Hungary’s women’s national hockey team is entering a pivotal preparation phase as it targets a return to the upper echelon of world competition for the 2026‑27 season. After a two‑week intensive camp, the squad hopes to translate its ninth‑ranked status into a genuine challenge for the top spots.
Training Camp in Germany
The camp, held in the Bavarian town of Füssen, serves as a crucible for chemistry. Head coach Delaney Collins has outlined a clear mandate: forge cohesion, raise the team’s baseline expectations, and lay the groundwork for a tournament that will pit Hungary against Germany, France and Norway in a four‑nation showdown.
Beyond the immediate camp, the schedule includes a highly anticipated World Championship in Milan, a city that will also host the 2026 Winter Olympics. The tournament marks the first major international event for the Hungarian side since the 2025 edition, and it arrives after a season that left the team just shy of promotion back to the top division in 2026.
The roster blends seasoned veterans with fresh talent. Players such as Taylor Baker, who has returned from a hiatus, join a cadre of emerging athletes who are also vying for spots on the senior squad. The camp doubles as a testing ground for the U‑18 candidates, who are eager to prove they can contribute at the senior level. In addition, several members have accepted invites to the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres training camp this fall, underscoring the growing visibility of Hungarian talent.
Historically, Hungary has flirted with the elite, having competed in the top division in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, and narrowly missing promotion in 2026. The current campaign is framed as a deliberate effort to elevate standards and to build a sustainable pipeline that can sustain a long season without a World Championship until November 2027.
With a clear vision from Collins, a blend of experience and youth, and a calendar that stretches to the Milan championship, the team is poised to turn its recent near‑misses into concrete results. The ultimate goal is not just participation but a sustained push that can re‑establish Hungary as a regular contender on the world stage.