Kongsvinger Knights

Kongsvinger Knights is a Norwegian ice hockey team based in Kongsvinger, Norway. The senior teams play in 1. divisjon.

Kongsvinger Knights
CityKongsvinger, Norway
League1. divisjon
Founded1961 (1961)
Home arenaKongsvinger Ishall
ColorsRed, black and white
     
General managerLinus Rolinder
Head coachMarius Bjerke
Websitehttp://www.knights.no/

History[1]

The beginning

The club was created on 27 January 1961 by Rolf E. Johnson, John Bie-Larsen, Ola Norstrøm. Odd Smedstad, Terje Martinsen and Trond Dahl. They started out by setting up a lottery, which managed to collect 80 NOK. The money was used on goalie gloves. In 1961 the hockey team was accepted into the multi sports club Kongsvinger IL, by a vote that ended 19 to 1.

On 14 January 1962, Kongsvinger their first ever game, a friendly against Skarnes hockey club at Gjemselund stadium. Skarnes led 0-2, but goals from KIL players Harald Riisnæs and Odd Norstrøm balanced the match. In the third period, two goals from John Bie-Larsen and Trond Dahl, made sure Kongsvinger achieved victory in the premiere. Kongsvinger was later accepted into the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation, and eventually became an established team in the third division.

2. divisjon and natural ice

During the 1980s, the players Tore Wålberg and Fred Pedersen arrived, and the club saw increased success. The club was eventually promoted to the second division. There were some thrilling matches, especially one notable match against Bergen, which drew about 400 spectators watching from a pile of snow on Gjemselund.

However, as the team was promoted the club faced increased requirements from the hockey association, such as an indoor arena with suitable standards. Kongsvinger was eventually relegated again, but became the last team in the top two divisions of Norway to play on natural ice.

The club then went into a decline which lasted until 1992, when an indoor arena was built. This made sure Kongsvinger could reestablish itself as an ambitious hockey club. In 2004, Kongsvinger was again promoted to the second tier division, now named 1. divisjon.

In 1. divisjon

The team has won the 1. divisjon once (during the 2008/09 season), and has reached the playoffs for the GET-league three times, in 2009, 2010 and 2014. In 2013 the club also moved from the old, aging Kongshallen, in to a new and modern arena.[2]

Season-by-season record

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Kongsvinger Knights. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Kongsvinger Knights seasons.

Norwegian Champions Regular Season Champions Promoted Relegated
Season League Regular season Postseason
GP W L OTW OTL GF GA Pts Finish
2013–14 1. divisjon 36 25 4 3 4 169 81 85 2nd 4th in Qualifying for Eliteserien1
2014–15 Eliteserien 45 2 39 1 3 73 272 11 10th 2nd in Qualifying for Eliteserien
2015–16 Eliteserien 45 4 39 1 1 67 225 15 10th 2nd in Qualifying for Eliteserien
2016–17 Eliteserien 45 1 41 0 3 61 243 6 10th 2nd in Qualifying for Eliteserien
2017–18 Eliteserien 45 3 35 4 3 90 218 20 10th 4th in Qualifying for Eliteserien

1Due to struggling economy, the board of the Tønsberg Vikings asked that the team was to be moved down one division.[3] The vacant spot was given to Kongsvinger Knights.[4]

References
  1. "Club history". Kongsvinger Knights.
  2. "Åpnet den nye ishallen". Glåmdalen. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  3. "Vikings trekker laget fra eliteserien". Tønsberg Blad (in Norwegian). 16 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  4. "Knights fikk lisensen". Glomdalen (in Norwegian). 26 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
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