Release from 20.05.2026

Hungary’s goaltender Bence Bálizs after the win over Great Britain: “We pulled together as a team”

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Hungary celebrated an important victory at the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland on Tuesday evening. Following a 5–0 win over Great Britain, staying in the top division now looks very likely. Goaltender Bence Bálizs, who has been playing for FTC-Telekom since last season, spoke about his team’s first win at this year’s tournament, the upcoming games, and his return to the win2day ICE Hockey League.

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Bence Bálizs was the last Hungarian player to leave the ice on Tuesday night. His relief after the win over Great Britain was clear to see and hear. A brief cheer was followed by a marathon of interviews, as the 35-year-old had plenty to say. Bálizs stopped all 26 shots he faced and also saw his team score five times: Krisztián Nagy, his teammate at FTC-Telekom, and István Terbócs, who plays for league rivals Fehérvár, each recorded a brace in front of 8,000 fans and many vocal Hungarian supporters. “We pulled together as a team and played really well — that was the key. We were consistent both offensively and defensively, which made things easier for me. What matters is the big picture — and of course the three points. The shutout is a bonus. I’m proud to be part of this team,” said Bálizs.

After the win over Great Britain, avoiding relegation now appears highly likely. With three points from three games, Hungary sits fourth in the standings ahead of Wednesday’s matchups. They will face Germany on Friday. “We won’t go into the next games overconfident — we want to earn our chances again. It will definitely be intense; games like these are exactly how our national team can take the next step. You can achieve something big in matches like that.”

Bálizs on returning to the league
Bálizs is one of eleven players on the Hungarian roster who play in the win2day ICE Hockey League. He joined league newcomer FTC-Telekom last summer and will remain with the Budapest club for the upcoming season. The 35-year-old was already familiar with the league from his time at Fehérvár, where he played between 2010 and 2014. “I was very happy to return to the win2day ICE Hockey League after so many years. I wanted to prove myself again. The league is still very strong — it’s physical and played at a high level. There are many great cities, and players from all over Europe and North America enjoy coming to this league.”