Kalmar HC (or Kalmar Hockey Club) is a Swedish professional ice hockey club from Kalmar, the capitol of Kalmar County. For most of its history, the team was consigned to the lower levels of professional hockey in Sweden, however, since 2016, the team has been promoted several times and, as of 2023, has climbed up to HockeyAllsvenskan, the national second league.[1]
| Kalmar HC | |
|---|---|
| City | Kalmar |
| League | HockeyAllsvenskan |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Home arena | Hatstore Arena |
| Colours | Red, yellow |
| General manager | Daniel Stolt |
| Head coach | Viktor Tuurala |
| Website | [1] |
History
editFounded in 1968, Kalmar HC began as a semi-professional club in the Hockeytrean, or Division 3 level. Kalmar was not a successful club for many years, routinely posting losing records and finishing near the bottom of the regional standings. It wasn't until its tenth season that the club was able to post a winning season but, even then it took a further thirteen years before they were able to secure their first promotion. After their peak in 1991, the club remained at the Hockeytvåan (Division 2) level for a decade. Their best campaign came in 2000 when they went 11–3, however, they failed to earn a promotion. Unfortunately, the following year they posted a terrible mark of 3–10–1 and were relegated back to Division 3.
Name changes
editBeginning in 2001 the club became known as the 'Kalmar Knights' and posted two outstanding seasons in Hockeytrean They returned to Division 2 in 2003 but were unable to establish any success and were relegated back to Division 3 in 2007. Kalmar dropped the Knights nickname in 2008, instead becoming 'IF Kalmar Hockey'. Four years later, they returned to their original name of 'Kalmar HC'.
Promotions
editKalmar remained at the Division 3 level until 2016 when the club went nearly undefeated in league play and returned to Division 2. Just two years later, the club was promoted for a second time and reached HockeyEttan (Division 1) for the first time. Over the next several years, Kalmar was one of the better teams in Division 1 and flited with promotion more than once. In 2023, they were one of six teams competing in the Kvalserien (promotion tournament) and finished in 2nd place, earning one of the two available spots in HockeyAllsvenskan in 2023.
Seasons-by-season records
edit'This is a partial list, featuring the five most recent completed seasons.
| Year | Level | League | Record | Place | Notes | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | OTW | OTL | L | PTS | ||||||
| 2019–20 | HockeyEttan | Södra | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 38 | 6th | Advanced to Fortsättningsserien | [2] |
| HockeyEttan | Södra Forts. | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 42 | 2nd | Remainder of series cancelled (COVID-19) | ||
| 2020–21 | HockeyEttan | Södra | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 27 | 9th | Advanced to Fortsättningsserien | [3] |
| HockeyEttan | Södra Forts. | 10 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 37 | 2nd | Saved from relegation | ||
| 2021–22 | HockeyEttan | Södra | 11 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 36 | 1st | Advanced to Allettan division | [4] |
| HockeyEttan | Allettan Södra | 17 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 55 | 2nd | Lost in playoffs | [5] | |
| 2022–23 | HockeyEttan | Södra | 11 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 40 | 1st | Advanced to Allettan division | [6] |
| HockeyEttan | Allettan Södra | 12 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 39 | 1st | Advanced to Kvalserien | [7] | |
| HockeyEttan | Kvalserien | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 2nd | Promoted to HockeyAllsvenskan | ||
| 2023–24 | HockeyAllsvenskan | — | 19 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 74 | 10th | Lost 1–2 to BIK Karlskoga in Eighth-finals | [8] |
Players and personnel
editCurrent roster
editAs of August 25, 2024.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Kalmar HC". eliteprospects. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ 2019-20 AllEttan Södra
- ^ 2020-21 AllEttan Södra
- ^ 2021-22 AllEttan Södra
- ^ 2021-22 AllEttan Södra
- ^ 2022-23 Södra
- ^ 2022-23 AllEttan Södra
- ^ 2023-24 HockeyAllsvenskan
- ^ "Komplett Trupp". Kalmar HC. Retrieved August 25, 2024.