KHL Sisak is a Croatian professional ice hockey team that plays in the Croatian Ice Hockey League and the IHL. 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

International Hockey League 2021– 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

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)

 Tartu Kalev-Välk 2-7 1st place
 Skautafélag Akureyrar 2-6
 HC NSA Sofia 9-6
Second Group Stage

(Angers, France)

 SC Miercurea Ciuc 5-0 4th place
 Ducs d'Angers 0-12
 Ferencvárosi 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   Riku Räihä G R 23 2023 Tampere, Finland
35   Rodoljub Mrđenović G L 36 2023 Sisak, Croatia
25   Marko Batnožić G L 39 2005 Sisak, Croatia
69   Luka Baždar D R 24 2021 Sisak, Croatia
96   Marko Baždar D L 18 2023 Sisak, Croatia
21   Niko Čavlović D R 20 2023 Zagreb, Croatia
6   Marko Vukadin D L 19 2023 Zagreb, Croatia
89   Ryan Galvin (Ice hockey) F R 26 2023 Atlanta, Georgia
16   Luka Đerek D L 22 2022 Zagreb, Croatia
10   Luka Komljenović (C) D L 29 2009 Sisak, Croatia
8   Domagoj Kralj D/F L 26 2014 Sisak, Croatia
24   Ivan Puzić (A) D L 28 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
13   Jan Ikanović Šilhan F R 22 2022 Zagreb, Croatia
15   Tyler Dill D/F R 27 2023 South Lake Tahoe, California
92   Lorian Bezuk D L 19 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
77   Matija Domitrović D R 44 2005 Sisak, 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 22 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
23   Luka Jarčov (A) RW L 27 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
17   Hrvoje Krikšić LW L 25 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
88   Tomislav Ličina LW R 25 2018 Sisak, Croatia
44   Tomislav Lulić F R 28 2018 Sisak, Croatia
68   Renato Platužić F L 27 2021 Zagreb, Croatia
86   Branimir Rožanković F L 33 2006 Sisak, Croatia
27   Nik Malenica LW/C L 26 2022 Nanaimo, British Columbia
9   Carter Lennon D L 23 2023 Kitchener, Ontario
87   Filip Vragolović F L 24 2021 Zagreb,Croatia
55   Leo Selitaj F L 23 2021 Zagreb,Croatia
4   Ante Bebek F L 21 2023 Zagreb, Croatia
7   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.