Hungary's men's deaf ice hockey team may be a newcomer on the world stage, but they have quickly emerged as a rising program. Founded only in 2015, the Hungarian National Deaf Ice Hockey Team has been developing rapidly in recent years, bringing strategic teamwork and growing technical ability to international competitions. Now, at the 2025 World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships, Team Hungary is set to make its WDIHC debut – a milestone in the country's deaf hockey journey.
Deaf Hockey Journey and Growth in Hungary
Hungary's deaf hockey program was born from humble beginnings. In January 2015, Máté Mártonffy, an enthusiastic hockey father, organized the first team practice after his son took up the sport. What began with just a handful of players has since grown into a full national team of nearly twenty players, backed by support from the Ferencváros (FTC) hockey club and the Hungarian Ice Hockey Federation.
By 2017 the squad was formally integrated into the FTC youth hockey system and training together three times a week, which greatly accelerated their development. As a brand-new team, Hungary did not participate in the last Winter Deaflympics – they opted not to enter the 2019 Deaflympics in Italy, focusing instead on building their roster and skills for future events.
The hard work paid off: the Hungarians hosted annual international deaf hockey tournaments in Budapest and arranged regular exhibition games to gain experience. By 2019 they had already organized three international deaf hockey cups at the Ferencváros rink and played the Czech deaf team in three friendly games.
These early contests – including Hungary's first-ever international win in a 2017 exhibition against Czechia – gave the players a taste of deaf international hockey. Each year since, the program has grown in confidence and numbers, setting its sights on major championships.
Roster Highlights and Experience
Despite being a young program, Team Hungary features a core of players with multiple years of deaf hockey and national team experience. Many of the roster have been involved since the team's inception and have represented Hungary in numerous international friendlies.
Longtime captain Máté Mártonffy – recently honored for his contributions to deaf hockey – anchors the squad with veteran leadership and deep knowledge of the game. In goal, Kevin Zsolt Zatykó provides a steady last line of defense; he has backstopped Hungary throughout its development and will be counted on heavily in Vancouver. Zatykó and fellow netminder Lajos Kovács have both tended goal in the team's warm-up tournaments, giving Hungary reliability between the pipes.
On defense and in the locker room, seasoned players like Ádám Kern and Tibor Gábor Demeter bring stability and poise. Both have been with the national deaf team through its formative years and help organize the team's defensive zone with their experience. The blue line group will also benefit from the chemistry of brothers Benjamin and Richárd Fekete, a sibling duo whose familiarity on the ice boosts Hungary's cohesion.
Meanwhile, versatile two-way players such as Ferenc Dániel Ács, Olivér Szarvas, and Adrián Szilvási have shown offensive spark in past games and will look to generate scoring. Szarvas and Ács in particular have demonstrated a scoring touch in domestic deaf tournaments, and their ability to transition quickly from defense to attack will be key.
International Preparations and Outlook for WDIHC 2025
To prepare for their world championship debut, the Hungarians have actively sought out competition against other deaf national teams. In October 2023, Budapest hosted an international deaf ice hockey tournament featuring Hungary, Czechia and other nations – giving the home team valuable game action against established programs.
Earlier that year, Team Hungary also organized a multi-game friendly series against Norway's deaf national squad, which ended in impressive victories for the Magyars. The Hungarians swept a three-game exhibition series vs. Norway, including a 2–0 shutout win in Szombathely and a 5–3 triumph in Győr. Those results marked some of the team's biggest achievements to date, boosting the players' confidence and proving they can compete with experienced European deaf teams.
At the 4th World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships, Hungary will be the only first-time participant among a field of seasoned competitors. Underdog status aside, the Magyars are approaching the tournament with quiet confidence and a hunger to make a statement. Team Hungary is well aware that powerhouses like Canada, USA, Finland and Czechia have decades of deaf hockey pedigree – but they relish the challenge.
"We can't wait to finally test ourselves at this level," Mártonffy noted in the lead-up, emphasizing that just reaching this stage is a proud achievement for Hungarian deaf sport. The players have bonded through years of hard work and adversity, and they intend to rely on their discipline, hustle, and team unity to surprise opponents in Vancouver.
The 2025 championship is the beginning of a new chapter for Team Hungary, one built on perseverance and a passion for hockey that transcends any obstacles. Keep an eye on the Hungarians – they've come a long way in a short time, and they're ready to leave it all on the ice in their world championship debut.