HK Acroni Jesenice
Encyclopedia
HK Acroni Jesenice is a Slovenia
n ice hockey
team that currently plays in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Podmežakla
in Jesenice.
Development of hockey continued in Jesenice in the following years with the opening of the artificial ice-hockey surface in 1954 which was the first in former Yugoslavia. This also included a spectator area.
In 1956 Jesenice team hired a hockey coach from former Czechoslovakia Zdenek Blaha. This started the jesenice ice-hockey rise. In the 1956/57 season Jesenice won the Yugoslav championship against far more known teams from Ljubljana and Belgrade.
It took a couple of years for Jesenice to bounce back and in 2004/05 season with the arrival of four players from Olimpija (Ljubljana) and most local players once again playing for their home team Jesenice won the championship once again. This was continued with further good play in one of the International Hockey Leagues (including one championship title) and one more national championship title.
As a recognition of their quality in 2006 Jesenice was invited as first non-Austrian team to play in the (now) expanded Austrian ice-hockey championships.
Currently Jesenice still plays in this league, but has also won four more Slovenian titles in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team that currently plays in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Podmežakla
Dvorana Podmežakla
Podmežakla Hall is an indoor sporting arena located in Jesenice, Slovenia. It is the home of the HK Acroni Jesenice ice hockey team and its affiliate HD mladi Jesenice. It is also the site of the Triglav Trophy, an annual international figure skating competition held each spring...
in Jesenice.
Before World War 2
Roots of ice hockey in Jesenice go back to pre World War 2 when enthusiasts started skating on a natural ice surface (these days it's a soccer field very near the hockey arena). The name of Karlo Vergles is being mentioned most often with regards to these ice hockey beginnings. In the season of 1940/41 the first amateur team was assembled with simple equipment mostly made in the local steel and iron factory (which is still the main sponsor today). Despite that Jesenice team lost their first game to Zagreb with only one goal.After World War 2
After World War 2 ice hockey returned to the sports park Podmežakla. And the start wasn't easy. Other clubs had years of tradition to count on and the Jesenice team had a hard time getting matches. Therefore in 1948 an ice-hockey/skating section was formed in the local sport society under the leadership of Drago Cerar. Other people involved included: France Božič, Mitja Verovšek, Vinko Čižman, Pavle Hafner, Milan Marolt and others. This year was also important for the fact that it was the first time Jesenice played in a real tournament against Maribor, Brežice and Celje. Somewhat surprisingly (although not by score) Jesenice team won the tournament.Development of hockey continued in Jesenice in the following years with the opening of the artificial ice-hockey surface in 1954 which was the first in former Yugoslavia. This also included a spectator area.
In 1956 Jesenice team hired a hockey coach from former Czechoslovakia Zdenek Blaha. This started the jesenice ice-hockey rise. In the 1956/57 season Jesenice won the Yugoslav championship against far more known teams from Ljubljana and Belgrade.
The Golden Age
After winning the 1957 championship Jesenice completely dominated the Yugoslav ice-hockey winning 15 consecutive championship titles. Most coaches in this period were foreign coming from former Czechoslovakia. Notable players in this period include: Albin Felc, Dušan Brun, Bogo Jan, Ciril Klinar, Viktor Tišler, Vlado Jug, Gorazd Hiti, Franc Smolej, Rudi Knez and others.Before Slovenian Independence
After 1971 season the Yugoslav championship was more or less divided equally between Jesenice and Ljubljana. Jesenice won in 73, 77, 78, 81, 82, 85, 87 and for the last time in former Yugoslavia in 1988. Jesenice also won the 1974 championship but this was later taken away from them by the ice-hockey federation. Notable about this period is that the majority of players came from Jesenice or neighboring cities, a trait for which the Jesenice team is still known today.After Slovenian Independence
First years after the Slovenian independence were again dominated by the Jesenice team. Alongside good local players the team was reinforced by some excellent players from former Soviet Union under the coaching of Vladimir Krikunov. This resulted in three consecutive championship titles. However financial and staff problems brought the team to the brink of collapse. The peak of these troubles was the exclusion of Jesenice team from the Slovenian championships in 1988/89 season.It took a couple of years for Jesenice to bounce back and in 2004/05 season with the arrival of four players from Olimpija (Ljubljana) and most local players once again playing for their home team Jesenice won the championship once again. This was continued with further good play in one of the International Hockey Leagues (including one championship title) and one more national championship title.
As a recognition of their quality in 2006 Jesenice was invited as first non-Austrian team to play in the (now) expanded Austrian ice-hockey championships.
Currently Jesenice still plays in this league, but has also won four more Slovenian titles in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Honours
- Yugoslav Ice Hockey LeagueYugoslav Ice Hockey LeagueThe Yugoslav Ice Hockey League was the top ice hockey league in the old Yugoslavia.In 1939 Yugoslavia became a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. That year also, the country held his first national League, with Ilirija Ljubljana emerging as champion.The League folded in 1991, when...
: (until 1991)- Winners (23) : 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988
- Runners-up (13) : 1954, 1956, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990
- Slovenian Ice Hockey Championship:
- Winners (9) : 1992, 1993, 1994, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Runners-up (8) : 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
- Interliga:
- Winners (2)
Coaches
| Year | Coach | Info | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963–1966 |  |
Jiŕi Pleticha | 3 x Yugoslav Champion |
| 1966–1967 | |
Rudi Černy | 1 x Yugoslav Champion |
| 1967–1969 | |
Oldrich Mlcoch | 2 x Yugoslav Champion |
| 1969–1972 |  |
Ciril Klinar | 2 x Yugoslav Champion |
| 1972–1974 |  |
Boris Afanasijev | 1 x Yugoslav Champion |
| 1974–1975 | |
Jože Trebušak | |
| 1975–1976 | |
Rudi Černy | |
| 1976–1978 | |
Vlastimil Bubník Vlastimil Bubník Vlastimil Bubník was a Czech ice hockey player and footballer.Bubník played in the Czechoslovak Extraliga. He played for HC Brno and Královo Pole. He also won a bronze medal at the 1964 Winter Olympics... |
2 x Yugoslav Champion |
| 1978–1979 | |
Ciril Klinar | |
| 1979–1982 | |
Boris Svetlin | 2 x Yugoslav Champion |
| 1982–1983 | |
Albin Felc Albin Felc Albin Felc is a retired Slovenian professional ice hockey player.-Club career:In 1958, Felc made his debut in the Yugoslav Ice Hockey League with HK Jesenice. He scored 458 goals in the Yugoslav League, which was the league record until in 1971. Felc also played for teams in Italy and Switzerland... |
|
| 1983–1985 | |
Boris Svetlin | Fired before end of contract |
| 1985–1987 | |
Roman Smolej | 2 x Yugoslav Champion |
| 1987–1988 | |
Vaclav Červeny | 1 x Yugoslav Champion |
| 1988–1989 | |
Rudi Hiti Rudi Hiti Rudi Hiti is a retired Slovenian ice hockey player and coach. In Slovenia he played for HK Kranjska Gora, HK Acroni Jesenice and HDD Olimpija Ljubljana, winning yugoslav league four times. Later he played in Italy, winning Italian league three times with HC Bolzano, where his #13 jersey was retired... |
|
| 1989–1990 | |
Ciril Klinar | Fired before end of contract |
| 1989–1990 | |
Vaclav Červeny | |
| 1990–1991 | |
Jan Selvek | |
| 1991–1993 |  |
Vladimir Krikunov Vladimir Krikunov Vladimir Krikunov is retired Russian ice-hockey player and former head coach of team Russia. As a player Krikunov played for Dinamo Riga and PHC Krylya Sovetov of Moscow. During his coaching career he coached HC Dynamo Moscow and team Russia... |
2 x Slovenian Champion |
| 1993–1995 | |
Sergej Borisov | 1 x Slovenian Champion |
| 1995–1996 | |
Drago Mlinarec | |
| 1996–1997 |  |
Paul Arsenault | Fired before end of contract |
| 1996–1997 | |
Franci Žbontar | |
| 1997–1998 |  |
Zdenek Uher | Fired before end of contract |
| 1997–1998 | |
Drago Mlinarec | |
| 1998–1999 | |
Pavle Kavčič | |
| 1999–2001 | |
Vaclav Červeny | |
| 2001–2002 | |
Pavle Kavčič | |
| 2002–2006 | |
Roman Pristov | 2 x Slovenian Champion |
| 2006–2007 | |
Matjaž Kopitar Matjaž Kopitar Matjaz Kopitar is a retired Slovenian professional ice hockey player. He is the father of the ice hockey players, Gasper, and Anze Kopitar.-Career:... |
EBEL: 5th place |
| 2007–2008 | |
Kim Collins | Fired before end of contract |
| 2008–2009 |  |
Douglas Bradley | 2 x Slovenian Champion, EBEL: 2 x Quarterfinals |
| 2009–2009 | |
Ildar Rahmatuljin | Fired before end of contract |
| 2009–2010 | Mike Posma Mike Posma Mike Posma is an American former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Posma was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. He played professionally for the Utica Devils of the American Hockey League and later in Switzerland and Germany. He coached in Switzerland... |
||
| 2010 on |  |
Heikki Mälkiä | |
Notable Players
- Anže KopitarAnže KopitarAnže Kopitar is a Slovene professional ice hockey player and alternate captain of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . The first Slovenian to play in the NHL, Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice and led his native country before he moved to Sweden...
(Jesenice youth teamHD mladi JeseniceHD mladi Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team. It is the farm team of HK Acroni Jesenice. Currently the team plays in the Slohokej Liga. In the past the team was known as "HK HIT Casino Kranjska Gora." It was also nicknamed Petelini, which in Slovenian means roosters.-NHL alumni:Since its...
) - Rudi HitiRudi HitiRudi Hiti is a retired Slovenian ice hockey player and coach. In Slovenia he played for HK Kranjska Gora, HK Acroni Jesenice and HDD Olimpija Ljubljana, winning yugoslav league four times. Later he played in Italy, winning Italian league three times with HC Bolzano, where his #13 jersey was retired...
Current Roster
| # | Player | Catches | Hometown | Former Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | |
Gašper Krošelj | L | Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants... |
KHL Medveščak |
| 30 |  |
Justin Sand | L | Warren, MI, USA | Michigan State University Michigan State University Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,... |
| 37 |  |
Michal Fikrt Michal Fikrt Michal Fikrt is a Czech professional ice hockey player. He plays goaltender for Acroni Jesenice in the EBEL.-Clubs:... |
L | Most, Czech Republic Most Most is the capital city of the Most District, situated between the Czech Central Mountains and the Ore Mountains, approximately northwest of Prague along the Bílina River and southwest of Ústí nad Labem.-Etymology:... |
HK Nitra |
| # | Player | Shoots | Hometown | Former Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | |
Žiga Grahut | R | Celje, Slovenia | ATSE Graz ATSE Graz ATSE Graz is an ice hockey team in Graz, Austria. They play in the Austrian Hockey League, the second level of ice hockey in Austria.-History:... |
| 13 | |
Nejc Berlisk | R | Jesenice, Slovenia | HDD Olimpija Ljubljana HDD Olimpija Ljubljana HDD Tilia Olimpija Ljubljana is a Slovenian professional ice hockey team that plays in the Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Tivoli in Ljubljana. Olimpija has won 13 Yugoslav Championships and 11 Slovenian championships. They won 10 consecutive times from 1995 to 2004... |
| 15 | |
Denis Rakovič | R | Jesenice, Slovenia | HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team. It is the farm team of HK Acroni Jesenice. Currently the team plays in the Slohokej Liga. In the past the team was known as "HK HIT Casino Kranjska Gora." It was also nicknamed Petelini, which in Slovenian means roosters.-NHL alumni:Since its... |
| 21 | |
Klemen Pretnar Klemen Pretnar Klemen Pretnar is a Slovenian ice hockey player. He participated at the 2011 IIHF World Championship as a member of the Slovenia men's national ice hockey team.-External links:... |
L | Bled, Slovenia | HK MK Bled HK MK Bled HK MK Bled is an ice hockey club from Bled, Slovenia. The club was founded in 2000.... |
| 29 | |
Aleksander Magovac | R | Jesenice, Slovenia | HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team. It is the farm team of HK Acroni Jesenice. Currently the team plays in the Slohokej Liga. In the past the team was known as "HK HIT Casino Kranjska Gora." It was also nicknamed Petelini, which in Slovenian means roosters.-NHL alumni:Since its... |
| 44 | |
Andrej Tavželj (A) | L | Jesenice, Slovenia | Aquille FVG Pontebba SG Pontebba Sport Ghiaccio Pontebba is represented by Aquile Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the Pontebba region's flagship ice hockey team, plays its home games at the PalaVuerich arena in Pontebba, Italy and is affiliated with the local ice sports society Sport Ghiaccio Pontebba. The team is a member of the Serie A... |
| 47 | |
Matevž Erman | D | Žirovnica, Slovenia Žirovnica Žirovnica is a municipality in Slovenia. It is located in the historic Upper Carniola region, on the southern slope of the Karavanke mountain range, close to the border with Austria... |
HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team. It is the farm team of HK Acroni Jesenice. Currently the team plays in the Slohokej Liga. In the past the team was known as "HK HIT Casino Kranjska Gora." It was also nicknamed Petelini, which in Slovenian means roosters.-NHL alumni:Since its... |
| 55 |  |
Johan Björk Johan Björk Johan Björk is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for HK Acroni Jesenice of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 4th round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.... |
L | Malmö, Sweden | HV71 HV71 HV71, often referred to as just HV, is a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Jönköping, playing in the Swedish elite league Elitserien... |
| 59 | |
Martin Tuma Martin Tuma Martin Tůma is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays with HC České Budějovice in the Czech Extraliga. He was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 5th of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:Tůma played junior hockey in HC Litvínov's system in the Czech Republic... |
L | Most, Czech Republic | HC Ceske Budejovice HC Ceské Budejovice HC Mountfield České Budějovice are a professional men's ice hockey club, based in České Budějovice in the Czech Republic. The club plays home games at Budvar Arena, and are members of the Czech Extraliga... |
| 81 | |
Luka Tošič | L | Jesenice, Slovenia | Diables Rouges de Briançon |
| # | Player | Position | Shoots | Hometown | Former Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | |
James Sixsmith James Sixsmith James Sixsmith is an American professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing with HK Acroni Jesenice in the Austrian Hockey League.... |
C | L | Alexandria, USA | Kölner Haie Kölner Haie The Kölner Haie are an ice hockey club based in Cologne, Germany that plays in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The team was one of the founding members of the DEL.The team colours are red and white.... |
| 12 |  |
Lukaš Hvila | RW | L | Poprad, Slovakia | Banska Bystrica Banská Bystrica Banská Bystrica is a key city in central Slovakia located on the Hron River in a long and wide valley encircled by the mountain chains of the Low Tatras, the Veľká Fatra, and the Kremnica Mountains. With 81,281 inhabitants, Banská Bystrica is the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia... |
| 16 | |
Miha Brus | F | L | Jesenice, Slovenia | HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team. It is the farm team of HK Acroni Jesenice. Currently the team plays in the Slohokej Liga. In the past the team was known as "HK HIT Casino Kranjska Gora." It was also nicknamed Petelini, which in Slovenian means roosters.-NHL alumni:Since its... |
| 18 | |
Marjan Manfreda | RW | L | Bohinjska Bela, Slovenia Bohinjska Bela Bohinjska Bela is a village in the Municipality of Bled in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.Bohinjska Bela lies on the left bank of the Sava Bohinjka River, southwest of Bled. The oldest part of the settlement, locally known as Spodnja vas or Dolenja vas is believed to be over a thousand... |
HK Slavija Ljubljana HK Slavija Ljubljana HK Slavija Ljubljana is an ice hockey club from Ljubljana, Slovenia. The club was founded in 1964. The club's best result was first place in the regular season, and second place in the playoffs.... |
| 20 | |
Marcus Olsson | C | L | Trelleborg, Sweden | Malmö Redhawks Malmö Redhawks The Malmö Redhawks is an ice hockey club from Malmö, Sweden. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. Malmö has played 16 seasons in the top Swedish league Elitserien .-History:... |
| 22 | |
Jure Dolinšek | F | R | Jesenice, Slovenia | HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team. It is the farm team of HK Acroni Jesenice. Currently the team plays in the Slohokej Liga. In the past the team was known as "HK HIT Casino Kranjska Gora." It was also nicknamed Petelini, which in Slovenian means roosters.-NHL alumni:Since its... |
| 23 | |
Urban Sodja | LW | R | Jesenice, Slovenia | HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team. It is the farm team of HK Acroni Jesenice. Currently the team plays in the Slohokej Liga. In the past the team was known as "HK HIT Casino Kranjska Gora." It was also nicknamed Petelini, which in Slovenian means roosters.-NHL alumni:Since its... |
| 26 | |
Jaka Ankerst Jaka Ankerst Jaka Ankerst is a Slovenian ice hockey player. He participated at the 2011 IIHF World Championship as a member of the Slovenia men's national ice hockey team.-External links:... |
LW | L | Kranj, Slovenia | Diables Rouges de Briançon |
| 41 |  |
Antti Pusa | RW | L | Käppäselkä, Russia | Ours de Villard-de-Lans Ours de Villard-de-Lans Ours de Villard-de-Lans is a French ice hockey team based in Villard-de-Lans playing in the Ligue Magnus.The team was founded in 1931 and plays home games at the Patinoire municipale de Villard-de-Lans.-Former players:... |
| 72 | |
Andrej Židan | F | L | Jesenice, Slovenia | HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice HD mladi Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team. It is the farm team of HK Acroni Jesenice. Currently the team plays in the Slohokej Liga. In the past the team was known as "HK HIT Casino Kranjska Gora." It was also nicknamed Petelini, which in Slovenian means roosters.-NHL alumni:Since its... |
| 77 | |
Jan Berčič | F | L | Kranj, Slovenia | HK Triglav Kranj HK Triglav Kranj HK Triglav Kranj is an ice hockey club from Kranj, Slovenia. The club was founded in 1968.... |
| 83 | |
Patrik Bergström | W | L | Piteå, Sweden | Rögle |
| 91 | |
Tomo Hafner (A) | C | R | Jesenice, Slovenia | Bloomington Prairie Thunder Bloomington Prairie Thunder The Bloomington PrairieThunder was a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Bloomington, Illinois. They were a member of the Central Hockey League in the Turner Conference. The team was originally a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010. They... |
| 92 | |
Anže Kuralt | F | R | Slovenia Slovenia Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... |
Red Bull Salzburg U20 |