Bergen Storm


The Bergen Storm is an American football team based in Bergen, Norway. Bergen Storm is the 3rd oldest existing team in Norwegian American Football. They are members of the Norges Amerikanske Idretters Forbund - Amerikansk Fotball Norge. The team plays its home games at Varden Kunstgress field in Bergen.

Facts

Founded: 1992 when Bergen Bulldogs and Bergen Flyers merged.
Team colors: Cardinal red and white
President: Jesper Haug Karsrud.
Best results: Senior: 3rd place 1st division, U-19: Runner-up champions, U-16: National Champion.
Noted rivalries: Nidaros Domers, VIF Trolls, Åsane Seahawks

Teams

Senior
Players of age 18 and up. Have participated every official season since 1993 with the exception of 1998. The team pulled out of league play midway through the season in 1995 and 1997. Best standing is currently 3rd place 1st division and winner 2nd division.
U-19
Players in the age group 16-19. Participated in the Norwegian U-19 championship since 1995, with the exception of 1998. Best standing is Norwegian vice-champions in 1999, 2000 and 2001, each year losing the championship final to the VIF Trolls.
U-17
Players in the age group 14-16. Participated in the Norwegian U-16 championship since 2003. Best standing is Norwegian Champions in 2005 when the Bergen team beat VIF Trolls 8-7.
Storm Cheerleaders
Participated in the Norwegian Championship for Cheerleaders in 2005 finishing last. Program got canceled after this season.
New program is currently starting up.
Bergen Storm Thunder
One of the Bergen Storm teams during the 'split' in 2005 as an effort to create local league play in Norwegian 2nd division versus Bergen Storm Blizzard and Åsane Seahawks. Thunder became the only winner of the Bergen Bowl by beating Bergen Storm Blizzard in the final. The team was officially coached by Eirik Talhaug.
Bergen Storm Blizzard
One of the Bergen Storm teams during the 'split' in 2005 as an effort to create Bergen league play in the Norwegian 2nd division versus Bergen Storm Thunder and Åsane Seahawks. Blizzards were runners-up in the only Bergen Bowl final. The team was coached by Bård Strøm, Thomas Midtun and Arild Hauge.

Associated clubs or teams

Os Wolverines
Bergen Storm had tight connections with Os Wolverines. Os is an independent club based in Os Kommune south of Bergen. The Wolverines participated in the Norwegian 2nd division once in 2010 under the name Hordaland Storm. Since then they have been active in the regional 8-man league in the fall. The two clubs shared some coaching and resource personnel. Amongst others, Christian Detjen, head coach for the Os Wolverines was a board member and U-19 head coach with Bergen Storm, while Bjarte Eide Aase who was assistant coach with Storm in 2013.
Navy Valkyries
The Naval Academy in Bergen fielded their own 8-man football team. However, the academy is not a registered club within the Federation of American Sports in Norway, thus all players are licensed through Bergen Storm. Notable Bergen Storm player Markus Johannessen is one of the Valkyries key players. Long time Bergen Storm player, coach and president Atle Mølholm was at a time hired by the Naval Academy as a coach for the Valkyries as well.
NHHI Capitalists
The Norwegian School of Economics has their own team registered with the Federation of American Sports. So far, NHHI has only participated in the local 8-man league as well as the interstudent athletic competition. NHHI is thus an independent club but Bergen Storm and NHHI has allowed for players to play for both clubs. Long time Bergen Storm player Robert Fredriksen is served as a coach and resource person for the NHHI Capitalists.

8-man league

The 8-man league was a regional low-cost league for American football in Hordaland which was tremendously popular with more than 100 licensed players during a season, fielding more than 100 players total in a single season. The 8-man has been a Bergen Storm initially driven by then club president Thomas Midtun. The league consists of different teams mainly associated with the four clubs in the region: Bergen Storm, Åsane Seahawks, Kvernbit Knights and Os Wolverines. The Bergen Storm organized teams have been:
Bergen Replacements
A team participating in the Bergen 8-man football league. Mainly consisting of retired Bergen Storm players. Bergen Bowl winner of 2008 going undefeated through the season. Runner-up in 2009 going undefeated through regular season. Led by Eirik Talhaug, Thomas Midtun and Hallvard Hollevik
Bergen Gators / Bergen Sackademics / Bergen Beavers
A team participating in the Bergen 8-man football league. Mainly consisting of current or new members of Bergen Storm. Bergen Bowl 2009 champions and Bergen Bowl 2008 runner-up. Moved forth to Bergen Sharks, thus leaving the Bergen Storm organization in favor of Åsane Seahawks. Led by Sondre Johan Haugsdal Riisøen.
Bergen Leftovers
A team that participated in the Bergen 8-man football league in 2008. Led by Finn Olsen.
8-man league winners