KHL Sisak explained

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

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 YugoslavLeague 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 "Recreational Center Zibel" rink 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 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

KHL Sisak's 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 uniform, while the away uniform is predominantly white. The badge represents a knight, holding an ice hockey stick. The knight is also one of the city symbols, representing its rich history. KHL Sisak's nickname is Vitezovi (The Knights).

Honours

Croatian Ice Hockey League

• Winners (2): 2021–22, 2023–24
• Runners-up (1): 2022–23

Sponsors

KHL Sisak sponsors include companies such as OTP banka, Renaissance Capital, DELTA MM STEELIX, Maxam Detines and Minoa automobiles.

KHL Sisak in Europe

After winning Croatian Ice Hockey League in 2021/22, KHL Sisak qualified for the first time in the IIHF Continental Cup. The draw placed KHL Sisak in group A together with Tartu Kalev-Välk, HC NSA Sofia, and Skautafélag Akureyrar. In the final group match 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 stage(Sofia, Bulgaria)	Tartu Kalev-Välk	2–7	1st place
		Skautafélag Akureyrar	2–6
		HC NSA Sofia	9–6
	Second stage(Angers, France)	SC Miercurea Ciuc	5–0	4th place
		Ducs d'Angers	0–12
		Ferencvárosi TC (ice hockey)	10–2
2024–25	First stage(Sofia, Bulgaria)	SKHL Crvena zvezda	1–7	1st place
		Bulldogs Liège	6–1
		Irbis-Skate Sofia	15–1
	Second stage(Ritten, Italy)	HDD Jesenice	1–3	3rd place
		Ritten Sport	2–10
		Sokil Kyiv	4–2

Players

Current roster

Source:^{[1] [2]} As of: July 31, 2024

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Retired numbers

KHL Sisak has retired one number in their history.

Retired numbers

width=40px	No.	width=150px	Player	width=40px	Position	width=150px	Retired
22	Darko Lončar		1983

Notes and References

1. Web site: Team Roster / KHL Sisak . khl-sisak.hr/ . 2022-04-10.
2. Web site: Team Roster / KHL Sisak . eliteprospects.com . 2023-09-19.