Hatvan ice rink damaged by copper theft

Unknown perpetrators have caused significant damage to the ice rink used by the Hatvani Gigászok ice hockey team in Hatvan, Hungary. Thieves cut copper pipes from the cooling system's compressor, stealing metal valued at approximately 80,000 HUF.

While the stolen material has relatively low value, the resulting damage to the specialized cooling system is estimated to cost nearly 10 million HUF to repair. The theft threatens the future of the local ice hockey community, which had been working for years to establish the sport in the city.

The incident is particularly poorly timed, as the team had planned to return to the ice on September 1 following a two-year hiatus. Due to the difficulty of replacing the specific components, it is uncertain if the cooling system can be made operational in time for their planned restart. A police report has been filed regarding the incident.