Hungarian national team forward Vilmos Galló has signed with KooKoo in the Finnish Liiga for the next two seasons.
Galló has spent the past two seasons playing in Timra, the first season they won promotion from the Allsvenskan to the SHL, however they year they were relegated back to the Allsvenskan. Shortly after the relegation it was announced that Galló would not be staying with the team. This summer he has signed a two year deal in Finland where he will be joining Balázs Sebők and János Hári in the top flight in Finland. KooKoo has missed the playoffs in the past four seasons after being promoted from the Mestis to the Liiga.
Galló was born in Budapest, but moved at a young age to Sweden where he came up through the youth system of Flemingsbergs where he made it up to the U20 team. For the 2013-14 season he made the mover to Linköping where he played for their U18 and U20 teams as well. Galló made his SHL debut during the 2015-16 season where he would end up playing in 41 regular season games and four games in the playoffs. Galló would play one more season in Linköping before signing with Allsvenskan club Timra, which won promotion to the SHL after the season. This past year Galló had nine goals and nine assists in 52 games but with the team being relegated he decided to move on.
For the Hungarian national team he represented Hungary at the U18 and U20 World Championships and made his senior national team debut in February of 2016 at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament that was held in Budapest. That spring he played in his first World Championships in St.Petersburg and scored a goal against Belarus. In total galló has represented Hungary in 44 games and has played in four World Championships.
Both of Vilmos’ brothers played hockey as well, his older brother Illés played in Russia, North America and played three years for Ferencváros. His younger brother Olivér plays in Sweden and will be starting his fourth season in the Vallentuna system.
What was the biggest reason for switching teams this summer?
I wanted to play in a better league next season than the Allsvenskan if it was possible. Once KooKoo got in contact with me I did not have to think a lot about the decision to make the move. The team mentioned the aspects that I was looking for in a team such as a lot of playing time.
How much will the Liiga be different than the SHL and how much is the Finnish hockey different than the Swedish hockey?
There are not much differences between the Swedish and Finnish hockey, what I have heard is maybe that the Liiga is more offensive compared to the SHL or Allsvenskan, there is a chance to score more points. I think that if it is more offensive that will fit my style of hockey.
Right now it looks that KooKoo already has most of their players signed for next season, what role does the management have from you and what are you expecting?
I will be playing a big role on the team with a lot of ice time. I do not have a set place in the lineup, I will have to fight for my spot to get the ice time in the top two lines.
Balázs Sebők will be in KalPa and János Hári in Pelicans, this means there will be some Hungarian derbys in the Liiga next season, how much are you looking forward to this?
Yes there will be some Hungarian derbys and it will be interesting to see who is the best Hungarian in the Liiga. I am usually playing with them in the national team so it will be fun to go up against them during the club season.
You are one of six siblings, your brother Illés left for Russia at a young age and you went to Sweden young as well, what is it like to stay in touch around the world?
In today’s world it is easy to keep in touch, we have a family group chat where we are always talking. Also we talk all the time on facebook, instagram or on the phone. There is a lot of us, so when when of is at home in Hungary visiting we always meet up. I try to watch my brothers’ games and they watch mine as well.
