Esbjerg Energy

Esbjerg Energy
2016–17 Esbjerg Energy season
City Esbjerg, Denmark
League Metal Ligaen
Founded 2005
Home arena Granly Hockey Arena
(Capacity: 4,200)
Colors          
Owner(s) Christian Rølmer Christensen
General manager Peder Krogsgaard
Head coach Canada Mark Pederson
Captain Canada Brock Nixon
Website www.esbjergenergy.dk
Franchise history
1964–2004 Esbjerg IK
2005–2013 Esbjerg fB Ishockey
2013–present Esbjerg Energy
Championships
Playoff championships 7 (2016–17, 2015–16, 2003–04, 1995–96, 1992–93, 1987–88, 1968–69)

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]

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 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 than 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 icehockey 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

Seasons of Esbjerg Energy[7]
Season Rank GP W L OTW OTL Pts Postseason
2005–06 8th 36 9 19 5 3 40 Quarterfinal loss
2006–07 3rd 36 12 14 4 6 50 Bronze medal game loss
2007–08 9th 45 14 22 3 6 54 Did not make the playoffs
2008–09 7th 36 13 18 2 3 46 Quarterfinal loss
2009–10 4th 36 12 11 4 9 53 Quarterfinal loss
2010–11 7th 39 10 23 3 3 39 Did not make playoffs
2011–12 8th 40 12 22 3 3 45 Quarter final loss
2012–13 6th 40 14 17 5 4 56 Quarter final loss
2013–14 5th 40 17 18 1 4 57 Quarter final loss
2014–15 5th 36 15 13 6 2 59 Final loss
2015–16 3rd 45 22 14 7 2 82 Champion
2016–17 4th 45 18 12 6 9 75 Champion

Current Roster

Updated November 1, 2016[8][9][10]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
95 Denmark Nicolaj Henriksen G L 23 Esbjerg, Denmark
43 Denmark Mathias Seldrup G L 21 Herning, Denmark
31 Denmark Mads Søgaard G L 17 Aalborg, Denmark
12 Denmark Frederik Benjaminsen D L 18 Esbjerg, Denmark
7 Denmark Phillip Bruggisser D R 27 Rødovre, Denmark
3 Denmark Jannik Christensen (A)  D L 26 Esbjerg, Denmark
4 Canada Kodie Curran D L 28 Alberta, Canada
40 Denmark Anders Koch D L 21 Esbjerg, Denmark
2 Denmark Anders Krogsgaard D R 22 Esbjerg, Denmark
51 Sweden David Lidström D L 30 Västerås, Sweden
69 Denmark Jeppe Vinther D L 21 Frederikshavn, Denmark
48 Denmark Niklas Andersen C/RW L 20 Esbjerg, Denmark
17 Denmark Lasse Bang C R 25 Esbjerg, Denmark
90 Canada Tyler Fiddler LW L 28 Prince Albert, Canada
65 Sweden Henry Hardarson F L 24 Malmö, Sweden
20 Denmark Sune Hjulmand C R 29 Esbjerg, Denmark
23 Denmark Jeppe Holmberg C/D L 22 Aalborg, Denmark
68 Denmark Nicolaj Jepsen F L 25 Esbjerg, Denmark
10 United States Jared Knight C/RW R 26 Battle Creek, United States
77 Canada Ryan Martindale C L 26 Brooklin, Canada
27 Canada Carson McMillan RW/C R 30 Brandon, Canada
76 Denmark Henrik Mærsk F L 22 Esbjerg, Denmark
24 Denmark Søren Nielsen C L 22 Esbjerg, Denmark
41 Denmark Esben Nielsen LW L 32 Esbjerg, Denmark
19 Canada Brock Nixon (C) LW/C L 31 Russell, Canada
73 Denmark Mikkel Hansen C L 19 Esbjerg, Denmark

Retired Numbers

  • 14 Oleg Starkov, F, 1991–2000
  • 15 Soren Jensen, D, 1984–2006
  • 16 Andreas Andreasen, D, 1994–2012

Team captains

  • Olivier Coqueux, 2008–2009
  • Andreas Andreasen, 2009–2010
  • Kirill Starkov, 2010–2011
  • Sune Hjulmand, 2011–2015
  • Aaron Lee, 2015–2016
  • Brock Nixon, 2016–

References

  1. ↑ "Esbjerg Elite Ishockey". Eurohockey.com. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Ritzau (2014-01-24). "Esbjerg: Tre spillere er fyret for matchfixing" (in Danish). Politiken. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  3. ↑ Ritzau (2014-01-24). "Esbjerg Energy: Tre spillere er fyret for matchfixing" (in Danish). dr. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  4. ↑ Michael Søvsø (2016-03-04). "SønderjyskE dream of a Danish title hat-trick, Esbjerg stand in their way". Champions Hockey League. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  5. ↑ Markus Nisius (2016-04-21). "Esbjerg Energy powers through to Danish Championship". Eurohockey. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  6. ↑ Joeri Loonen (2016-04-27). "Esbjerg fights off giants, wins Danish title". IIHF. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  7. ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=135
  8. ↑ "Esbjerg Energy Truppen". www.esbjergenergy.dk. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  9. ↑ "Eliteprospects.com - Esbjerg Energy". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  10. ↑ "Esbjerg Energy Profile". Champions Hockey League. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
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