scoring two minutes into the second period when Nystrom went behind the net to stop a shoot in, but she was instantly pressured by two Hungarian forwards. As she scrambled to get back into her crease, Imola Horvath centred to Regina Metzler, who fired it over the goalie’s shoulder and into the top corner from a sharp angle.

It seemed like Hungary might be ready to take control of the game, but instead momentum swung mightily in Norway’s favour, starting with two penalties in the 26^th minute that gave them a 5-on-3. On that Norwegian advantage, Madelene Haug Hansen’s shot hit the skate of Hungarian penalty-killer Franciska Kiss-Simon and into the net to tie the score.

Just 26 seconds later, with the Norwegians now up 5-on-4, they took the lead. Mathea Fischer stole the puck behind the net and wrapped it around with Aniko Nemeth looking over the wrong shoulder.

Just seven seconds after that, another Hungarian penalty, this one to Taylor Baker for tripping, resulted in another goal by Fischer. This time, she pulled the puck out of a mad scramble in front and fired it over a fallen Nemeth.

And the Norwegians, who had only 10 shots on their first four periods of this tournament, had 12 in the second period of this game and looked to build on their lead. Karoline Pedersen skated in alone on Nemeth but was stopped. Another shot hit the post.

Hungary started to push back and with under five minutes to play in the middle frame, they got one back when captain Fanni Gasparics potted a rebound.

Trying to protect the lead, Norway went back to playing stingy defence in the first half of the third period, but the door opened for Hungary when Lene Tendenes was sent off for boarding with 10:37 to play. It took 20 seconds to get the equalizer when Hayley Williams knocked the puck off the stick of a Norwegian penalty-killer trying to clear the zone, and it went to Kinga Jokai-Szilagyi, who buried it upstairs.

Five minutes later, Hungary was back on the power play when Tendenes was back in the box for tripping, and this time they worked the puck around and Alexandra Huszak found Kreisz in the slot, who one-timed it home.

Norway got another chance on the power play, which became a 6-on-4 when they pulled Nystrom. They had some good looks, but Nemeth was steady. Hungary looked to have one shot at an empty net when play was halted due to broken glass above the penalty box door, but Mira Seregely made good with 1:33 to go to provide some insurance.