KHL Sisak

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

KHL Sisak
NicknameThe Knights
CitySisak, Croatia
LeagueCroatian Ice Hockey League 1992–present

International Hockey League 2021–2024
Alps Hockey League 2024–present

Founded1930; 94 years ago (1930)
Home arenaLedena dvorana Zibel
(capacity: 1,960)
Colours   
Head coachMarko Šakić
CaptainIvan Puzić
Websitewww.khl-sisak.hr
Franchise history
Klub Hokeja na Ledu Sisak 2010–present
  • HK Sisak 2008–2010
  • HK INA 1972–2008
  • KKHLK Segesta 1965–1972
  • SD Segesta 1952–1965
  • FD Naprijed 1946–1952
  • HAŠK 1938–1942
  • ŠK Slavija 1930–1938

KHL Sisak is a Croatian professional ice hockey team that plays in the Croatian Ice Hockey League and the Alps Hockey League. They play their home games at Ledena dvorana Zibel, which was renovated in 2018.

History[edit]

The first hockey game was played in Sisak in 1930. It was played between the students of the 7'th High School. Over the years they played partial and irregular matches, mostly between students. Then, at the end 1934 the sports society "Slavia" organized a hockey club. The new Sisak club had its first success at the championship of Yugoslavia in 1937. The players were: Vjenceslav Holubek, Vladimir Berghauer, Želimir Golder, Josip Kovačić, Mate Starčević, Oliver Pötzl, Franjo Knebl, Branko Herlinger and Joža Stampf. At that time, Pötzl and Berghauer were members of the national team. In season 1938/39 the club participated in the Yugoslav league, Croatian division with teams from Zagreb, Karlovac and Varaždin. In 1958 and 1959 Sisak hockey players won the Croatian championship and became members of the Federal League. In 1961 they went on to become Croatian ice hockey champions, formed the club "Segesta," and played their first game against Zagreb's newly formed team Medveščak. Late in 1971 the Sisak rink "Recreational Center Zibel" was finished and the first international hockey match in Sisak was played between Medveščak and Tesla Pardubice from Czech Republic.

Hockey has continued to evolve in Yugoslavia; Sisak was sponsored by the INA oil company and bore their name. "INA" Sisak repeatedly won first place in the second division of the state championships, and appeared in the first division. Through several years of play, with greater or lesser success, Sisak's young hockey players from the club "INA" became the junior Croatian champions in 1979. In the 1980/81 Croatian league season, the youngest "INA" team won the championship. The club prospered until the war in the '90s, and has come back afterwards, slowly picking up pace as circumstances allowed. New generations took over, keeping the oldest Croatian club alive, now known as ice hockey club "Sisak."

Club identity[edit]

KHL Sisak traditional colours are blue and green. These two colours are consistent with the colours of the flag of Sisak. The club plays home matches in mostly blue uniforms, while the away kits are predominantly white. The badge represents a knight, holding an ice hockey stick. The knight is also one of the city's symbol, which represents a rich history of Sisak. KHL Sisak nicknames are Vitezovi (The Knights).

Honours[edit]

Croatian Ice Hockey League

Sponsors[edit]

KHL Sisak sponsors include companies such as: Hrvatski Telekom and OTP banka.

KHL Sisak in European Hockey[edit]

After winning Croatian Ice Hockey League in season 2021/2022, KHL Sisak qualify for the IIHF Continental Cup. That was the first time that club will competing in European competition. The draw placed KHL Sisak in group A together with Tartu Kalev-Välk, HC NSA Sofia and Skautafélag Akureyrar. In the final Group A match of the Continental Cup in Sofia, Sisak secured their historic first qualification for the second round with a win against hosts NSA Sofia.

IIHF Continental Cup
Season Round Club Score Aggregate
2022–23 First Group Stage

(Sofia, Bulgaria)

EstoniaTartu Kalev-Välk 2-7 1st place
IcelandSkautafélag Akureyrar 2-6
BulgariaHC NSA Sofia 9-6
Second Group Stage

(Angers, France)

RomaniaSC Miercurea Ciuc 5-0 4th place
FranceDucs d'Angers 0-12
HungaryFerencvárosi TC (ice hockey) 10-2

Players[edit]

Current roster[edit]

Source: https://www.khl-sisak.hr[1]Source: eliteprospects.com[2]As of 23 September 2022.

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
1 Finland Riku Räihä G R 23 2023 Tampere, Finland
35 Croatia Rodoljub Mrđenović G L 36 2023 Sisak, Croatia
25 Croatia Marko Batnožić G L 39 2005 Sisak, Croatia
69 Croatia Luka Baždar D R 24 2021 Sisak, Croatia
96 Croatia Marko Baždar D L 18 2023 Sisak, Croatia
21 Croatia Niko Čavlović D R 20 2023 Zagreb, Croatia
6 Croatia Marko Vukadin D L 19 2023 Zagreb, Croatia
89 United States Ryan Galvin (Ice hockey) F R 26 2023 Atlanta, Georgia
16 Croatia Luka Đerek D L 22 2022 Zagreb, Croatia
10 Croatia Luka Komljenović (C) D L 29 2009 Sisak, Croatia
8 Croatia Domagoj Kralj D/F L 26 2014 Sisak, Croatia
24 Croatia Ivan Puzić (A) D L 28 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
13 Croatia Jan Ikanović Šilhan F R 22 2022 Zagreb, Croatia
15 United States Tyler Dill D/F R 27 2023 South Lake Tahoe, California
92 Croatia Lorian Bezuk D L 20 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
77 Croatia Matija Domitrović D R 44 2005 Sisak, Croatia
87 Croatia Ivor Bujger F L 19 2019 Sisak, Croatia
38 Croatia Dominic Rene Čanić C L 24 2021 Auckland, New Zealand
5 Croatia Patrik Dobrić D/F L 22 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
23 Croatia Luka Jarčov (A) RW L 27 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
17 Croatia Hrvoje Krikšić LW L 25 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
88 Croatia Tomislav Ličina LW R 25 2018 Sisak, Croatia
44 Croatia Tomislav Lulić F R 28 2018 Sisak, Croatia
68 Croatia Renato Platužić F L 27 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
86 Croatia Branimir Rožanković F L 33 2006 Sisak, Croatia
27 Canada Nik Malenica LW/C L 26 2022 Nanaimo, British Columbia
9 Canada Carter Lennon D L 23 2023 Kitchener, Ontario
87 Croatia Filip Vragolović F L 24 2021 Zagreb,Croatia
55 Croatia Leo Selitaj F L 23 2021 Zagreb,Croatia
4 Croatia Ante Bebek F L 21 2023 Zagreb, Croatia
7 Croatia Filip Polonijo F L 19 2023 Zagreb, Croatia

Retired numbers[edit]

KHL Sisak have retired two numbers in their history:

KHL Sisak retired numbers
No Player Position Retired
22 Darko Lončar F 1983

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Team Roster / KHL Sisak". khl-sisak.hr/. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Team Roster / KHL Sisak". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 19 September 2023.