A look at the greatest Hungarian hockey players

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In mid-May, the annual IIHF World Championships will kick off for all teams in the top division. This year, the tournament will be hosted in Riga, Latvia, and Tampere, Finland. For Hungarian fans of ice hockey, it’s a big year for the Magyars, who earned a promotion to the top division after last year’s tournament.

In terms of sports betting, most of Hungary’s markets are usually focused on rugby, handball, and football. However, fans of ice hockey can wager on leagues from the NHL for NHL betting. Those who have been closely following the world’s most popular leagues, along with international events like the IIHF’s World Championship, are waiting on a Hungarian player to make headlines. 

While three have been drafted into the world’s biggest league, the NHL, none have made illustrious careers on the ice. However, that could change. With Hungary’s national team promoted to the top division for the upcoming IIHF championship, could there be a few breakout players that turn their experience into a potential move to the NHL?

Let’s dive into the possibility, along with covering two of Hungary’s most influential hockey stars.

All Eyes on the IIHF 2023 Men’s Championship Game

In terms of national ice hockey, the Magyars have been an active part of the IIHF. While their Olympic performances haven’t yielded any high results, the team tends to wade around a world ranking of No. 20 or No. 21. Their highest appearance was at No. 19 during a hot streak back in 2012—which is a long way from the team’s inaugural game in 1927, which they lost to Austria 6-0.

So, what would a high finish at the IIHF mean for ice hockey in the country? In reality, a good performance could help foster needed change in the current system. Statista reports that the number of registered ice hockey players in the country has risen from just over 2,000 in 2010 to just over 7,100 in 2018.

Clearly, the IIHF is a major event for these fans. The better the team performs, the more publicity the IIHF World Championship and the Magyars receive. More attention often equates to more funding, which is especially important considering Hungary only has around forty ice rinks viable for hosting professional games. 

Papp Seeking Out a Spot in North America

One of Hungary’s most promising hockey talents is Kristóf Papp. Papp most recently played for Michigan State University as one of the Spartans’ top players. Papp’s interest in hockey began at a young age, while his parents helped encourage his interest. That even meant moving from Budapest to Los Angeles to play for the NHL’s LA Kings’ U21 side, the Junior Kings.

Since then, he’s jumped around on multiple teams. While it hasn’t been enough to land him a spot in the NHL Draft, he’s been able to gain experience in the USHL and, most recently, playing in the NCAA with the Spartans. For now, it’s unclear whether Papp will continue to look to build his career in the US. For now, he’s the sole representative of Hungarian ice hockey in North America.

Frank Banham, Forward

One of Hungary’s leading hockey stars wasn’t actually born within the country. Instead, Frank Banham was born in Calahoo, Alberta—albeit to Hungarian parents. Having grown up in the Great White North, hockey was a part of Banham’s life growing up. Back in 1993, he was drafted 147th overall into the NHL.

He played a few games for the then-Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, along with the Phoenix Coyotes. He spent even more time with their AHL affiliates as a right winger. However, most of Banham’s career blossomed abroad, where he spent time playing in Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and beyond.

Levente Szuper, Goalie

If there’s one clear champion of Hungarian ice hockey, it’s Levente Szuper. Born in Budapest, Szuper was eventually drafted into the NHL in 2000. He played with the Calgary Flames for a few seasons, then left to play in other leagues like the AHL, DEL, and Serie A.

However, Szuper’s greatest influence has been on domestic hockey. In 2009, he played on the Magyars team that won promotion to the top division of the IIHF. Today, he continues to foster ice hockey growth by coaching the Erste Liga side Schiller-Vasas HC.