Hokejový Klub HKM a.s. Zvolen is a professional Slovak ice hockey club based in Zvolen. The club has won the Slovak league championship three times (2001, 2013, 2021) and the IIHF Continental Cup in 2005. The team is nicknamed Rytieri (Knights).
The club was founded on 18 March 1927 as ZTC Zvolen. However, they played their first official game in 1932 against Slávia Banská Bystrica. They lost 0âÂÂ18 in the first game and 1âÂÂ20 in the second game against Slávia. Zvolen played their first home game on 14 February 1932. They lost 0âÂÂ2 against Slávia. In the 1933âÂÂ34 season they played for the first time in organized competition, the Championship of Stredoslovenská à ¾upa. In the next season they won their first official game against Sokol Kremnica. Hockey in Zvolen was even played during World War II. After WW II they had very successful years between 1947 and 1953. Then there was a decline.
Renewal of hockey in Zvolen started in 1964, when the LokomotÃÂva BuÃÂina Zvolen club was established. In 1970 they promoted to the 1. SNHL (1st. Slovak National Hockey League), second level of Czechoslovak hockey. They placed 6th in their first season at the 1. SNHL. In the 1971âÂÂ72 season they finished 3rd and in the next season they won the 1. SNHL. The club's scoring leader was Jozef Golonka. Zvolen qualified for the preliminary round of the Czechoslovak Extraliga. There they lost 7 of 8 games and were not promoted to the Extraliga. Zvolen won the 1. SNHL again in the 1974âÂÂ75 season. Zvolen forward Ján Letko was the top scorer of the 1. SNHL (48 goals). However, they lost in the preliminary round against Ingstav Brno and were not promoted to the Extraliga. In the 1975âÂÂ76 season they repeated victory in the 1. SNHL. In the preliminary round they lost a series 3âÂÂ4 against TJ Gottwaldov. Their fourth and last victory of the 1. SNHL came in the 1977âÂÂ78 season, but in the preliminary round they lost a series 2âÂÂ4 against TJ Gottwaldov. Thus Zvolen never played in the Czechoslovak Extraliga, the top level of Czechoslovak hockey.
Zvolen was a member of the inaugural season of the Slovak Extraliga, but they finished last and were relegated to the Slovak 1.Liga. Zvolen won the 1996âÂÂ97 Slovak 1.Liga season and promoted to the Extraliga after 3 years. In the 1997âÂÂ98 season they placed fifth in the regular season and were eliminated by Dukla TrenÃÂÃÂn in the quarterfinals. In the next season they progressed to the semifinals, beating TrenÃÂÃÂn in the quarterfinals, but were defeated by Slovan Bratislava. Zvolen played in the playoffs finals for the first time in club history in the 1999âÂÂ00 season. There they lost 2âÂÂ3 against Slovan. The most successful season in the club history was the 2000âÂÂ01 season. Zvolen finished first in the regular season, defeated 3âÂÂ0 MHC Martin in the quarterfinals, 3âÂÂ0 HK Poprad in the semifinals, 3âÂÂ1 Dukla TrenÃÂÃÂn in the finals and won their first Slovak Extraliga title ever. Ján Plch (79 pts), Richard à  echný (70 pts) and Petr Vlk (64 pts) were the top three scoring leaders of the Extraliga regular season. à  echný (19 pts) was also a scoring leader in the playoffs. Since 2001 Zvolen was playoffs finalist four times but won the title only once more in the 2012âÂÂ13 season.
Besides their triumph at the Slovak championship in 2001, Zvolen is a winner of the IIHF Continental Cup. In the 8th edition of the cup in 2005 they played in the final stage against HC Dynamo Moscow, Alba Volán Székesfehérvár and the Milano Vipers. Zvolen won all three games and became the third Slovak winner after HC Koà ¡ice and HC Slovan Bratislava.
1st. Slovak National Hockey League
HKM Zvolen has a list of sponsors such as Urpiner, Doprastav, OS Zvolen, COOP Jednote Krupina, ZOS Loko, INMEDIA, KOÃ Â ÃÂT Plus, BDI, Almik, Geis, Vezopax, J&K Invest Group, Betamont, Retech and Instaforex.
Coaches: Ernest Bokroà ¡, Peter Mikula,<br /> Goalies: Rastislav Rovnianek, Peter à  evela,<br /> Defenders: Róbert PukaloviÃÂ, Rastislav à  tork, Peter KlepáÃÂ, Duà ¡an Milo, Roman ÃÂech, Pavel Kowalczyk, Pavel Augusta, Milota Florián, VladimÃÂr Konôpka, Martin Mráz<br /> Forwards: Duà ¡an Pohorelec, Richard à  echný, Andrej RajÃÂák, Ján Plch, Petr Vlk, Jaroslav Török, Jozef ÃÂierny, Michal Longauer, Peter Konder, Igor Majeský, Rostislav Vlach, Kamil MahdalÃÂk, Ladislav Paciga, Ondà Âej KavuliÃÂ, Gabriel à  pilár, Roman Macoszek
Coaches: Peter Mikula, Jaroslav Török<br /> Goalies: Marek à  imko, Igor Cibuþa, LukÃ¡à ¡ à  kreÃÂko<br /> Defenders: Ján Mucha, Michal PihnarÃÂÃÂk, Michal Juraà ¡ko, Martin Výborný, Jaroslav Hertl, Peter Novajovský, Peter Hraà ¡ko, Lubor PokoviÃÂ, Ladislav ÃÂierny, Ján à ¤avoda, Zdenko Tóth<br /> Forwards:Michal Chovan, Jaroslav Kalla, Peter Zuzin, LukÃ¡à ¡ JurÃÂk, Kamil Brabenec, Kamil MahdalÃÂk, Milan JurÃÂk, Radovan Pulià ¡, Andrej Podkonický, TomÃ¡à ¡ à  kvaridlo, Jaroslav Kalla, Marek ÃÂurilla, ýubor Zuzin, Patrik Huà Âady, Martin ÃÂaloga, Matej SÃÂkela, Milan ÃÂanky,
Coaches: Peter Oremus, Andrek KmeÃÂ, Andrej Podkonický<br /> Goalies: Robin Rahm, Adam TrenÃÂan<br /> Defenders: Jakub Melià ¡ko, Michal Ivan, Oldà Âich Kotvan, Frantià ¡ek Gajdoà ¡, Peter Hraà ¡ko, Ben Betker, Andrej Hatala, T.J. Melancon, Marek Daloga, Branislav Kubka, Tomás Nociar, Jakub Debnár<br /> Forwards: Marco Halama, Marek Viedenský, Peter Zuzin, Juraj MikÃºà ¡, Maroà ¡ JedliÃÂka, Allan McPherson, Adam Helewka, Radovan Pulià ¡, Patrik Marcinek, Jozef Tibenský, Jakub ÃÂunderlÃÂk, Mikko Nuutinen, Ján ChlepÃÂok, Dalibor ÃÂurià ¡, Jakub KoleniÃÂ, Nikolas GubanÃÂok, Miloà ¡ Kelemen, Miloà ¡ Kelemen, Radovan Bondra, Marko BrumerÃÂÃÂk, Václav Stupka, Adrián Danià ¡