HK Acroni Jesenice

HK Acroni Jesenice
Full name Hokejski Klub Jesenice
Nickname(s) Železarji (Steel Workers)
Founded 1948
Based In Jesenice, Slovenia
Arena Dvorana Podmežakla
(Capacity: 5,900)
League

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga
2006-present
Slovenian Ice Hockey Championship
1991-present
Uniform
Team Colors                    
GM Slavko Kanalec
Head Coach Heikki Mälkiä
Captain Andrej Tavželj
Affiliates HD mladi Jesenice
Website http://www.hkjesenice.si/

HK Acroni Jesenice is a Slovenian ice hockey team that currently plays in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Dvorana Podmežakla in Jesenice.

Contents

History

[1]

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

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 2 x Yugoslav Champion
1978–1979 Ciril Klinar
1979–1982 Boris Svetlin 2 x Yugoslav Champion
1982–1983 Albin Felc
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
1989–1990 Ciril Klinar Fired before end of contract
1989–1990 Vaclav Červeny
1990–1991 Jan Selvek
1991–1993 Vladimir Krikunov 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 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
2010 on Heikki Mälkiä

Players

Notable Players

Current Roster

Goaltenders
# Player Catches Hometown Former Club
32 Gašper Krošelj L Ljubljana, Slovenia KHL Medveščak
30 Justin Sand L Warren, MI, USA Michigan State University
37 Michal Fikrt L Most, Czech Republic HK Nitra
Defencemen
# Player Shoots Hometown Former Club
11 Žiga Grahut R Celje, Slovenia ATSE Graz
13 Nejc Berlisk R Jesenice, Slovenia HDD Olimpija Ljubljana
15 Denis Rakovič R Jesenice, Slovenia HD mladi Jesenice
21 Klemen Pretnar L Bled, Slovenia HK MK Bled
29 Aleksander Magovac R Jesenice, Slovenia HD mladi Jesenice
44 Andrej Tavželj (A) L Jesenice, Slovenia Aquille FVG Pontebba
47 Matevž Erman D Žirovnica, Slovenia HD mladi Jesenice
55 Johan Björk L Malmö, Sweden HV71
59 Martin Tuma L Most, Czech Republic HC Ceske Budejovice
81 Luka Tošič L Jesenice, Slovenia Diables Rouges de Briançon
Forwards
# Player Position Shoots Hometown Former Club
9 James Sixsmith C L Alexandria, USA Kölner Haie
12 Lukaš Hvila RW L Poprad, Slovakia Banska Bystrica
16 Miha Brus F L Jesenice, Slovenia HD mladi Jesenice
18 Marjan Manfreda RW L Bohinjska Bela, Slovenia HK Slavija Ljubljana
20 Marcus Olsson C L Trelleborg, Sweden Malmö Redhawks
22 Jure Dolinšek F R Jesenice, Slovenia HD mladi Jesenice
23 Urban Sodja LW R Jesenice, Slovenia HD mladi Jesenice
26 Jaka Ankerst LW L Kranj, Slovenia Diables Rouges de Briançon
41 Antti Pusa RW L Käppäselkä, Russia Ours de Villard-de-Lans
53 Jonathan Juliano C L Clinton Township, MI, USA Davenport University
72 Andrej Židan F L Jesenice, Slovenia HD mladi Jesenice
77 Jan Berčič F L Kranj, Slovenia HK Triglav Kranj
83 Patrik Bergström W L Piteå, Sweden Rögle
91 Tomo Hafner (A) C R Jesenice, Slovenia Bloomington Prairie Thunder
92 Anže Kuralt F R Slovenia Red Bull Salzburg U20

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.hkjesenice.si/?subpageid=15

External links