The Budapest Wolves will be the sixth team in SELAF for next year, adding a team from Hungary to SELAF, which now has teams from four countries. They will compete in the conference with the Ljubljana Silverhawks and the Asvö Gladiators. Like the Austrian team Gladiators, the Wolves will play parallel in SELAF and Austrian Division I next year.
“For our spring season we will be playing in the Austrian Division 1 and SELAF and after that our plans will be developed based on our ability to handle the schedule. I think that in the long term SELAF will be the better fit for the Wolves”, said Lee Hlavka, the head coach of the Wolves.
The Budapest Wolves were founded in 2004 and have since then been playing in Austrian Division II, as there were no Hungarian teams at the time. They have promoted to Division I, one of Europe’s strongest leagues, after last season.
As one of Europe’s up-and-coming teams they will give SELAF a great boost, and are at this time considered to be one of the frontrunners for winning the league next season.
“It was also made very clear to us that we would be an important addition to the ultimate success of the league. The idea of having teams from nations all across the area adds importance to each member team and should enhance potential rivalries”, added Hlavka.
Hlavka is now coaching the Wolves after more than thirty years of coaching football on high school and college level. He was also a baseball coach in his native Wisconsin.