During the last match week defending champions Diósgyőr picked up two wins in games that were both close and high scoring after they defeated Debrecen 8-6 and a home win over Dunaújváros 5-4 to move back up to the top of the standings with a one point lead over second place UTE. One of the biggest reasons for the wins was the consistant scoring of Bálint Magosi who finished with three goals and five assists in the two games, and is this week’s Player of the Week.
Magosi had tremendous help from his linemates Attila Pavuk and Nikandrosz Galanisz, two former Dunaújváros players he grew up with. Bálint comes from Dunaújváros and came up through the famous Dunaferr SE youth system that has produced a number of other big time Hungarian hockey players. Magosi made his senior national team debut during the 2009-10 season in a 7-1 win over Croatia, where he scored the team's fifth goal. He has been a stable part of the Hungarian national team since then as he has played in seven straight World Championships including last season’s A-Pool in Russia. Magosi left Dunaújváros to play in the EBEL for four seasons with Fehérvár before spending last season in Briancon France. After the French club had some financial issues he decided to move back to Hungary and signed with DVTK in the offseason. We caught up with the national team forward at home after practice.
What was the biggest reason for your prolific two games this past match week?
There is no real secret, this is how everything worked out with my two linemates, Attila Pavuk and Nikandrosz Galanisz, without them it would have been pretty hard.
Speaking of your linemates what is it like playing on one line with your old childhood friends and teammates?
It kind of feels like I have travelled back to my old Dunaújváros years since that was the last time we played together. We are continually talking with each other both on and off the ice, this really makes everything easier and we are always on the same page.
You have a bit of a different role with DVTK then you have with the national team, how would you compare the two roles?
I wouldn’t necessarily say they are different, with DVTK I play on the power play as well. My style of play has not changed, I still hit and block shots and do everything the same.
How much has the MOL League changed since the last time you played in it during the 2010-11 season?
The league has become a lot faster, also there isn’t just one team that dominates the league, any team can win any game in the league. The teams have also become a lot deeper and they can sign higher quality import players, the local players (Hungarian and Szekler) are also playing their part as well. The teams are more disciplined and more organized on the ice. The current MOL League and the one from six years ago are miles apart.
