Hungarian Hockey Stories: 1950s

There were some new team names that appeared in Hungarian club hockey, thanks to communism. There were times when a club was forced to change their name in the middle of the season. In 1950 MTK and Fradi became Textiles and ÉDOSZ respectively, the league champion that season was Meteor Mallerd. Hungary did not play any international matches during the first season of the decade, and players were not paid since everyone was an amateur. Because of this many times the fans passed around a hat or a basket to collect money for the player. In 1951 Fradi won their first titles as they went undefeated during the season, however they were crowned champions as they played under the name Kinizsi.

One goal decided the championship title
It was outlined right from the beginning of the championship that only three teams had a chance of winning the title: Kinizsi, Postás Közhír and Vörös Meteor. The rivals were standing neck and neck at the end of the season, two rounds before the end they were separated by only one point. The final decision was left for the game between Vörös Meteor and Postás Közhír, and a postal team could have grabbed the title had they won the game. The game ended in a 1-1 tie and Meteor became the champions. The solace for Közhír was the titles of the Peace Cup and the MÉH Cup.

Dózsa starts a hockey program
In the December of 1955 an old club’s new sports team, the ice hockey players of Újpest playing under the name of Budapesti Dózsa in those times – stepped onto the ice of the City Park at the Peace Cup. The members of the team was of course not homegrown talent, but from other teams (previous teams in parenthesis): Ádám (Kinizsi), Bán (Kinizsi), Fodor (Építők), Futó (Kinizsi), Haléczius (Kinizsi), Hircsák (Postás), Katona (Győr), Kemenes (Postás), Kvetán (Postás/Győr), May (Szikra), Molnár (VM), Rancz (Kinizsi), Újfalussy (VM), their trainer was Ferenc Szamosi. The first opponent of Dózsa was none other than, of course, their arch rivals, Ferencváros, called Kinizsi in those times. The game was decided in a big battle; it was 3-2 for the purples (traditional club color of Újpest/Dózsa). They did not have to wait long for the return match: the two teams faced each other in the first round of the championship, and Kinizsi won the game 7-3.

Ice rink at the Millenáris
At the end of the bicycle season life didn’t disappear from the Millenáris Velodrome in the fall of 1955. That’s when an ice rink meeting international standards was erected, where, according to the original plans, as many as 15,000 people would be able to attend the games. The rink was completed by February of 1956 and the inaugural game was played on the 12th, which ended up being the game deciding game for the championship title (Kinizsi-Meteor 7-5). The ice rink of this size was a major step forward for ice hockey and the other ice sports, because it stretched out the ice season and increased training opportunities. A tent was later put over the rink. The ice activities ceased at the Millenáris in the early eighties.

Return to the World Championships after 20 years
The 1958-59 season brought the closest ever finish of the national championship. Any of the big four teams of the era (BVSC, FTC, Újpest, Vörös Meteor) could have won the title. In the last round a tie would have been enough for Újpest to finish first against BVSC, but the railway team (BVSC), with three goals from Viktor Zsitva, stole the championship title from the hands of Dózsa. The championship ended with four teams on the top of the standing with equal points. According to the rules at that time, in the case of equal points the final rankings should have been decided by replayed games, the clubs concerned played a lightning tournament. The last game between Vörös Meteor and Újpest decided the final winner. Another important event of the season was the national team’s appearance at the World Championships. The Hungary had not had the chance to play in the World Championships since 1939. The Hungarian team traveled to Pilsen for the B-Pool World Championships with the following roster under the guidance of team coach László Czerva: Andorka, Pozsonyi – Babán, Boróczi, Grimm, Havas, Lőrincz, Kenderessy, Kertész, Martinuzzi, Palotás, Gy. Patócs, P. Patócs, Simon, Zima, V. Zsitva. The first game brought an unexpected success: Hungary beat Austria, who were considered as the stronger team 3-2. The follow-up was less successful, with two losses coming from games played outside of the championship against the youth team of Czechoslovakia and against Romania.