Hungary Earns Promotion To Top Division At U-18 World Championships

For only the third time in the nation's history, and first time since 2014, Hungary will play in the top division of the women's IIHF U-18 World Championships. Hungary went a perfect 5-0 in the Division 1A tournament outscoring their opponents 13-2.

Hungarian captain Boglárka Báhiczki-Tóth was named the tournament's Best Defender leading Hungary in scoring with six points in five games. Her lone goal was the game winner in Hungary's final game, a 1-0 shutout over Austria. Báhiczki-Tóth will play for Brown University in the NCAA next season.

Earning the shutout in the game was Noemi Takacs, who was named the tournament's Best Goaltender posting a 0.67 GAA and .968 save percentage in her three games.

Hungary's three top scoring forwards in the tournament, Reka Hiezl, Petra Polonyi, and Krisztina Weiler are all eligible to return next season as Hungary takes Japan's spot in the top division.

Hungary beat France 3-1, Norway 3-0, Italy 4-0, Germany 2-1, and Austria 1-0 in the tournament. Italy finished second in the tournament, followed by Germany in third. Austria was relegated to the Division 1B tournament.

Italy's Matilde Fantin was named the tournament's Best Forward tying for the scoring lead with eight points in five games. Fantin, who plays in Switzerland's top U-17 men's league with Lugano, will play NCAA hockey at Penn State next season.