Reka Hiezl (No. 10) and Team Hungary
photo: Matt Zambonin / IIHF
Back at the top level for the first time since 2014, Team Hungary didn’t look out of place in their opening game of the 2026 U18 Women’s World Championship on Saturday.
The final scoreline read 4-1 for the Sweden, but Hungary’s captain, Reka Hiezl, was buzzing. Playing this season at the esteemed Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school program in Minnesota and now committed to Quinnipiac University, the 16-year-old finished as her team’s top forward with 22:27 of ice time, went 8-for-14 on the face-off dot and created offense.
In the first period, Hiezl broke in for a Grade A scoring chance that was stopped by Swedish goalie Meja Engelin. Then, with 6:24 to play in the middle frame and Sweden holding a 2-0 lead, she got to the net-front and shoveled a loose rebound past Engelin for her first goal at this level.
“It's obviously an amazing feeling,” said the 1.70-metre centre, who hails from Szeged, Hungary. “We were a little nervous at first, but we came out for the second period really good, faster, and we scored.”
Hiezl felt that her team played well for 50 minutes. But she wants to see more.
“We need to play for three periods,” she said. “I think that was the problem against Sweden. But we can learn about it, and we can continue the tournament.”
In 2025, Hiezl was part of the Hungarian U18 squad earned promotion back to the top level with a perfect 5-0 record in the Div. 1A tournament in front of family and friends on home soil in Budapest.
Just 15 at the time, she helped set the tone in her team’s opening 3-1 win over France with two goals, including the game winner.
Goaltender Noemi Takacs earned three of the five wins at that tournament, giving up just two goals and recording one shutout. On Saturday, she earned best player honors for Hungary with a 30-save effort against the Swedes.
“She’s the best goalie I know,” Hiezl said. “I’ve played with her from the age of five, so she is one of my best friends. She’s great and she deserves to be here.”
Hungary's player pool is relatively small, so Hiezl has already been tapped to play at the senior level. Last year, she suited up for both the Olympic qualification tournament and the senior women’s world championship.
Before landing on Cape Breton Island, the Hungarians went 2-0 in a pair of pre-tournament games in Toronto last week. They beat the Toronto Metropolitan University team 3-0, then erased a two-goal deficit to beat Slovakia 6-5 in overtime.
Results like that had to to build confidence. But for Hiezl, her team’s effort and execution were even more important.
“We don’t need much confidence because we want to work for the win, and we need to deserve that,” she said. “We are really a team that plays with our heart. We just keep pushing, and we can do that all the way.”
Hungarian coach Zoltan Fodor believes his team’s best asset is its resilience.
“We have good courage and we fought really hard, and I think that's really important,” he said after Game 1. “Then, we just get used the level. The pace and everything is different. Especially, Sweden plays physical, so we understand, now, what’s going on.”
Wearing the ‘C’ for her country, especially at 16, carries special meaning for Hiezl.
“I'm humble for that,” she said. “I want to be a great teammate for the team, do my job and just deserve it more for next year, too.”
After working so hard to gain promotion, Hiezl’s focus is on ensuring that her team learns everything it can from this experience.
“We have a lot of younger players this year, so they need to get confident at this level,” she said. “We don't have (as many players as) for example, the USA or Canada, so we bring the whole U18 group.”
Hungary’s roster includes five players born in 2010 and three 14-year-olds who were born in 2011.
“It’s pretty good for them that they can measure their level, their game here, and learn and be better,” Hiezl said.
At 16, she is already in a mentorship role.
“This is my own goal as a captain, to feel that they belong here, and you can be happy.”
Hungary’s next test is a tough one. They’ll face powerful Team Canada on Monday, then close out the Group A round-robin against Switzerland on Tuesday.
The final scoreline read 4-1 for the Sweden, but Hungary’s captain, Reka Hiezl, was buzzing. Playing this season at the esteemed Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school program in Minnesota and now committed to Quinnipiac University, the 16-year-old finished as her team’s top forward with 22:27 of ice time, went 8-for-14 on the face-off dot and created offense.
In the first period, Hiezl broke in for a Grade A scoring chance that was stopped by Swedish goalie Meja Engelin. Then, with 6:24 to play in the middle frame and Sweden holding a 2-0 lead, she got to the net-front and shoveled a loose rebound past Engelin for her first goal at this level.
“It's obviously an amazing feeling,” said the 1.70-metre centre, who hails from Szeged, Hungary. “We were a little nervous at first, but we came out for the second period really good, faster, and we scored.”
Hiezl felt that her team played well for 50 minutes. But she wants to see more.
“We need to play for three periods,” she said. “I think that was the problem against Sweden. But we can learn about it, and we can continue the tournament.”
In 2025, Hiezl was part of the Hungarian U18 squad earned promotion back to the top level with a perfect 5-0 record in the Div. 1A tournament in front of family and friends on home soil in Budapest.
Just 15 at the time, she helped set the tone in her team’s opening 3-1 win over France with two goals, including the game winner.
Goaltender Noemi Takacs earned three of the five wins at that tournament, giving up just two goals and recording one shutout. On Saturday, she earned best player honors for Hungary with a 30-save effort against the Swedes.
“She’s the best goalie I know,” Hiezl said. “I’ve played with her from the age of five, so she is one of my best friends. She’s great and she deserves to be here.”
Hungary's player pool is relatively small, so Hiezl has already been tapped to play at the senior level. Last year, she suited up for both the Olympic qualification tournament and the senior women’s world championship.
Before landing on Cape Breton Island, the Hungarians went 2-0 in a pair of pre-tournament games in Toronto last week. They beat the Toronto Metropolitan University team 3-0, then erased a two-goal deficit to beat Slovakia 6-5 in overtime.
Results like that had to to build confidence. But for Hiezl, her team’s effort and execution were even more important.
“We don’t need much confidence because we want to work for the win, and we need to deserve that,” she said. “We are really a team that plays with our heart. We just keep pushing, and we can do that all the way.”
Hungarian coach Zoltan Fodor believes his team’s best asset is its resilience.
“We have good courage and we fought really hard, and I think that's really important,” he said after Game 1. “Then, we just get used the level. The pace and everything is different. Especially, Sweden plays physical, so we understand, now, what’s going on.”
Wearing the ‘C’ for her country, especially at 16, carries special meaning for Hiezl.
“I'm humble for that,” she said. “I want to be a great teammate for the team, do my job and just deserve it more for next year, too.”
After working so hard to gain promotion, Hiezl’s focus is on ensuring that her team learns everything it can from this experience.
“We have a lot of younger players this year, so they need to get confident at this level,” she said. “We don't have (as many players as) for example, the USA or Canada, so we bring the whole U18 group.”
Hungary’s roster includes five players born in 2010 and three 14-year-olds who were born in 2011.
“It’s pretty good for them that they can measure their level, their game here, and learn and be better,” Hiezl said.
At 16, she is already in a mentorship role.
“This is my own goal as a captain, to feel that they belong here, and you can be happy.”
Hungary’s next test is a tough one. They’ll face powerful Team Canada on Monday, then close out the Group A round-robin against Switzerland on Tuesday.