FTC defenseman Gergely Tóth: “We need to focus even more on the details”

FTC-Telekom proved fully competitive from the outset, recording victories against champions Graz and runners-up Pustertal, among others. Budapest ultimately fell just 34 seconds short of securing a pre-playoff berth. In a decisive head-to-head clash in Székesfehérvár, the league newcomers conceded a late equalizer that prevented them from climbing to tenth place. “We just narrowly missed the pre-playoffs. I think it’s fair to say it was a good first season. It was a valuable lesson for all of us, and we want to grow as a team for the upcoming campaign,” says Gergely Tóth.

Tóth adapting to league level
The defenseman joined the then win2day ICE Hockey League newcomers from the Erste Liga, registering ten points in 48 games. “I really enjoyed my first season. The game was significantly faster than in the league I came from, and the intensity level was very high. The arenas were great everywhere, and the fans were loud,” says the 28-year-old, who knew many players from his youth days. Tóth faced Austrian youth talent while playing in the former Juniors League (U18) and Young Stars League (U20).



Ferencváros have won two of their three preseason games so far. Most recently, they recorded a 12-1 rout against Nové Zámky, with Tóth contributing two goals and an assist. “I think preseason is mainly about getting to know each other and building friendships within the team. During the season, we spend more time together than with our families,” the defenseman notes. On Sunday, Budapest will cap off their preseason with a derby against Fehérvár.

“Focus even more on the details”
FTC have added seven new players, with forwards Carter Savoie and Rasmus Heljanko recently finding their scoring touch. As a team, they aim to take the next step, as Tóth confirms: “No one wins the championship in the first two weeks, so we simply need to be patient and do our work day by day. We have to focus even more on the details and play even more as a team.”