SAPPORO, Japan – Hungary has qualified for the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. It will be the first appearance for the Magyars in a top division in 70 years! Ukraine had to settle with silver and hosts Japan earned bronze after a 7-3 win over Estonia, who were relegated.

Ukraine – Hungary 2-4 (0-2, 2-1, 0-1)

Hungary had two second-place positions in division I (2002, 2007), but this time they went all the way. They earned the return to the elite nations after 70 long years with a perfect 5W-0L record in Sapporo. 

Hungary hasn’t played a top division World Championship since 1939, when they finished seventh in Zurich and Basle, Switzerland, where the last World Championship before World War II was played. 1937 in London, Great Britain, they had their best finish with a fifth place.

But in those days there was only one division and all nations that applied for participation in the IIHF World Championship came to play. In 1939, only 14 nations participated in the entire IIHF program and all were invited to the last pre-World War II event.

Their last participation in an elite tournament was the 1964 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, where the Hungarians lost all seven games and finished 16th and last.

The Hungarians went into the deciding game hot as their chili pepper. They were outshooting the favourite Ukraine 19-6 in the first period and they took a two-goal lead. Janos Vas scored the first goal at 10:27 and Krisztian Palkovics used the third Hungarian power play to extend the lead at 19:32.

The historic promotion seemed to be near when Imre Peterdi made it 3-0 for Hungary 106 seconds into the middle period.

Slowly, the Ukrainians recovered from the shocker and there was a swing in momentum in the Tsukisamu Arena. Now it was Ukraine, which was outshooting its opponent, 18-7, in the second period. Oleg Blagoi got Ukraine on the scoreboard at 37:04 and only 43 seconds later, Vitaliy Semenchenko made it 3-2. The fans and the teams were in for a nail-biting third period.

But not much happened that could swing the score the other way. Both teams were extremely disciplined. Hungary had to survive a box play in the last two minutes but they made it with the help of its goalkeeper. Levente “Szuperman” Szuper was exactly what his name indicates.

Marton Vas scored the 4-2 goal, a shorthander with 31 seconds left while Janos Vas was in the sin bin. A huge relief for Hungary and the hockey world will see a new team in Switzerland 2009.

This was a huge success for Hungarian hockey and association president Ferenc Studniczky and coach Pat Cortina. They have patiently built this program and the men's national team and were never discouraged despite several setbacks at the very end of several division I events since 2000.

Can they survive in 2009? That's a totally different story – and for the Magyar players and their fans a very irrelevant question today. April 19, 2008 is party time.


Historical day for Hungarian ice hockey: Gabor Ocskay is celebrating 2-0 scorer Krisztian Palkovics. Photo: Seinosuke Uchigasaki

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Japan – Estonia 7-3 (4-2, 1-0, 2-1)

After having been out for the race for promotion, hosts Japan faced last-placed Estonia in their last game and secured the bronze medal thanks to a 7-3 win.

Maksim Ivanov brought the surprising Estonian lead after 36 seconds but the Japanese reaction came quick and distinctive. Takeshi Saito equalised at 2:14, Canada-born Aaron Keller gained the lead for Japan at 3:32 and Daisuke Obara made it 3-1 three minutes later with the first power play of the game.

Andrei Makrov shortened it to 3-2 at 9:44 but Darcy Mitani scored another goal for Japan at 11:48. The Asians didn’t give up their lead anymore and again Mitani, Saito (both with their second goal of the game) and Yosuke Kon scored the goals number five to seven for Japan. Aleksei Sibirtsev’s 7-3 power play goal couldn’t change the outcome – a disaster for Estonia.

The Estonians calculated to be closer to the top spots than to relegation but couldn’t bring their ambitions onto the ice. Now they have to go back to Division II after six years. Around Millennium, they were able to overcome nations like Denmark, Norway, Poland or Slovenia.

For the host nation Japan, the tournament ends with the bronze medals.


Japan celebrates the bronze medal win, Estonia is relegated. Photo: Seinosuke Uchigasaki

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Lithuania – Croatia 4-3 (0-2, 1-0, 3-1)

Lithuania and Croatia showed an offensive firework with 42-31 shots in favour of the winning team, Lithuania.

Croatia dominated the first period and took the lead with goals from Tomislav Cunko and Veljko Zibret within 45 seconds. Lithuania found back into the game with Dovydas Kulevicius’ power play goal at 21:13 and could turn the game thanks to a strong last period with 23-10 shots.

Mindaugas Kieras with a 5-on-3 power play goal at 44:10 and again Kulevicius 90 seconds later brought the Balts the lead. Kresimir Svigir equalised 97 seconds later but the Lithuanians were still searching the luck in the offense. Darius Lelenas become the match-winner when he scored the 4-3 at 58:18. It was too late for the Croats for another reaction.

The game, which meant a secured spot in next year's World Championship Division I, ended in favour of Lithuania while last year promoted Croatia was still in the danger zone before Estonia lost to Japan the following game.


Lithuania’s Dovydas Kulevicius scored two goals against Croatia. Photo: Seinosuke Uchigasaki

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