HK Acroni Jesenice

Hokejski klub Acroni Jesenice (English: Acroni Jesenice Hockey Club), commonly referred to as HK Acroni Jesenice or simply Jesenice, was a Slovenian ice hockey team from Jesenice that last played in the Austrian Erste Bank Hockey League and the Slovenian Ice Hockey League. They played their home games at the Podmežakla Hall. Throughout its history, the club was regarded as one of the most successful clubs in Slovenian and Yugoslav ice hockey. In September 2012, the club filed for bankruptcy and was dissolved.[2][3]

"Acroni Jesenice" redirects here. For for the current Jesenice-based ice hockey team, see HDD Jesenice.

HK Acroni Jesenice
CityJesenice, Slovenia
Founded6 January 1948 (1948-01-06)[1]
Dissolved2012 (2012)
Home arenaPodmežakla Hall
ColoursRed, black, white
     
Championships
Slovenian Champions1992, 1993, 1994, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Yugoslav Champions1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988

History

Before World War II

The club's roots date back to the period before World War II, when enthusiasts started skating on a natural ice surface. The name of Karlo Vergles is mentioned most often with regards to these ice hockey beginnings.[4] In the 1940–41 season, the first amateur team was assembled with simple equipment mostly made in the local steel and iron factory. Despite that, Jesenice team lost their first game to Zagreb with just a one-goal difference.[4]

After World War II

After World War II, ice hockey returned to the Podmežakla Sports Park. In 1948, an ice-hockey/skating section was formed in the local sport society under the leadership of Drago Cerar. The year was also important for the fact that it was the first time that Jesenice played in a proper tournament against Maribor, Brežice and Celje, with Jesenice winning the tournament.[5]

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. The new venue also included a stand for spectators.[5]

In 1956, Jesenice team hired a hockey coach from Czechoslovakia, Zdenek Blaha. In the 1956–57 season, Jesenice won the Yugoslav championship for the first time.

The Golden Age

After winning the 1957 championship, Jesenice completely dominated the Yugoslav League by winning 15 consecutive championship titles. Most coaches in this period were foreigners, coming from Czechoslovakia. Notable players in this period include Albin Felc, Dušan Brun, Bogo Jan, Ciril Klinar, Viktor Tišler, Vlado Jug, Gorazd Hiti, Franc Smolej, and Rudi Knez.[6]

After the 1971 season, the Yugoslav championship was more or less divided equally between Jesenice and Olimpija. Jesenice have won the league in 1972–73, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1986–87, and 1987–88. Jesenice have also won the 1974 championship, but the title 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.[6]

After the Slovenian independence (1991 to 2012)
Jesenice vs. VSV EC in 2006

First years after the Slovenian independence were again dominated by the Jesenice team. Alongside local players, the team was reinforced by players from the 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 the 1998–99 season.[7]

It took a couple of years for Jesenice to bounce back and in the 2004–05 season, with the arrival of four players from Olimpija, Jesenice won the championship for the first time in over ten years.[8]

in 2006, Jesenice were invited as the first non-Austrian team to play in the expanded Austrian ice hockey championships.[9] From 2006 and until 2012 the club has also won four more Slovenian titles (2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011).

Bankruptcy and dissolution

The club had accumulated debt, reportedly near €2.5 million, at the conclusion of the 2011–12 EBEL season, and was eventually expelled from the league.[10] On 31 August 2012, HK Acroni Jesenice filed for bankruptcy and were dissolved.[2][3] Their affiliate HD Mladi Jesenice were registered and run separately from the main squad.[2][3]

Arena

The team played their home matches at the Podmežakla Hall, a 4,500 capacity multi-purpose indoor hall in Jesenice.

Honours
Winners (23): 1956–57 – 1970–71, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88
Runners-up (13): 1953–54, 1955–56, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1989–90
Winners (8): 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977
Winners (9): 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
Runners-up (9): 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2011–12
Winners (2): 2004–05, 2005–06
  • Rudi Hiti Summer League
Winners (6): 1992, 1993, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011[11][12]

Coaches
YearCoachHonours
1963–1966CzechoslovakiaJiŕi Pleticha3x Yugoslav Champion
1966–1967CzechoslovakiaRudi Černy1x Yugoslav Champion
1967–1969CzechoslovakiaOldrich Mlcoch2x Yugoslav Champion
1969–1972SloveniaCiril Klinar2x Yugoslav Champion
1972–1974Soviet UnionBoris Afanasiev1x Yugoslav Champion
1974–1975Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaJože Trebušak
1975–1976CzechoslovakiaRudi Černy
1976–1978CzechoslovakiaVlastimil Bubník2x Yugoslav Champion
1978–1979Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaCiril Klinar
1979–1982Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaBoris Svetlin2x Yugoslav Champion
1982–1983Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaAlbin Felc
1983–1985Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaBoris Svetlin
1985–1987Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaRoman Smolej2x Yugoslav Champion
1987–1988CzechoslovakiaVaclav Červeny1x Yugoslav Champion
1988–1989Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaRudi Hiti
1989–1990Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaCiril Klinar
1989–1990CzechoslovakiaVaclav Červeny
1990–1991CzechoslovakiaJan Selvek
1991–1993RussiaVladimir Krikunov2x Slovenian Champion
1993–1995RussiaSergey Borisov1x Slovenian Champion
1995–1996SloveniaDrago Mlinarec
1996–1997CanadaPaul Arsenault
1996–1997SloveniaFranci Žbontar
1997–1998CanadaZdenek Uher
1997–1998SloveniaDrago Mlinarec
1998–1999SloveniaPavle Kavčič
1999–2001Czech RepublicVaclav Červeny
2001–2002SloveniaPavle Kavčič
2002–2006Czech RepublicRoman Pristov2x Slovenian Champion
2006–2007SloveniaMatjaž KopitarEBEL: 5th place
2007–2008CanadaKim Collins
2008–2009United StatesDouglas Bradley2x Slovenian Champion; EBEL: 2x Quarterfinals
2009–2009RussiaIldar Rakhmatullin
2009–2010United StatesMike Posma
2010–2012FinlandHeikki Mälkiä
2012SloveniaBojan Magazin

Players

Notable players
Slovenia

References
  1. "HK Acroni Jesenice" (in Slovenian). Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  2. Krušič Gorišek, Živa (3 September 2012). "Miha Rebolj: Hokej na Jesenicah ne bo propadel" (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  3. Gruden, Toni (3 September 2012). ""Zelo žalostna zgodba, a hokej na Jesenicah se še igra"" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  4. "Obdobje pred vojno" [Period before the war]. hkjesenice.si (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  5. "Obdobje po vojni" [Period after the war]. hkjesenice.si (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  6. "Zlata leta" [Golden years]. hkjesenice.si (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  7. "Obdobje po osamosvojitvi" [Period after independence]. hkjesenice.si (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  8. "Konec desetletje dolgega čakanja Jeseničanov na novo zvezdico". sta.si (in Slovenian). 9 April 2005. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  9. "Jeseničani v EBEL". 24ur.com (in Slovenian). 12 June 2006. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  10. Merk, Martin (3 September 2012). "The end of Acroni Jesenice: Most storied club from former Yugoslavia collapses". IIHF.com. International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 10 December 2012.
  11. Klemenc, Matjaž (3 September 2010). "Čaka jih naporna sezona". Jeseniške novice – Gorenjski glas (in Slovenian). p. 7.
  12. A. V. (20 August 2011). "Jesenice najboljše prihranile za konec" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
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