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.

KHL Sisak
NicknameThe Knights
CitySisak, Croatia
LeagueCroatian Ice Hockey League 1992–present
Alps Hockey League 2024–present
International Hockey League 2021–2024
Yugoslav Hockey League 1938–1991
Founded1930
Home arenaLedena dvorana Zibel
(capacity: 1,960)
Colours   
General managerDuško Berendika
Head coachJosh Siembida
CaptainIvan Puzić
Websitewww.khl-sisak.hr
Franchise history
1934–1938ŠK Slavija
1938–1942HAŠK
1946–1952FD Naprijed
1952–1965SD Segesta
1965–1972KKHLK Segesta
1972–2008HK INA
2008–2010HK Sisak
2010–presentKlub hokeja na ledu Sisak

History

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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 "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

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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

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Croatian Ice Hockey League

Sponsors

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

KHL Sisak in Europe

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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

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Current roster

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

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
29   Vilim Rosandić G L 28 2024 Zagreb, Croatia
32   Nikša Slade G L 17 2024 Zagreb, Croatia
2   Niko Mikkola (ice hockey player) D/F R 27 2024 Oulu, Finland
96   Marko Baždar D L 19 2023 Sisak, Croatia
21   Niko Čavlović D R 21 2023 Zagreb, Croatia
97   Marko Vukadin D L 19 2023 Zagreb, Croatia
18   Tyrone Bronte F R 25 2023 Melbourne, Australia
41   Lovro Slovinac D L 19 2024 Zagreb, Croatia
16   Carson Brière (ice hockey player) C/RW R 25 2024 Haddonfield, New Jersey
24   Ivan Puzić (A) D L 28 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
91   Bruno Idžan F L 18 2024 Zagreb, Croatia
20   Vito Idžan F L 21 2024 Zagreb, Croatia
68   Jan Smolec D R 27 2024 Zagreb, Croatia
87   Ivor Bujger F L 19 2019 Sisak, Croatia
38   Dominic Rene Čanić C L 24 2021 Auckland, New Zealand
5   Patrik Dobrić D/F L 23 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
15   Vlastimil Dostálek RW L 30 2024 Přerov, Czech Republic
88   Tomislav Ličina LW R 25 2018 Sisak, Croatia
17   Karlo Marinković F L 20 2024 Zagreb, Croatia
27   Nik Malenica LW/C L 27 2022 Nanaimo, British Columbia
55   Leo Selitaj F L 24 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
4   Ante Bebek F L 21 2023 Zagreb, Croatia
7   Filip Polonijo F L 20 2023 Zagreb, Croatia

Retired numbers

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KHL Sisak has retired one number in their history.

Retired numbers
No. Player Position Retired
22 Darko Lončar F 1983

References

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