VEU Feldkirch
VEU Feldkirch | |
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Greatest successes | |
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Club information | |
history |
EHC Feldkirch (1932–1935) WSV Feldkirch (1935–1941) EHC Feldkirch (1945–1974) Vorarlberg Ice Hockey Union Feldkirch (1974–2000) EC Supergau Feldkirch (2000–2004) EHC Feldkirch 2000 (2000–2006) Club Ice Hockey Union Feldkirch (2006–2019) Vorarlberg Ice Hockey Union Feldkirch (since 2019) |
Location | Feldkirch , Vorarlberg , Austria |
Nickname | The VEU |
Club colors | red, white & black |
league | Alps Hockey League |
Venue | Vorarlberghalle |
capacity | 5,200 seats |
Head coach | Patrick Lefebvre |
AlpsHL 2018/19 | 7th place, pre-playoffs |
The VEU Feldkirch is an Austrian ice hockey club from Feldkirch ( Vorarlberg ). The club currently plays in the Alps Hockey League with a team that consists mainly of self-made players
After the financial bankruptcy of the predecessor club of the same name, the club was re-founded under the name "EHC Feldkirch" in 2000, the EHC Feldkirch 2000 served in its first years as a pure youth club and was intended to give the young players of the VEU Feldkirch a field of activity. At the same time, the “EC Supergau Feldkirch” was founded - this club slipped into bankruptcy again after the 2003/04 season due to renewed financial problems . Building on the existing youth club EHC Feldkirch 2000, it was possible that Feldkirch has been represented with a team at least in the second highest Austrian league since the 2004/05 season. From the 2006/07 to 2012 season the association was officially called “FBI VEU Feldkirch” (main sponsor Friedrich Brunauer Immobilien ). For the 2010/11 season, the traditional VEU Feldkirch logo was slightly revised and modernized. In autumn 2012 the Frastanzer brewery became the new main sponsor.
history
The first years
The first Feldkirch ice hockey club, the "Vorarlberger Ice Hockey Union Feldkirch" was founded in 1932 as "EHC Feldkirch" . In the thirties, due to the lack of local competition, mainly games were played against Swiss clubs, but this came to an abrupt end with the Second World War . During the war years, gaming operations almost came to a standstill. In 1945 the club was reorganized and there were soon games again, again against Swiss competitors, even though there was hardly any money available and the players sometimes had to "assemble" their own equipment. For the 1948/49 season, the EHC Feldkirch organized a Vorarlberg championship and won it with confidence. In 1951 the club finally joined the Austrian Ice Hockey Association . At that time, the open air was still being played on Leonhardplatz, which was also the home of the club during the first Bundesliga season in 1954/55 .
First successes in the Bundesliga
In the years that followed, the EHC Feldkirch kept switching between the various performance levels, and the lack of an artificial ice rink was also clearly noticeable. Such plans had already been rejected as utopian in 1957, but on December 6, 1964, the project finally became a reality. In 1967, they were promoted to the Bundesliga: with eight wins from ten matches, the team was able to confidently win the National League A. At the same time the club was renamed "EHC Hilti Feldkirch" after the main sponsor . In the first season of 1967/68 the team finished last, but won the Hilti International Cup with an 8: 3 against HC Dukla Jihlava . In the following years continuous development work was carried out and in the 1969/70 season rewarded with the runner-up title behind the EC KAC .
In 1971 the name was changed to “VEU Feldkirch” , and a year later a new main sponsor was brought on board with the Creditanstalt-Bankverein. The club established itself in the midfield of the Austrian league and took the next important step into the future with the roofing of the ice rink in 1977. A difficult time followed, however, when the VEU only narrowly slipped past bankruptcy in 1978, which also resulted in changes in the club's management. However, some player commitments such as those of Kelvin Greenbank , who was to remain loyal to the club for a long time, proved positive .
The first championship title
In 1981, Brian Hill , Jeff Geiger , Günther Stockhammer , Karl Heinzle and a few other new players formed the core of a team that would determine what happens in the league in the following years. Coach Miroslav Berek was dismissed after disagreements with the players, but with Rudi Zanona as coach and Greenbank as player-coach, the team prevailed 6-4 in the championship round of the 1981/82 season in the decisive game in Klagenfurt and thus won the first championship title of club history. The title was defended twice in a row, and at the same time the championship titles of the club's junior teams showed that Feldkirch has now been working successfully. In 1986, however, there were again financial problems, which also led to the compensation being registered. However, the club persisted and continued the good work in the following years.
Climax and end
After a few average seasons, the rise of the VEU began in 1991. On November 13, 1991, Ralph Krueger, the coach who would lead the VEU from one sporting success to the next, was hired. In 1992 Krueger signed the two Swedes Bengt-Åke Gustafsson and Thomas Rundqvist and gathered around them with Tom Searle , Simon Wheeldon and a few other established players. From 1994 to 1998 the VEU dominated ice hockey events in Austria and won five championship titles in a row without any competition. At the same time, some highly acclaimed successes were posted on the international ice. One of the highlights was winning the European Hockey League in 1998 , which was also followed by victory in the IIHF Super Cup .
In the same year, however, Ralph Krueger made the decision to no longer be available as a coach, as he had taken over the coaching position for the Swiss national ice hockey team . In addition, there were financial problems that arose from the large expenses for the cadres in recent years and from the lack of marketing. After a short time it became apparent that VEU would not be able to continue its successful run. Some of the established players also had to be fired, and the club dragged its way through playing in the top class for two years before the end followed in 2000.
Hockey Union Feldkirch (from 2000)
season | league | placement | Play-offs | |
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2000/01 | OIL | 1. | Runner-up | |
2001/02 | NatL | 2. | master | |
2002/03 | EBEL | 4th | Quarter finals | |
2003/04 | EBEL | 6th | - | |
2004/05 | NatL | 4th | Quarter finals | |
2005/06 | NatL | 1. | Semifinals | |
2006/07 | NatL | 2. | master | |
2007/08 | NatL | 4th | Semifinals | |
2008/09 | NatL | 4th | Semifinals | |
2009/10 | NatL | 4th | Semifinals | |
2010/11 | NatL | 3. | 2. | master |
2011/12 | NatL | 4th | Semifinals | |
2012/13 | INL | 5. | - | |
2013/14 | INL | 6th | 7th | Quarter finals |
2014/15 | INL | 4th | 2. | Runner-up |
2015/16 | INL | 1. | Semifinals | |
2016/17 | AlpsHL | 6th | 5. | Quarter finals |
2017/18 | AlpsHL | 4th | Quarter finals | |
2018/19 | AlpsHL | 7th | Play-offs are in progress |
After the bankruptcy, the newly founded club started as EHC Feldkirch 2000 from the 2000/01 season in what was then the second highest division, the Oberliga , which had meanwhile become the National League. The club continues to play in the second division and was able to win the title twice: for the first time in the 2006/07 season against EV Zeltweg, four years later Dornbirn was defeated 3-0 in the final series. In the 2014/15 season of the INL , the VEU failed in the best-of-five final series with 0: 3 at EHC Lustenau and became runner-up.
For the 2019/20 season, the club's name was officially changed back to Vorarlberger Eishockey Union .
successes
Successes of the "old" VEU
- nine championship titles in the Austrian league: 1981/82 , 1982/83 , 1983/84 , 1989/90 , 1993/94 , 1994/95 , 1995/96 , 1996/97 , 1997/98
- Four times winner of the Alpine League : 1995/96 , 1996/97 , 1997/98 , 1998/99
- Winner of the European Hockey League 1997/98
- National league champions 1966/67
- Orbis Magnus Cup 1998
Successes of the "new" VEU
- National league champions 2006/07 , 2010/11
- Austrian champion of the second division (as the best placed team in the Alps Hockey League ) 2016/17 , 2017/18
- Austrian Cup Winner 2014/15
Master teams
Austrian champion 1981/82 season |
Goalkeeper: Defenders: Jeff Geiger , Karl Heinzle , Konrad Dorn Attackers: Kelvin Greenbank , Brian Hill , Günter Stockhammer Coaching team: |
Austrian champion 1982/83 season |
Goalkeeper: Defenders: Jeff Geiger , Karl Heinzle , Konrad Dorn Attackers: Reinhard Dossi , Franz Fussi , Kelvin Greenbank , Günter Stockhammer , Brian Hill , Gerhard Puschnik Coaching team: |
Austrian champion 1983/84 season |
Goalkeeper: Defenders: Konrad Dorn , Jeff Geiger , Peter Haberl , Karl Heinzle Attackers: Franz Fussi , Fritz Ganster , Doug Gibson , Kelvin Greenbank , Günter Stockhammer , Brian Hill , Gerhard Puschnik Coaching team: |
Austrian champion 1989/90 season |
Goalkeeper: Arnulf Zimmermann Defenders: Karl Heinzle , Michael Shea , Michael Sparr , Wolfgang Strauss Attackers: Franz Fussi , Fritz Ganster , Kelvin Greenbank , Richard Grenier , Fedor Kanareykin , Arno Maier , Rick Nasheim , Gerhard Puschnik Coaching team: |
Austrian champion 1993/94 season |
Goalkeepers: Claus Dalpiaz , Reinhard Divis Defenders: Konrad Dorn , Jeff Geiger , Karl Heinzle , Michael Lampert , Tom Searle , Michael Shea , Wolfgang Strauss Attackers: Fritz Ganster , Bengt-Åke Gustafsson , Siegfried Haberl , Rick Nasheim , Gerhard Puschnik , Thomas Rundqvist , Bernd Schmidle , Simon Wheeldon Coaching team: Ralph Krueger |
Austrian champion 1994/95 season |
Goalkeepers: Reinhard Divis , Claus Dalpiaz Defenders: Konrad Dorn , Karl Heinzle , Michael Lampert , Dominic Lavoie , Tom Searle , Wolfgang Strauss Attackers: Franz Fussi , Fritz Ganster , Bengt-Åke Gustafsson , Siegfried Haberl , Martin Lindner , Gerhard Puschnik , Thomas Rundqvist , Jukka-Pekka Seppo , Thomas Sticha , Simon Wheeldon Coaching team: Ralph Krueger |
Austrian champion 1995/96 season |
Goalkeepers: Reinhard Divis , Arnulf Zimmermann Defenders: Konrad Dorn , Karl Heinzle , Michael Lampert , Dominic Lavoie , Tom Searle , Wolfgang Strauss Attackers: Franz Fussi , Fritz Ganster , Christoph Gesson , Bengt-Åke Gustafsson , Siegfried Haberl , Normand Krumpschmid , Rick Nasheim , Gerhard Puschnik , Thomas Rundqvist , Bernd Schmidle , Thomas Sticha , Simon Wheeldon Coaching team: Ralph Krueger |
Austrian champion 1996/97 season |
Goalkeepers: André Dietzsch , Reinhard Divis , Markus Seidl Defenders: Greg Brown , Konrad Dorn , Karl Heinzle , Michael Lampert , Dominic Lavoie , Robert Robinson , Tom Searle , Wolfgang Strauss Attackers: Raimund Divis , Fritz Ganster , Daniel Gauthier , Christoph Gesson , Bengt-Åke Gustafsson , Normand Krumpschmid , Rick Nasheim , Gerhard Puschnik , Thomas Rundqvist , Bernd Schmidle , Thomas Sticha , Simon Wheeldon Coaching team: Ralph Krueger |
Austrian champion 1997/98 season |
Goalkeepers: Reinhard Divis , Bruno Campese Defenders: Jesper Duus , Per Lundell , Tom Searle , Dominic Lavoie , Patrik Aronsson , Michael Lampert , Wolfgang Strauss Attackers: Mika Asikainen , Raimund Divis , Fritz Ganster , Daniel Gauthier , Christoph Gesson , Bengt-Åke Gustafsson , Rick Nasheim , Gerhard Puschnik , Thomas Rundqvist , Bernd Schmidle , Thomas Sticha , Tomaž Vnuk , Simon Wheeldon , Nik Zupančič Coaching team: Ralph Krueger |
player
Well-known former players
(Team membership and position in brackets)
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Coach history
Period | Trainer | successes |
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VEU Feldkirch (1927 to 2000) | ||
1967 to 1968 | Andy Herrebout (player-coach) | |
1968 to 1969 | Pepan Koller | |
1969 to 1973 | ? | |
1973 to 1974 | Jaakko Sartio | |
1974 to 1979 | ? | |
1979 to 1981 | Miroslav Berek | a championship title, early release in the 1981/82 season |
1982 to 1983 | Kelvin Greenbank (player-coach) | two championship titles |
1983 to 1985 | Garry Davidson | |
1985 to 1986 | Bart Crashley | |
1986 to 1989 | ? | |
1989 to November 1991 | Sascha Barinew | a championship title |
November 1991 to 1998 | Ralph Krueger | Five times Austrian champion, three times champion of the Alpine League , once champion of the European Hockey League |
1998 to 1999 | Bengt-Åke Gustafsson | Champion of the Alpine League |
1999 to 2000 | Mike Sirant | |
VEU Feldkirch (since 2000) | ||
2000 to 2003 | ? | |
2003 to December 2003 | Tom Coolen | |
December 2003 to 2004 | Tom Pokel | |
2004 to 2005 | Konrad Dorn | |
2005 to 2007 | Tom Pokel | a championship title |
2007 to January 2008 | Gerhard Pushnik | |
January 2008 to January 2009 | Bernd Walch | |
January 2009 to April 2009 | Kjell G. Lindquist | |
2009 to January 2010 | Bengt Ericsson | |
January 2010 to April 2010 | Konrad Dorn | |
April 2010 to April 2011 | Michael Lampert | a championship title |
August 2012 to April 2013 | Ivan Dornic senior | |
May 2013 to May 2015 | Miloš Holaň | |
May 2015 to April 2018 | Michael Lampert | 3 × second division champions 2010/11, 2016/17, 2017/18 |
Since August 2018 | Nik Zupančič |
Venue
The home of VEU Feldkirch is the Vorarlberghalle , which opened in 1977 and underwent a minor renovation and modernization in 2000. With a capacity of around 5200 spectators, it is one of the largest ice rinks in Austria and has been the stage for some of the greatest successes of the VEU Feldkirch in the course of its history. In 2018 the boards of the ice rink were renewed and a video wall and goal cameras were installed.
Average audience
Audience statistics | |||||||
season | Home games | spectator | Spectators per game | ||||
2006/07 | 22nd | 44,777 | 2,035 | ||||
2007/08 | 20th | 32,184 | 1,609 | ||||
2008/09 | 18th | 32,912 | 1,828 | ||||
2009/10 | 20th | 39,409 | 1,970 |
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ VEU Feldkirch is Austria Cup winner , report on hockeyfans.at from February 12, 2015
- ↑ Final result of the Austria Cup ( Memento of the original from April 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the homepage of the ÖEHV
- ^ The VEU Feldkirch gives nominations for the EBEL. In: vol.at. January 14, 2019, accessed September 16, 2019 .