This Epinal tournament is part of the new IIHF “European Cup of Nations”, which should give a structured and more official character to international tournaments. The flaw in the formula is that no promotion/relegation is planned between the level groups. However, Franz Reindl declared on this subject that “the DEB (the German federation) can decide whether it invites the first of group 2” (to the Deutschland Cup next year). Any hope for whoever wins this tournament to compete next year in the higher tournament?
Is this why Norway came to the Vosges with its big armada? All of its best players playing in Europe were called up, and the two last-minute withdrawals (Michael Haga and second goalkeeper Tobias Normann) hardly weakened the team since the striker called as a replacement Patrick Elvsveen – in the stands for this first match – was a starter at the last World Cups. However, the Norwegians do not have an Olympics to prepare, unlike the Danes or the French. But Sjur Robert Nilsen, who became coach after the resignation of Tobias Johansson, undoubtedly wants to immediately find his standard team for when he takes office.
Norway quickly took the first sequence, but was called for a foul in the offensive zone when Eskild Bakke Olsen threw János Hári into the boards. On the power play, puck control often leaves something to be desired for the Reds and captain Vilmos Gallo is unable to finish the rebound of a Sebök shot. Norway deploys the game better at 5 against 5, like Petter Vesterheim who overflows on the right wing thanks to a long restart from Kristian Ostby and goes straight to goal.
After eight minutes, an obstruction was called against goalkeeper Henrik Haukeland who tripped Domán Szongoth while returning from behind his goal. Hungary still doesn’t make much of an impression. On the other hand, when the young Domán Szongoth was in turn sanctioned for an obstruction in the offensive zone, Norway gave no quarter for its first powerplay. Tinus Luc Koblar is left absolutely alone in front of the goal to conclude a beautiful triangle play from Bakke Olsen and Johnsen (0-1, 19’54”).
The second goal, midway through the match, came from a big mistake by Kristóf Nagy. This very tall goalkeeper (1m96) is making his debut for the national team following his good start in the Austrian league with Ferencváros, but his technical mastery seems more doubtful. He controls a puck near his cage so poorly that, realizing his clumsiness, he abandons it and quickly goes into his goal. Eirik Salsten took the opportunity to position himself in “Gretzky’s office” and ideally serve behind Thomas Berg Paulsen (0-2, 30’31”).
But the Hungarians do not have the exclusivity of dumplings. The too dangerous restart in the axis of Mattias Nørstebø is countered by Gergely Mattyasovszky, to whom Bendegúz Dobos returns the puck with the backhand for a shot which catches Haukeland at the center of his movement, glove side (1-2, 42’24”). Nørstebø catches himself after an incorrect charge from the other debutant in the Hungarian team Dávid Molnár: the puck he sends from the blue is deflected in front of the goal by Tinus Koblar (1-3, 48’15”). On the next action, Balázs Sebök makes a blind pass in his zone which sends the puck into the skates of a teammate. Philip Granath thanks him, it’s a goal after a one-two with Berg-Paulsen (1-4, 48’49”).
Norway seems in total control, but István Terbócs scores an individual goal by starting from his area and dribbling past Østby before shooting Haukeland (2-4, 52’39”). An alert which does not call for others.
Paradoxically, this is the only unusual name in the Norwegian team which was the player of the match: Tinus Luc Koblar is the son of a couple of Slovenian sportsmen (a skier and a biathlete) who fell in love during the Lillehammer Olympics… and therefore settled in Norway after their career. Toronto’s surprise choice in the last NHL draft, Koblar showed off his size today in front of the cage on the power play. He thus scored a double for his first international match!
Players of the match: Bence Horváth for Hungary and Tinius Luc Koblar for Norway.
Hungary – Norway 2-4 (0-1, 0-1, 2-2)
Thursday November 6, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at the Poissompré ice rink in Épinal. 172 spectators.
Referees: Florian Baudry and Maxime Laboulais assisted by Achille Lefevre and Hugo Maillard (all FRA).
Penalties: Hungary 14′ (2′, 10′, 2′); Norway 10′ (4′, 4′, 2′).
Shots: Hungary 15 (7, 3, 5); Norway 27 (12, 11, 4).
Evolution of the score:
0-1 à 19’54” : Koblar assisted by Johnsen and Bakke Olsen (sup. num.)
0-2 to 30’31” : Berg Paulsen attended by E.
1-2 at 42’25”: Mattyasovszky assisted by Dobos
1-3 à 48’15” : Koblar assisted de Nørstebø and Bakke Olsen (sup. num.)
1-4 at 48’49”: Granath assisted by Berg Paulsen
2-4 at 52’39”: Terbócs assisted by Hari
Hungary
Attackers:
Vilmos Galló (C, -2) – Bence Horváth (-2) – Balázs Sebök (-2)
Domán Szongoth (+1, 6′) – János Hári (A, +1) – István Terbócs (A, +1, 2′)
Gergely Mattyasovszky (+1) – Dávid Molnár (2′) – Kristof Németh
András Mihalik (+1) – Ambrus Gergő – Drummer Mihály Bendegúz (+1)
Defenders:
Márkó Csollák (2′) – Tamás Ortenszky (2′)
Gabor Tornyai – Nandor Fejes
Bence Stipsicz – Donát Horváth
Roland Kiss – Alex Horváth
Guardian :
Kristóf Nagy [sorti à 58’44”]
Replacement: Bence Bálizs (G). In reserve: Levente Hegedüs (G), Olivér Farkas, Simon Szathmary (D), Maxim Szabó Rácz, Csanád Ravasz, Márk Schlekmann (A).
Norway
Attackers:
Petter Vesterheim – Håvard Østrem Salsten (A) – Emilio Pettersen
Tinius Luc Koblar (-1, 2′) – Eskild Bakke Olsen (-1, 4′) – Samuel Solem (-1)
Noah Steen – Markus Vikingstad – Martin Johnsen
Thomas Berg Paulsen (+1) – Eirik Salsten (+1) – Philip Granath (+1)
Defenders:
Mattias Nørstebø (A, -1) – Max Krogdahl (C, +1)
Sverre Rønningen (+1) – Johannes Johannesen (+1)
Kristian Østby (-2, 2′) – Isak Hansen
Sander Hurrød
Guardian :
Henrik Haukeland (2′)
Republicating: Stense Markus (G). In the reserve: The Patrick of Elvsveen, Thomas Olsen (A).
