HC Salamat

HCK Salamat
CityKirkkonummi
LeagueIII-divisioona
Founded2002 (2002)
Home arenaVaruboden-areena
ColoursBlue, white
   
Head coachImmo Suutarinen (2020–21)
CaptainAri Katavisto (2021–22)
Franchise history
2002–2009HC Salamat
2011–HCK Salamat
Previous franchise history
1970–2002Espoo Palloseura

Hockey Club Kirkkonummen Salamat or HCK Salamat are a Finnish ice hockey team in the III-divisioona, the fifth-tier men's ice hockey league in Finland.[1] They play in Kirkkonummi, a municipality in the western Greater Helsinki region, at Varuboden-areena. The club was founded in 2002 as HC Salamat and played in the Mestis during 2003 to 2008.

History

Salamat was created when the rights for the men's representative ice hockey team of the Espoo-based sports club Espoo Palloseura (EPS; 'Espoo Ball Club') were purchased by the City of Kirkkonummi in 2001. EPS played in the Suomi-sarja, the third-highest men's ice hockey league in Finland. In 2002, the team relocated to Kirkkonummi, a neighboring municipality of Espoo, and was rebranded as Salamat ('Lightning').[2]

In their first season, Salamat drew international attention when they signed Hayley Wickenheiser, star of the Canadian women's national ice hockey team, making her the first female forward to be rostered by a professional ice hockey team.[3] At the conclusion of their first season, HC Salamat earned promotion from the Suomi-sarja to the second-tier Mestis.

Former NHL player Teemu Selänne owned a one-third stake in the team, beginning in 2002, but reportedly sold his share of the team in December 2006.[4]

Salamat played in the Mestis from 2003 until being relegated to the Suomi-sarja in 2008. In August 2009, after a poor season in the Suomi-sarja, the owning osakeyhtiö (limited company) of the team, HC Kirkkonummen Salamat Oy, was declared bankrupt and ceased operations.

Due to its status as a distinct non-profit registered association, HCK Salamat Juniorit ry, the former junior affiliate of HC Kirkkonummen Salamat Oy, continued to function following the bankruptcy. In 2011, the club formed a representative men’s team and Salamat returned to the ice in the III-divisioona. In their first season, HCK Salamat gained promotion to the II-divisioona, where they remained until being relegated at the conclusion of the 2018–19 season. They have played in the III-divisoona since 2019.[5]

Players and personnel

Notable alumni

Source: Elite Prospects[7]

Notable youth products

Source: Elite Prospects[8]

Head coaches

  • Matti Hagman, 2002–2004
  • Vesa Surenkin, 2004–2005
  • Niki Andersson, 2005–2006
  • Jyrki Tuukkanen, 2006–2007
  • Jarmo Jamalainen, 2007–2008
  • Petro Koivunen, 2015–2018
  • Immo Suutarinen, 2019–

References

  1. ^ "2021-2022 III-divisioona, lohko 1 – Kokoonpano HCK Salamat". tulospalvelu.leojonat.fi (in Finnish). Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  2. ^ Kauno, Kasperi (12 September 2021). "HCK Salamat ry:n sarjassaan 20. kiekkokoulu alkaa sunnuntaina 12.9.2021". Kirkkonummen Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  3. ^ Maki, Allan (4 September 2003). "Female star rejoins men in Finland". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  4. ^ Nupponen, Sakari (5 February 2010). "Poliisi tutkii Teemu Selänteen omistamaa seuraa". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Salamat (III-divisoona) – Team History and Standings". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  6. ^ Silber, Sammi (17 November 2019). "Hockey Hall of Fame 2019: Trailblazer Hayley Wickenheiser built a career that revolutionized the game". Sporting News. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  7. ^ "All Time Regular Season Player Stats for Salamat". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Hockey Players from Salamat". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
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