Esbjerg Energy

Last updated

Esbjerg Energy
Esbjerg Energy logo.svg
City Esbjerg, Denmark
League Metal Ligaen
Founded2005
Home arena Granly Hockey Arena
(Capacity: 4,200)
Colors  
Owner(s)Christian Rølmer Christensen
General managerPeder Krogsgaard
Head coachJason Jaspers
CaptainBrock Nixon
Website www.esbjergenergy.dk
Franchise history
1964–2004Esbjerg IK
2005–2013Esbjerg fB Ishockey
2013–presentEsbjerg Energy
Championships
Playoff championships7 (2016–17, 2015–16, 2003–04, 1995–96, 1992–93, 1987–88, 1968–69)
Hockey current event.svg Current season

The Esbjerg Energy is a Danish professional ice hockey team based in Esbjerg, Denmark, playing in the Metal Ligaen, the top tier of Danish ice hockey. The club was founded in 2005 and play their home games in the Granly Hockey Arena which has a capacity of 4,200 spectators. [1]

Contents

Until 2004 the team played under the name of E.I.K. (Esbjerg Ishockey Klub), but due to financial instability at the club, the professional license was transferred to Esbjerg fB. In early 2013 after spending eight seasons under the umbrella of Esbjerg fB; the football club sold EfB Ishockey to businessman Christian Rølmer Christensen.

Club history

2013–present: Mark Pederson era

Season: 2013–2014

In the club's first season under new ownership, the club appointed Mark Pederson as the new head coach. The Canadian, a former NHL player and successful head coach in numerous ice hockey leagues, took over as the club's new coach. Out of the club's eight foreigners of the previous season, only one returned to the club, with the rest leaving to join new clubs. Among the foreigners who left to join new clubs, 3 out of the 8 were top 5 on the team, in points the previous season.

In Pederson's first season as the club's head coach, he led the team to the playoffs, though it was spoiled by a match-fixing scandal. Three of the club's players including, Kirill Starkov, Tyler Mosienko and Dennis Jensen were suspended and fined after admitting to betting on their own team and match-fixing. After losing two key first liners due to suspension; Esbjerg was eliminated in the quarterfinal by local rivals SønderjyskE Ishockey. [2] [3]

Season: 2014–2015

In his second season as head coach, Pedersen added key players Andrew Clark, Mark Derlago and Scott Howe to the club, who together combined for 189 points over 101 games (76 goals and 113 assists). Pedersen managed to lead the club to the finals as they swept Odense, in the quarterfinals, and defeated Herning 4–2 in the semifinals on their way to the finals. Though the club was once again eliminated by SønderjyskE who defended their title for the third straight year. [4]

Season: 2015–2016

For the 2015–16 season, Pedersen managed to keep several dominant core players. At the conclusion of the regular season, Esbjerg finished at a strong third place and were put up against seventh place Rødovre in the quarterfinals. Esbjerg defeated Rødovre in six games, three of which ended in overtime and advance to the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Esbjerg faced local rivals SønderjyskE, the three-time defending champions who had eliminated Esbjerg in the previous two seasons. Esbjerg managed to win the series in seven games, the first time they had defeated SønderjyskE in a seven-game series since 2006. Esbjerg then went on to defeat Herning, 4–2 in a high scoring final, to win their first title since 2004. [5] [6]

Season: 2016–2017

For the time in Esbjerg ice hockey history, The Esbjerg Energy represented Denmark in the Annual Champions League tournament. Esbjerg was placed in Group G with Helsinki and EV Zug, Esbjerg did not advance to the next round, finishing the tournament with a 1–1–2 record.

After their early start to the season with international hockey, Esbjerg Energy struggled in their home league. The first half of the season was spent in the bottom of the league. Second half of the season Esbjerg catapulted to the top of the league winning many games in a row. Esbjerg finished 4th and picked rivals SønderjyskE as their opponents for the quarterfinals. In the Semifinals Esbjerg Energy eliminated Frederikshavn Whitehawks in game seven and advanced to their third final in as many years. In the finals Esbjerg won the championship at home in game 5, making them back-to-back champions for the first time in club history.

Season by season record

Esbjerg Energy, 2019 AaP-EE, Aalborg Gigantium 20191101 (ubt)-005.jpg
Esbjerg Energy, 2019
Seasons of Esbjerg Energy [7]
SeasonRankGPWLOTWOTLPtsPostseason
2005–06 8th369195340Quarterfinal loss
2006–07 3rd3612144650Bronze medal game loss
2007–08 9th4514223654Did not make the playoffs
2008–09 7th3613182346Quarterfinal loss
2009–10 4th3612114953Quarterfinal loss
2010–11 7th3910233339Did not make playoffs
2011–12 8th4012223345Quarter final loss
2012–13 6th4014175456Quarter final loss
2013–14 5th4017181457Quarter final loss
2014–15 5th3615136259Final loss
2015–16 3rd4522147282Champion
2016–17 4th4518126975Champion

Players

Current roster

Updated 30 September 2024.

No. Nat Player Pos S/G AgeAcquiredBirthplace
92 Flag of Denmark.svg Lucas Andersen LW L26 2024 Copenhagen, Denmark
48 Flag of Denmark.svg Niklas Andersen RW L28 2024 Esbjerg, Denmark
44 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Gordie Ballhorn D L28 2023 Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada
75 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Yanick von Bergen RW R21 2024 Interlaken, Switzerland
3 Flag of Denmark.svg Jeppe Bertram D L18 2024 Esbjerg, Denmark
17 Flag of Denmark.svg Frederik Bjerrum RW L30 2023 Esbjerg, Denmark
27 Flag of Denmark.svg Rasmus Bjerrum LW L33 2020 Esbjerg, Denmark
82 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Grayson Downing C L33 2021 Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
24 Flag of Denmark.svg Tobias Ebener LW L20 2022 Esbjerg, Denmark
52 Flag of Denmark.svg Oliver Gatz Nielsen D L27 2024 Aalborg, Denmark
22 Flag of Denmark.svg Andreas Grundtvig LW L26 2019 Hørsholm, Denmark
70 Flag of Denmark.svg Simon Grønvaldt D R34 2019 Rødovre, Denmark
64 Flag of Finland.svg Aleksi Halme LW L26 2023 Tampere, Finland
95 Flag of Denmark.svg Nicolaj Henriksen G L30 2024 Esbjerg, Denmark
4 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff King D R29 2021 St. Clair, Michigan, United States
36 Flag of Denmark.svg Philip Larsen  ( C ) D R36 2022 Esbjerg, Denmark
88 Flag of the United States.svg Nick Master C L30 2024 Broomall, Pennsylvania, United States
15 Flag of Denmark.svg Thomas Mondrup C R21 2023 Esbjerg, Denmark
6 Flag of Denmark.svg Mikkel Rask Nielsen D L23 2020 Esbjerg, Denmark
10 Flag of Denmark.svg Victor Sand C R22 2021 Grindsted, Denmark
72 Flag of Denmark.svg Phillip Schultz C L25 2023 Rødovre, Denmark
18 Flag of Denmark.svg Sebastian Skovning C L20 2023 Esbjerg, Denmark
1 Flag of Italy.svg Jacob Smith G L30 2024 Oakville, Ontario, Canada
7 Flag of Finland.svg Juuso Walli D L29 2021 Tampere, Finland
47 Flag of Sweden.svg Oscar Öhman C L28 2024 Örnsköldsvik, Sweden

Retired numbers

Esbjerg Energy retired numbers
No.PlayerPositionCareer
14 Oleg Starkov F 1991–2000
15 Søren Jensen D 1984–2006
16 Andreas Andreasen D 1994–2012

Team captains

References

  1. "Esbjerg Elite Ishockey". Eurohockey.com. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. Ritzau (24 January 2014). "Esbjerg: Tre spillere er fyret for matchfixing" (in Danish). Politiken . Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  3. Ritzau (24 January 2014). "Esbjerg Energy: Tre spillere er fyret for matchfixing" (in Danish). dr. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  4. Michael Søvsø (4 March 2016). "SønderjyskE dream of a Danish title hat-trick, Esbjerg stand in their way". Champions Hockey League. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  5. Markus Nisius (21 April 2016). "Esbjerg Energy powers through to Danish Championship". Eurohockey. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  6. Joeri Loonen (27 April 2016). "Esbjerg fights off giants, wins Danish title". IIHF . Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  7. "Esbjerg Energy - Roster, News, Stats & more". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 15 November 2023.