Vålerenga Ishockey


Vålerenga Ishockey is a Norwegian ice hockey team based in Oslo, Norway. Vålerenga has been the dominant force in Norwegian hockey since the 1960s, claiming 26 national championships and 29 regular season titles. Their old home arena is Jordal Amfi, located in central-eastern Oslo. A new arena at Jordal is currently under construction to replace the old arena, which was built for the 1952 Winter Olympics. The team's present head coach is Roy Johansen. The General Manager is Espen "Shampo" Knutsen, a former NHL player and club legend.

History

Early days

Although the parent club Vålerengens Idrettsforening was founded in 1913, the history of Vålerenga Ishockey starts in 1947, when the junior team participated in the national junior championships for the first time. In the 50s, the junior team won the national junior championships five years in a row.

First dynasty (1960–1973)

Vålerenga won their first national championship in 1960, taking over the throne from local rivals Gamlebyen. More championships were won in 1962 and 1963. From 1965 to 1971, Vålerenga won the championship an incredible seven times in a row, a feat not repeated in Norwegian hockey since. Notable players from this era include Arne "Mikkel" Mikkelsen, Steinar "Bjølle" Bjølbak, Tor "Jern-Gustav" Gundersen, and notably, Roy "Sleipern" Jansen. Another title was added in 1973, but this also marked the end of the first dynasty as the club faced a generational change.

A new generation (1982–1994)

Ten years went by before Vålerenga could celebrate another championship, in 1983. A new generation had emerged, and players such as Jim Marthinsen, Roy Johansen, Geir Myhre, Tor Helge "Totto" Eikeland, Bjørn Kolsrud, Arne Billkvam and Jon Magne Karlstad would go on to become club legends. In 1988, Vålerenga won their 15th title. The next season saw the debut of Espen Knutsen, who would later become the first Vålerenga product to play in the National Hockey League.

Recent era

This marked the start of another dynasty for Vålerenga and the club added several more titles in the 1990s. Kent Forsberg became head coach in 1994 and invited his son Peter and Markus Näslund to play a friendly match for the club during the lockout season in the NHL. The 20th national championship was won in 1999. Notable players from this era include Morten Ask, Kenneth Larsen, and Kjell Richard "Ricky" Nygaard, along with Swedish imports such as Johan Brummer, Patric Englund and Niklas Gällstedt. Six more championships were added after 2000, the last being won in 2009. Vålerenga were in talks to join the Kontinental Hockey League in 2014, but the plans didn't go through.
Vålerenga's home arena through six decades, Jordal Amfi, was demolished in January 2017 and to be replaced by a new arena, projected to be completed in 2019.

Season-by-season results

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by Vålerenga. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Vålerenga Ishockey seasons.
Norwegian ChampionsRegular Season ChampionsPromotedRelegated'''

Players and personnel

Current roster

Head coaches

Statistics for regular season only.

Most league matches

PlayerCareerMatches
Jon Magne Karlstad1977–1994548
Arne Billkvam1977–1996531
Jim Marthinsen1975–1994509
Lars Erik Lund1996–2011506
Øystein Olsen1990–2008500
Kenneth Larsen1996-2009
2012		492
Roy Jansen1966–1984484
Marius Rath1986–2003465
Kjell Rickard Nygård1996-2010457
Brede Frettem Csiszar2006-457
Last updated: 25 May 2018

Notable players