Växjö Lakers Hockey
Encyclopedia
Växjö Lakers Hockey is an ice hockey
club from Växjö
in Sweden
. They play their home games in the Vida Arena
. The club makes their debut in the Elitserien
(SEL), Sweden's top ice hockey league, in the 2011–12 season
. Their official supporter club is Lakers Lakejer.
that year. Växjö Lakers originally played in Växjö Ishall as their home arena, but prior to the 2011–12 season
they moved to Vida Arena
. The construction of the Vida Arena was finished in summer 2011.
Starting in Division 4
, five divisions below Elitserien
, Växjö worked its way to HockeyAllsvenskan within 6 years, being promoted 3 times. With a perfect record in the 2002 HockeyAllsvenskan Kvalserien
, the club qualified for HockeyAllsvenskan. Sensationally, during their debut season in HockeyAllsvenskan, the club acquired Shjon Podein
, an NHL
-merited North America
n player who played 699 NHL games and won the Stanley Cup
with the Colorado Avalanche
in 2001
. The acquirement was described as "årets värvning" (acquirement of the year) by many people. During Podein's years in Växjö he became a crowd favorite. Prior to the following season, the 2004–05 season, the team also acquired Brad DeFauw
, another NHL-merited North American player who played 9 NHL games and 154 AHL
games. Both Shjon Podein and Brad DeFauw left the team after the 2004–05 season.
The club would spend 8 seasons in HockeyAllsvenskan and, during that time, reach the Kvalserien
qualification for Elitserien three times. Växjö did not manage to promote to Elitserien in the 2009
and 2010
respective Kvalserien qualifications, but after winning the 2010–11 HockeyAllsvenskan season
for the first time in club history and earning a third consecutive trip to Kvalserien, Växjö secured promotion to Elitserien in the eighth round (of ten) in the 2011 Kvalserien
. The team finished the 2011 Kvalserien with 26 points, which is a record in the Kvalserien history.
The team formerly used red, yellow and blue as its colours, both in the team's logo and the team's jerseys. On 18 April 2011 it was announced that the club had changed the colours of their jerseys to blue and orange prior to the 2011–12 season
. At that time it was also announced that the club's logo had been changed to an orange shield containing the Småland
weapon and the name of the club.
The club's first game in the Elitserien
(SEL) league was played on 13 September 2011, losing 0–2 to Frölunda HC
in front of an outsold Scandinavium
. Two days later, the club historically took their first points in Elitserien, beating Luleå HF
on away ice 3–2 in a shootout, despite trailing by two goals in the third period. Their first home game was played on September 17, against Linköpings HC
, in front of an outsold Vida Arena. Linköping won the game 4–2. Former Växjö Lakers crowd favorite Shjon Podein
watched the game in the arena. Their first home points and regulation-time win came on September 27, when the Lakers won 4–1 against Modo Hockey
. The Lakers' first shutout
came on away ice when Modo were beaten 2–0 on 25 October 2011.
Växjö Lakers played the first Småland
derby
game in Elitserien history, which was on away ice against reigning regular-season champions HV71
, on 8 October 2011 in front of an outsold Kinnarps Arena
—exactly 7,000 spectators—in Jönköping
. Växjö Lakers came out with a 3–2 victory in a shootout. Växjö Lakers forward Mike Iggulden
scored three penalty shot
goals in the game, two of them counted in the statistics.
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...
club from Växjö
Växjö
Växjö is a city and the seat of Växjö Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 64 200 inhabitants in 2010. It is the administrative, cultural and industrial centre of Kronoberg County. Furthermore it is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Växjö. It has a population of about 64 200, out of a...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. They play their home games in the Vida Arena
Vida Arena
Vida Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Växjö, Sweden. The construction of the arena began in September 2010 and was finished in summer 2011. The arena opened in September 2011 and is best known for being the Växjö Lakers' new home arena...
. The club makes their debut in the Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
(SEL), Sweden's top ice hockey league, in the 2011–12 season
2011–12 Elitserien season
The 2011–12 Elitserien season is the 37th and current season of Elitserien. The regular season began on 13 September 2011 and is scheduled to end on 6 March 2012. The following playoffs are scheduled to begin on 10 March 2012 and end between 15–21 April...
. Their official supporter club is Lakers Lakejer.
History
The club was founded in 1997, after Växjö HC went bankruptBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
that year. Växjö Lakers originally played in Växjö Ishall as their home arena, but prior to the 2011–12 season
2011–12 Elitserien season
The 2011–12 Elitserien season is the 37th and current season of Elitserien. The regular season began on 13 September 2011 and is scheduled to end on 6 March 2012. The following playoffs are scheduled to begin on 10 March 2012 and end between 15–21 April...
they moved to Vida Arena
Vida Arena
Vida Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Växjö, Sweden. The construction of the arena began in September 2010 and was finished in summer 2011. The arena opened in September 2011 and is best known for being the Växjö Lakers' new home arena...
. The construction of the Vida Arena was finished in summer 2011.
Starting in Division 4
Swedish Division 4 (ice hockey)
The Swedish Division 4 is the sixth highest-level league, and the lowest-level league, for men's ice hockey in Sweden.-See also:*List of ice hockey leagues in Sweden...
, five divisions below Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
, Växjö worked its way to HockeyAllsvenskan within 6 years, being promoted 3 times. With a perfect record in the 2002 HockeyAllsvenskan Kvalserien
Kvalserien (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Kvalserien, also known as Kvalserien till HockeyAllsvenskan, is the name of the Swedish round-robin ice hockey tournament to qualify for play in the next season of HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second highest ice hockey league for men.-Teams:...
, the club qualified for HockeyAllsvenskan. Sensationally, during their debut season in HockeyAllsvenskan, the club acquired Shjon Podein
Shjon Podein
Shjon Podein is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues....
, an NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
-merited North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n player who played 699 NHL games and won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
with the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
in 2001
2001 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2001 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Eastern Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils and the Western Conference champion Colorado Avalanche, making the franchise's second Stanley Cup Finals appearance, and first since the team won the 1996 Finals. The...
. The acquirement was described as "årets värvning" (acquirement of the year) by many people. During Podein's years in Växjö he became a crowd favorite. Prior to the following season, the 2004–05 season, the team also acquired Brad DeFauw
Brad DeFauw
Bradley Russell DeFauw is an American former professional ice hockey winger.- Career :DeFauw was drafted in the second round, 28th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft...
, another NHL-merited North American player who played 9 NHL games and 154 AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
games. Both Shjon Podein and Brad DeFauw left the team after the 2004–05 season.
The club would spend 8 seasons in HockeyAllsvenskan and, during that time, reach the Kvalserien
Kvalserien
Kvalserien, also known as Kvalserien till Elitserien, is the name of the Swedish round-robin ice hockey tournament to qualify for play in the next season of Elitserien, Sweden's top-level ice hockey league for men.-Teams:...
qualification for Elitserien three times. Växjö did not manage to promote to Elitserien in the 2009
2009 Kvalserien
The 2009 Kvalserien was the 35th Kvalserien qualification for Elitserien, played between March 13 and April 9, 2009.The 2009 Kvalserien included six teams. In this year's Kvalserien, Södertälje and Rögle, who both came from Elitserien, qualified for the 2009–10 Elitserien season...
and 2010
2010 Kvalserien
The 2010 Kvalserien was the 36th Kvalserien, played between 21 March and 11 April 2010. Södertälje and AIK, who finished 1st and 2nd respectively, qualified for the 2010–11 Elitserien season. Rögle were relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan....
respective Kvalserien qualifications, but after winning the 2010–11 HockeyAllsvenskan season
2010–11 HockeyAllsvenskan season
- Overview :-Standings:-References:This page uses content from the Swedish Wikipedia....
for the first time in club history and earning a third consecutive trip to Kvalserien, Växjö secured promotion to Elitserien in the eighth round (of ten) in the 2011 Kvalserien
2011 Kvalserien
The 2011 Kvalserien was the 37th Kvalserien, played between 14 March and 8 April 2011. Växjö Lakers Hockey and Modo Hockey, who finished 1st and 2nd respectively, qualified for the 2011–12 Elitserien season. Södertälje SK were relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan....
. The team finished the 2011 Kvalserien with 26 points, which is a record in the Kvalserien history.
2011–12 Elitserien season
The 2011–12 Elitserien season is the 37th and current season of Elitserien. The regular season began on 13 September 2011 and is scheduled to end on 6 March 2012. The following playoffs are scheduled to begin on 10 March 2012 and end between 15–21 April...
. At that time it was also announced that the club's logo had been changed to an orange shield containing the Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
weapon and the name of the club.
The club's first game in the Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
(SEL) league was played on 13 September 2011, losing 0–2 to Frölunda HC
Frölunda HC
Frölunda Hockey Club, also known as the Frölunda Indians, are a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Gothenburg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Elitserien, where they have played the majority of the seasons during its existence. The last time they played in the...
in front of an outsold Scandinavium
Scandinavium
Scandinavium is the primary indoor sports and event arena in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction on Scandinavium began in 1969 after decades of setbacks, the arena was built in time for the 350th year anniversary celebration of the City of Gothenburg and was inaugurated on May 18, 1971.Scandinavium...
. Two days later, the club historically took their first points in Elitserien, beating Luleå HF
Luleå HF
Luleå Hockeyförening is an ice hockey club from Luleå, Sweden. Luleå is the most northern club in the league and has played in Elitserien constantly since the 1984-85 season. They have won the Swedish championships once, in 1996...
on away ice 3–2 in a shootout, despite trailing by two goals in the third period. Their first home game was played on September 17, against Linköpings HC
Linköpings HC
Linköpings Hockey Club, often known by its acronym LHC or, colloquially among its fans, Cluben, is an ice hockey team from Linköping, Sweden....
, in front of an outsold Vida Arena. Linköping won the game 4–2. Former Växjö Lakers crowd favorite Shjon Podein
Shjon Podein
Shjon Podein is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues....
watched the game in the arena. Their first home points and regulation-time win came on September 27, when the Lakers won 4–1 against Modo Hockey
MODO Hockey
Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006...
. The Lakers' first shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
came on away ice when Modo were beaten 2–0 on 25 October 2011.
Växjö Lakers played the first Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
game in Elitserien history, which was on away ice against reigning regular-season champions 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...
, on 8 October 2011 in front of an outsold Kinnarps Arena
Kinnarps Arena
Kinnarps Arena is an ice hockey venue in Jönköping, Sweden.The arena, which is located in the Rosenlund district of Jönköping, was built between September 1999 and September 2000...
—exactly 7,000 spectators—in Jönköping
Jönköping
-Notable people:*Lillian Asplund, RMS Titanic survivor*John Bauer, illustrator, painter*Amy Diamond, singer*Agnetha Fältskog, ABBA*Carl Henrik Fredriksson, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Eurozine*Anders Gustafsson, kayaker, Olympian...
. Växjö Lakers came out with a 3–2 victory in a shootout. Växjö Lakers forward Mike Iggulden
Mike Iggulden
Michael "Mike" Brian Iggulden is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Växjö Lakers Hockey of the Swedish Elitserien .-Playing career:...
scored three penalty shot
Penalty shot (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a penalty shot is a type of penalty awarded when a team loses a clear scoring opportunity on a breakaway because of a foul committed by an opposing player. A player from the non-offending team is given an attempt to score a goal without opposition from any defending players except...
goals in the game, two of them counted in the statistics.
Season history
| Season | League | Rank | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997/1998 | Division 4 Swedish Division 4 (ice hockey) The Swedish Division 4 is the sixth highest-level league, and the lowest-level league, for men's ice hockey in Sweden.-See also:*List of ice hockey leagues in Sweden... |
2 | |
| 1998/1999 | Division 4 Swedish Division 4 (ice hockey) The Swedish Division 4 is the sixth highest-level league, and the lowest-level league, for men's ice hockey in Sweden.-See also:*List of ice hockey leagues in Sweden... |
1 | Promotion to Division 2 |
| 1999/2000 | Division 2 Swedish Division 2 (ice hockey) -Participating teams:* Åkers Hockey* Alfta GIF* Alingsås Hockey* Alvesta SK* Älvsby IF* Åmåls SK* Ånge IK* Arvika HC* Åseda IF* Asplöven HC B* Avesta BK* Boden HF U20* Bolidens FFI* Boro/Vetlanda HC* Brooklyn Rebels U20* Brooklyn Tigers... |
3 | |
| 2000/2001 | Division 2 Swedish Division 2 (ice hockey) -Participating teams:* Åkers Hockey* Alfta GIF* Alingsås Hockey* Alvesta SK* Älvsby IF* Åmåls SK* Ånge IK* Arvika HC* Åseda IF* Asplöven HC B* Avesta BK* Boden HF U20* Bolidens FFI* Boro/Vetlanda HC* Brooklyn Rebels U20* Brooklyn Tigers... |
1 | Promotion to Division 1 |
| 2001/2002 | Division 1 Swedish Division 1 (ice hockey) The Swedish Division 1 is the third highest-level ice hockey league in Sweden, consisting of 57 teams. The top teams of the league earn the right to take part in the Kvalserien qualification, where the two top teams are promoted to the HockeyAllsvenskan... |
1 | |
| 2002/2003 | Division 1 Swedish Division 1 (ice hockey) The Swedish Division 1 is the third highest-level ice hockey league in Sweden, consisting of 57 teams. The top teams of the league earn the right to take part in the Kvalserien qualification, where the two top teams are promoted to the HockeyAllsvenskan... |
1 | Promotion to HockeyAllsvenskan |
| 2003/2004 | HockeyAllsvenskan | 7 | |
| 2004/2005 | HockeyAllsvenskan | 5 | |
| 2005/2006 2005–06 HockeyAllsvenskan season -Standings:-References:This page uses content from the Swedish Wikipedia.... |
HockeyAllsvenskan | 10 | |
| 2006/2007 2006–07 HockeyAllsvenskan season -Standings:-References:This page uses content from the Swedish Wikipedia.... |
HockeyAllsvenskan | 6 | |
| 2007/2008 2007–08 HockeyAllsvenskan season -Standings:-References:This page uses content from the Swedish Wikipedia.... |
HockeyAllsvenskan | 6 | |
| 2008/2009 2008–09 HockeyAllsvenskan season The 2008–09 HockeyAllsvenskan season was the 27th season of HockeyAllsvenskan, the second highest ice hockey league for men in Sweden.██ Advanced to the 2009 Kvalserien██ Advanced to playoffs to the 2009 Kvalserien... |
HockeyAllsvenskan | 5 | Kvalserien Kvalserien Kvalserien, also known as Kvalserien till Elitserien, is the name of the Swedish round-robin ice hockey tournament to qualify for play in the next season of Elitserien, Sweden's top-level ice hockey league for men.-Teams:... |
| 2009/2010 2009–10 HockeyAllsvenskan season The 2009–10 HockeyAllsvenskan season was the 28th season of HockeyAllsvenskan, the second highest ice hockey league for men in Sweden.-Standings:... |
HockeyAllsvenskan | 3 | Kvalserien Kvalserien Kvalserien, also known as Kvalserien till Elitserien, is the name of the Swedish round-robin ice hockey tournament to qualify for play in the next season of Elitserien, Sweden's top-level ice hockey league for men.-Teams:... |
| 2010/2011 2010–11 HockeyAllsvenskan season - Overview :-Standings:-References:This page uses content from the Swedish Wikipedia.... |
HockeyAllsvenskan | 1 | Kvalserien Kvalserien Kvalserien, also known as Kvalserien till Elitserien, is the name of the Swedish round-robin ice hockey tournament to qualify for play in the next season of Elitserien, Sweden's top-level ice hockey league for men.-Teams:... and promotion to Elitserien Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
| 2011/2012 2011–12 Elitserien season The 2011–12 Elitserien season is the 37th and current season of Elitserien. The regular season began on 13 September 2011 and is scheduled to end on 6 March 2012. The following playoffs are scheduled to begin on 10 March 2012 and end between 15–21 April... |
Elitserien Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
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