Frederikshavn White Hawks
The Frederikshavn White Hawks are a Danish professional ice hockey team playing in the top Danish ice hockey league currently called the AL-Bank Ligaen. The team is based in the town of Frederikshavn on the east coast of Northern Jutland, Denmark, and is run by the Frederikshavn Ishockey Klub (F.I.K).
History
The White Hawks were founded in 1964 and have won the Danish title twice (1989, 2000) and have been runners-up three times (1999, 2008, 2011).
Recent history
2007/08
In 2008 they progressed to the final after finishing the regular season seeded 8th (the first team in Danish league history to do so) knocking top seed Rødovre out in the first best of 7 series in the 7th game by scoring two late goals to win by 1. They beat SønderjyskE in the semi final series, but lost the final in five games to the then reigning champions Herning.
2008/09
2009 saw them seeded 7th. If not for the bankruptcy of Hvidovre they would have finished 8th and probably faced Herning and forced their local rivals AaB out of the finals by 1 goal differential. However Hvildovre's bankruptcy left an open slot for AaB and put the White Hawks up a place to face Rødovre (second seed) again in the quarter finals. This was also a very close series with the White Hawks winning three games over the much favored Rødovre, and pushing them to game 7 again. Rødovre won game 7 fairly easily, but the decisive moment was really Rødovre's overtime win in game 4, without which the White Hawks would have progressed after winning game 6. Rødovre went on to lose the semi finals to SønderjyskE who beat Herning in the finals.
2009/10
The 09/10 season was a Jekyll and Hyde one for The White Hawks, they were virtually unbeatable at home yet struggled to take points away. Despite this they finished the regular season in a very impressive 3rd behind the 2 favorites SønderjyskE & AaB. 3rd giving them home advantage in the quarter finals they choose to play Rødovre again for the 3rd straight year. Some experts doubted they could progress saying "The White Hawks can't win away so all Rødovre needs to do is win 1 game away and they will win the series". This series would turn out to be another classic, Rødovre won the first 2 games despite the White Hawks dominating the first, the 3rd game saw an impressive come from behind win by The White Hawks. The series was really decided with the White Hawks away win in the 4th game, a game that saw a goal scored by White Hawks goalkeeper Frederik Andersen. Andersen had tried to score in game 3 after Rødovre pulled their keeper but just missed, in game 4 he made sure of his aim and scored in the empty net. The White Hawks went on to win a close game 5 and then game 7 easily. They were then put out in the semifinals after just 4 games by a dominant SønderjyskE who progressed to easily beat AaB in the finals in only 4 games to claim another championship. The White Hawks lost the bronze playoff to Herning and finished 2009/10 in 4th.
Current State
2011 Saw the White Hawks Finish second to Herning, this along with a profit from the year saw the team sign a large number of import players for the 2011/12 season for the 1st time in several years. There was a very high expectation in the Danish Hockey community that the team could win the title but they never jelled and finished in 7th place losing the quarterfinals to eventual runners-up Odense in 4 straight Games. Looking forward to 2012/13 the team has a large number of changes and is again expected to do well, yet after the disappointment of last 2011/12 most people are just expecting a top 4 finish at present.
Team
Goaltenders
-
Rob Nolan -
Matthias Hansen
Defencemen
- Phil Paquet
- Anders Thode
- Christian Schioldan
- Kasper Kristensen
- Rasmus Christiansen
- Mads Bech Christensen
- Rasmus Søndergaard
-
Alexander Ytterell
Forwards
- Thomas Søndergaard
- Oscar Andersson
- Kennie Christensen
- Rasmus Bjerrum
- Tobias Kisum
- Lasse Overgaard
- Morten Lie
- Christian Chapman
- Nicolai Meyer
- Trent Daavettila
- Kristoffer Jonsson
- Robin Bergman
- Christopher Frederiksen
Coach
Assistant Coaches
- Henrik Christiansen
- Mike Grey
Notable players
- Mike Grey (Retired 2012 to become assistant Coach - played 864 Games for the club)
-
Tomi Jokinen (Retired 2012 holds record for most games played in Danish League by a non-Dane) - Frederik Andersen (Current draft of Anaheim Ducks)
- Thomas Reinert
-
Rob Globke -
Martin Spanhel - Matt Davidson
- Mike Martin
-
Lubos Pisar -
Olegs Sorokins -
Ilya Dubkov - Bent Christensen
- Jesper Jensen
- Martin Eklund
- Emil Uggerhøj
- Mads Johnsen
- Bjørn Stoklund