Hungary’s return to the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship top division came after years on the outside — and was made possible when IIHF suspended Russia and Belarus due to the ongoing war. After failing to stay up in 2023, the Hungarians bounced back by winning Division 1A in 2024. Still, most expected Kazakhstan, bolstered by KHL experience, to clear this particular hurdle.
Not many fans turned up for the game, as matchups between lower-ranked teams don’t tend to attract much interest from Danish spectators. Throughout the contest, however, a lively Hungarian fan section kept the atmosphere buzzing.
Shock Start: Hungary Catch Kazakhstan Off Guard Early
Hungary showed no fear facing a team playing its fifth consecutive year in the top division and stunned Kazakhstan just 15 seconds into the game. Goaltender Maxim Pavlenko collided while trying to cut the angle, lost his stick, and was caught out of position. Veteran Henrik Nilsson calmly found Janos Hari, who buried the opener.
🔎 Kazakhstan’s 2025 Worlds campaign is over
– CLICK HERE for the full analysis!
Hungary’s Relentless Pressure Pays Off
Hungary kept pressing hard — their constant movement and aggressive forechecking caused major problems for Team Kazakhstan. The Hungarians were quick to hunt down lost pucks deep in the offensive zone, not allowing Kazakhstan to settle.
Their intensity paid off with a second goal, as power forward István Terbócs forced the puck past Pavlenko.
Kazakhstan Strike Back Through Mikhailis’ Magic
Hungary continued to outskate their opponents in the second period and, if not for the stellar play of Maxim Pavlenko, could have easily built a three-goal cushion. While the Hungarians stuck tightly to their structured system, Kazakhstan placed its hopes on flashes of brilliance from individual stars.
One of them finally delivered — sharpshooter Nikita Mikhailis broke through with a pinpoint finish off a setup from his Metallurg Magnitogorsk teammate Valeri Orekhov.
Another Early Blow Stuns Kazakhstan in Final Frame
Just when it seemed Kazakhstan might claw its way back into the game, they once again collapsed at the start of a period. Only 14 seconds into the third, Vilmos Gallo — a forward with extensive experience in Sweden’s SHL and Finland’s Liiga — finished off a brilliant setup by Janos Hari to restore Hungary’s two-goal lead.
Hungary Leaves Kazakhstan Reeling
In the 44th minute, Peter Vincze capped off a slick power play sequence, delivering another blow to Kazakhstan. By this point, Hungarian dominance was crystal clear, while the Kazakh bench looked increasingly dejected and resigned.
Valeri Orekhov did manage to pull one back on the power play in the final minute, but the goal was purely cosmetic.
🏒 Team Kazakhstan Preview – 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey Worlds
Kazakhstan Fails to Impress Despite Power Play Spark
Kazakhstan never looked convincing in this game. Pavlenko delivered another solid showing, and the power play mafia – led by Roman Starchenko and his trusted duo from Metallurg – struck again.
But beyond that core, no one else answered the call. The team’s overall performance was unusually passive. For a squad expected to defend its hard-earned status, this showing was a bitter letdown for Kazakh fans.
Hungary on the Rise – and Dead Serious About Staying Up
On the other side, Gergely Majoross’s squad is clearly trending upward and showing they mean business when it comes to staying in the division this year. Hungary has been outstanding on special teams so far, and they’ve got a secret weapon in 16-year-old phenom Doman Szongoth – a name that’s already been jotted down by more than a few NHL scouts.
Hungary defeated Kazakhstan in a competitive game for just the second time in history – the first dating back to the 2013 World Championship Division 1A. Interestingly, the Hungarians have been part of several memorable Hungary-vs-Asia matchups over the years, including a classic clash with China at the 1983 C-Pool Worlds.
Kazakhstan vs Denmark: High-Stakes Duel with Hosts
Kazakhstan gets a shot at redemption today against host nation Denmark, which is still searching for its first points of the tournament and starting to feel the pressure. With both teams desperate for a turnaround, this clash promises to be a hard-fought battle with plenty on the line.
Goals: 34:32 Mikhailis (Orekhov, Shestakov), 59:01 Orekhov (Shestakov, Starchenko) – 00:15 Hari (Nilsson, M. Horvath), 18:31 Terbocs (B. Horvath), 40:14 Gallo (Hari, Erdely), 43:35 Vincze (Papp, Hari)
Kazakhstan: Pavlenko – Orekhov, Metalnikov, Daniyar, Beketayev, Gaitamirov, Korolyov, Breus – Mikhailis, Shestakov, Starchenko, Assetov, Omirbekov, Savitskiy, Muratov, Mukhametov, Rymarev, Kaiyrzhan, Volkov, Panyukov, Kolesnikov. Coach: Oleg Bolyakin.
Hungary: Balizs – M. Horvath, Nilsson, Garat, Szathmary, Szabo, Ortenszky, Tornyai – Gallo, Hari, Erdely, Terbocs, Szongoth, B. Horvath, Papp, Nagy, Ambrus, Vincze, Nemeth, Mihalik, Laskawy. Coach: Gergely Majoross.
Spectators: 1,972
Leave a Reply