February 3, 1939. This date marks the last time Team Hungary won a game in the IIHF World Championship’s top division. 77 years later, a proud Hungarian team, including multiple Prep Camp alumni, defeated Belarus 5-2 after fearlessly defending a 2 goal lead and then sealing the deal with an empty net marker.
Port Alberni local, Head Coach Rich Chernomaz was behind the bench for this historic win alongside former Prep Camp Guest Coach Tomas Sille, after last year coaching the Hungarian team to a silver Medal in the 2015 IIHF tournament to earn a spot in the top division for the first time in seven years. We are once again thrilled to welcome Coach Chernomaz back again to Prep Camp in Week 2 this summer! Other familiar Prep Camp faces present at the tournament in St. Petersburg were youth coach Gary Clark and goaltending consultant Istvan Spiller, proudly supporting the team.
Glen Williamson and U18 National Team Get IIHF Promotion
Prep Camp mentor Glen Williamson is the bench boss of all youth National Teams in Hungary and proudly reports camp alumni Zsombor Gorat, Adam Vay, Bence Stipsicz all represented extremely well in the IIHF Div I World Championships in Russia. Glen’s U18 Hungary squad is coming off a huge win at the IIHF U18 Div I Group B championships in Italy, getting promoted to the Div I Group A championships in 2017. Check it out here.
Adam Vay Signs NHL Contract
And to even further Prep Camp’s strong ties with the Hungarian Team in the IIHF tournament, is the incredible performance of goaltender Adam Vay. Raising the eyebrows of many NHL teams, 6’5″ 22 year old Vay rose to the challenge, facing 88 shots in two games against Finland and the USA. Allowing only 3 goals against after a 51 shot onslaught against the Fins, Vay stopped the first 15 shots against the Americans to shut them out in the first period, before battling to a 5-1 loss. With a bright future ahead, we congratulate Adam on his incredible performance in the tournament, and are so pleased to announce he has signed a 2 way NHL contract with the Minnesota Wild.
Last summer Adam was on the bench for the first half of one our our College / Pro games at camp, sitting there without his helmet on. Being the responsible trainer I am, I told him he needed a helmet on the bench. Adam’s reply, “Kate, the puck is scared of me, don’t worry I will be ok.” That pretty much sums up Adam’s no nonsense approach to the game. Kate Flynn, Prep Camp Team Lead.
West Coast Hockey Prep Camp is extremely proud of Team Hungary’s accomplishments in the IIHF tournament, and are excited to welcome some of its members back to camp this summer. Team Hungary and their devoted fans remind us why we love this game so much- watch here.
