Spektrum Flyers
Encyclopedia
Spektrum Flyers was a short-lived ice hockey
team from Oslo
, Norway. A merger between Manglerud Star
and Furuset, it played the 1994–95
and 1995–96
seasons in Eliteserien
, the premier ice hockey league in Norway, with home games at Oslo Spektrum
.
for Vålerenga Ishockey
. Following the opening of Oslo Spektrum in 1990, Vålerenga moved their games to the venue in the heart of Oslo. After the end of the 1992–93 season
, the team returned to its old venue, Jordal Amfi
, and Oslo Spektrum started looking for a new tenant. Oslo Spektrum's new management company, SMGManagement, encouraged Manglerud Star and Furuset to play some of their games at Oslo Spektrum. Instead, the two teams decided to merge their top-level teams to create a team that all of Oslo could support. In September 1993, Furuset, Manglerud Star and SMG signed an interim agreement, which would establish the new team in the city center. The new team received an exclusive right to play matches at Spektrum, and SMG would perform marketing of the games. The condition was that at least one of the two teams succeeded at keeping their place in the premier league.
The team received 1 million Norwegian krone
from the two mother teams to purchase six top players, including two from Canada. The team's management stated that they were working on a cooperation with the National Hockey League
(NHL) side Philadelphia Flyers
. In a deal in November 1993, Furuset-players Cato Tom Andersen
, Christian Kjeldsberg and Jan Roar Fagerli all transferred to Manglerud Star for the 1993–94 season
, which Furuset would play in First Division. The players were intended to be transferred to Spektrum Flyers. In March 1994, Ole Jacob Libæk, who was instrumental in the creation of the new team and had been appointed chair, stated that he wanted Vålerenga to also participate. He hoped that this would create sufficient interest to generate four to five thousand spectators per match, which would be necessary to maintain a professional team.
Rolf Kirkvaag jr. was hired as the team's director. On 22 April 1994, the club announced that Serge Boisvert
, a former NHL-player, would be player-coach
. Rumors had it that George Kingston had been a possible candidate. The team received a budget of NOK 7 million for the first season. In June, the team signed Lillehammer IK-player Tommy Jakobsen
, who had previously played for Furuset. In July, the Czech national team and HC Sparta Praha
back Leo Gudas
signed for the club. Other players included Geir Hoff
, Vegar Barlie
, Jarle Friis
, Per Odvar and Knut Walbye
. In June, the team was registered as a limited company. However, it was late sending in its budget to the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association, and nearly lost its license to play. It received permission to play three of its matches in the opening season at Gjøvik Olympic Cavern Hall in Gjøvik
.
The teams first match was a friendly against Storhamar on 16 August in Gjøvik, which Flyers lost 2–5. In September, the team ended second in the friendly Panasonic Cup in Denmark. Libæk stated that he had been in contact with IMG, who wanted to create a pan-European ice hockey league, and that Flyers was the prime candidate to represent Norway. Flyers was offered NOK 70 million to play in the league, which was planned to have 12 teams and be named the International Hockey League (IHL). The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association stated that after an agreement between NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation
(IIHF), the Flyers would be banned from playing in Eliteserien if they formally associated themselves with IHL.
In the last friendly before the league started, Flyers beat Vålerenga 4–1 on 18 September. In the league debut on 25 September, the two teams met in front of 3,121 spectators at Jordal, where Vålerenga won 5–3. In its home debut on 29 September, Flyers beat Trondheim IK 5–3. With only 1770 of the 2400 spectators paying, the team management stated that it would be difficult to pay the NOK 100,000 per game which Oslo Spektrum charged. The team had been marketing the game by handing out 1,200 free tickets to school children, but required the parents who accompanied the children to pay for the tickets. At the same time, Vegard Barlie criticized the club for not wanting to sign a contract, after he had punctured a lung.
. The management of Manglerud Star stated that they were opposed to the plans, and that it was unrealistic to move an entire club, even if permission was granted. Initially the plans were to only play the playoff matches in Bergen, and the club would thereby be required to pay the transport to and overnighting in Bergen for both themselves and the opponent teams. At the time, Bergen—Norway's second-largest city—did not have a team in the premier league. An official application to move was sent to the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association on 26 January. The application was approved by the association, and the club announced it would play its first play-off match in Bergenshallen on 15 February.
On 1 February, the Kirkvaag stated that they had decided to move the team permanently to Bergen. Vålerenga stated that it was opposed to the play-off games being played in Bergen and that they wanted a possible local derby
between the Oslo teams to be played in the city. Representatives from the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association stated that Flyers had primarily given financial reasons for the move, but that they at the same time had rejected playing their matches at Jordal Amfi, which would have cost a lot less. The first training in Bergenshallen took place on 7 February. On 15 February, the annual meeting in Manglerud Star decided to terminate the agreement with Flyers, as it did not want its elite team to play out of town. Those players who were under contract with Manglerud Star would return, and the team would revoke its premier league license, which it would use to play itself with home matches at Manglerudhallen
. The contract with Flyers would terminate from 1 May, although the latter was free to use the rest of its resources (albeit without a license to play in the top division) in Bergen.
The team's first match in Bergen was a quarter-final against Stjernen; despite having a 3–0 lead, Flyers ended up losing 3–4. The match was seen by 2,532 spectators, and Kirkvaag stated that he satisfied with the turn-up. Four days later, the team lost 2–1 against Lillehammer. They were sent out of the play-offs after a 5–3 loss against Stjernen on 23 February. The final match was played against Lillehammer in Bergen. Afterwards, Kirkvaag stated that the team had three options: either take over the elite licenses of Hasle-Løren, Manglerud Star or Lørenskog IK and move the team to Bergen; take over the license in the First Division of Bergen IK
and attempt to win the league to be promoted to the top division, or participate in the planned International Hockey League. Kirkvaag stated that no matter what, the team would play in Bergen.
Twelve of the Flyers players were transferred back to Manglerud Star. By April, Flyers had not paid wages since 1 January and the Norwegian Players’ Association threatened to file the company for bankruptcy
. By June, Serge Boisvert, Sergej Pusjkov, Geir Hoff, Cato Tom Andersen, Jan-Roar Fagerli and Lars E. Lund had all signed for Vålerenga. Hoff, Lund and Fagerli all had contracts with Manglerud Star, but these were terminated and the players became free agent
s after Flyers had failed to meet their financial obligations. Kirkvaag took over as director of Bergen IK, which rebranded itself as Bergen Flyers and introduced many of the same concepts as Spektrum Flyers had in an attempt to increase spectator rates.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team from Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway. A merger between Manglerud Star
Manglerud Star Ishockey
Manglerud Star Ishockey is a Norwegian ice hockey team from Manglerud.The club has delivered more players to professional hockey leagues around the world than any other hockey team in Norway...
and Furuset, it played the 1994–95
1994–95 Eliteserien season
The 1994–95 Eliteserien season ended with Storhamar claiming their first Norwegian title after defeating Stjernen 3–0 in the finals.-Final standings:...
and 1995–96
1995–96 Eliteserien season
The 1995-96 Eliteserien season was the 57th season of ice hockey in Norway. Eight teams participated in the league, and Storhamar Ishockey won the championship.-Regular season:- Group A :- Group B :- Playoffs :- Gruppe A :- Group B :...
seasons in Eliteserien
GET-ligaen
GET-ligaen is the premier Norwegian ice hockey league, organised by the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation. The league was known as 1. divisjon until 1990, when it was reorganized and named Eliteserien . That name was held until 2004 when cable TV company UPC became main sponsor...
, the premier ice hockey league in Norway, with home games at Oslo Spektrum
Oslo Spektrum
Oslo Spektrum is an indoor multi-purpose arena in east central Oslo, Norway. It opened in December 1990. It is currently owned and operated by Norges Varemesse , who also own and operate the Norges Varemesse conference center in Lillestrøm which is Norway's largest conference center...
.
History
Establishment
Manglerud Star and Furuset had formerly cooperated with the team Oslo Hockey. After it was dissolved, Manglerud Star became a farm teamFarm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
for Vålerenga Ishockey
Vålerenga Ishockey
Vålerenga Ishockey is an Oslo-based ice hockey club, and a part of the Vålerenga IF multi-sports club. Their home arena is Jordal Amfi, located in eastern Oslo. Jordal Amfi was built for the 1952 Winter Olympics. The mother club was founded in 1913, but the did not take up ice hockey until the late...
. Following the opening of Oslo Spektrum in 1990, Vålerenga moved their games to the venue in the heart of Oslo. After the end of the 1992–93 season
1992–93 Eliteserien season
The 1992-93 Eliteserien season was the 54th season of ice hockey in Norway. Ten teams participated in the league, and Valerenga Ishockey won the championship.- Grunnserien :- Eliteserien :- Group A :- Group B :- Playoffs :-External links:...
, the team returned to its old venue, Jordal Amfi
Jordal Amfi
Jordal Amfi is an indoor sporting arena located in Oslo, Norway. The capacity of the arena is 4,450 and was opened in 1952. It is the home arena of the Vålerenga ice hockey team.-History:Jordal Amfi is one of Norway's most legendary sporting arenas...
, and Oslo Spektrum started looking for a new tenant. Oslo Spektrum's new management company, SMGManagement, encouraged Manglerud Star and Furuset to play some of their games at Oslo Spektrum. Instead, the two teams decided to merge their top-level teams to create a team that all of Oslo could support. In September 1993, Furuset, Manglerud Star and SMG signed an interim agreement, which would establish the new team in the city center. The new team received an exclusive right to play matches at Spektrum, and SMG would perform marketing of the games. The condition was that at least one of the two teams succeeded at keeping their place in the premier league.
The team received 1 million Norwegian krone
Norwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
from the two mother teams to purchase six top players, including two from Canada. The team's management stated that they were working on a cooperation with the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) side Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. In a deal in November 1993, Furuset-players Cato Tom Andersen
Cato Tom Andersen
Cato Tom Andersen is a former Norwegian ice hockey player. He was born in Oslo, Norway. He played for the Norwegian national ice hockey team at the 1988 and 1994 Winter Olympics.-References:...
, Christian Kjeldsberg and Jan Roar Fagerli all transferred to Manglerud Star for the 1993–94 season
1993–94 Eliteserien season
The 1993-94 GET-ligaen season was the 55th season of ice hockey in Norway. Ten teams participated in the league, and Lillehammer IK won the championship.- Grunnserien :- Eliteserien :- Group A :- Group B :- Playoffs :- Relegation :...
, which Furuset would play in First Division. The players were intended to be transferred to Spektrum Flyers. In March 1994, Ole Jacob Libæk, who was instrumental in the creation of the new team and had been appointed chair, stated that he wanted Vålerenga to also participate. He hoped that this would create sufficient interest to generate four to five thousand spectators per match, which would be necessary to maintain a professional team.
Rolf Kirkvaag jr. was hired as the team's director. On 22 April 1994, the club announced that Serge Boisvert
Serge Boisvert
Pierre Serge Boisvert is a former Canadian ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.In Sweden, Boisvert played for Västra Frölunda, and for Frisk Tigers and Vålerenga in Norway. He won the Calder Cup in 1985. He won a Stanley Cup championship in 1986 with Montreal...
, a former NHL-player, would be player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
. Rumors had it that George Kingston had been a possible candidate. The team received a budget of NOK 7 million for the first season. In June, the team signed Lillehammer IK-player Tommy Jakobsen
Tommy Jakobsen
Tommy Jakobsen is a Norwegian ice hockey defenceman. He currently plays for the Norwegian club Lørenskog IK....
, who had previously played for Furuset. In July, the Czech national team and HC Sparta Praha
HC Sparta Praha
HC Sparta Praha is a Prague based Czech ice hockey team playing in Czech Extraliga.-Team History:Founded in 1903 by Canadian expatriate Lyle P. O'Connor, HC Sparta Praha was among the first bandy teams to play on a semi-professional level in the Austro-Hungarian Empire...
back Leo Gudas
Leo Gudas
Leo Gudas is a Czech hockey player who won a Bronze Medal in the 1992 Olympics.-Draft:Gudas was the second last player taken in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, going 251st overall to the Calgary Flames....
signed for the club. Other players included Geir Hoff
Geir Hoff
Geir Hoff is a Norwegian retired ice hockey player.Hoff began his career in Sweden for Västra Frölunda before spending two seasons in Michigan State University...
, Vegar Barlie
Vegar Barlie
Vegar Barlie is a Norwiegian ice hockey player. Barlie competed with the Norway men's national ice hockey team in the 1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships and in the 1994 Winter Olympics....
, Jarle Friis
Jarle Friis
Jarle Friis is a former Norwegian ice hockey player. He was born in Oslo, Norway. He played for the Norwegian national ice hockey team at the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics.-References:...
, Per Odvar and Knut Walbye
Knut Walbye
Knut Walbye was a former Norwegian ice hockey player.Drafted by the New York Islanders in the 7th round in 1987.Played his hockey in Norway for Furuset, Manglerud Star, and now defunct, Spektrum Flyers....
. In June, the team was registered as a limited company. However, it was late sending in its budget to the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association, and nearly lost its license to play. It received permission to play three of its matches in the opening season at Gjøvik Olympic Cavern Hall in Gjøvik
Gjøvik
is a town and a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik.In 1861, the village of Gjøvik in the municipality of Vardal was granted town status and was separated from Vardal to form a separate municipality...
.
The teams first match was a friendly against Storhamar on 16 August in Gjøvik, which Flyers lost 2–5. In September, the team ended second in the friendly Panasonic Cup in Denmark. Libæk stated that he had been in contact with IMG, who wanted to create a pan-European ice hockey league, and that Flyers was the prime candidate to represent Norway. Flyers was offered NOK 70 million to play in the league, which was planned to have 12 teams and be named the International Hockey League (IHL). The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association stated that after an agreement between NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
(IIHF), the Flyers would be banned from playing in Eliteserien if they formally associated themselves with IHL.
In the last friendly before the league started, Flyers beat Vålerenga 4–1 on 18 September. In the league debut on 25 September, the two teams met in front of 3,121 spectators at Jordal, where Vålerenga won 5–3. In its home debut on 29 September, Flyers beat Trondheim IK 5–3. With only 1770 of the 2400 spectators paying, the team management stated that it would be difficult to pay the NOK 100,000 per game which Oslo Spektrum charged. The team had been marketing the game by handing out 1,200 free tickets to school children, but required the parents who accompanied the children to pay for the tickets. At the same time, Vegard Barlie criticized the club for not wanting to sign a contract, after he had punctured a lung.
Bergen
On 19 January 1996, Kirkvaag stated that the club was planning to move to Bergen, and that this could happen as early as for the play-offs. The stated reasons for this were that Oslo Municipality would not give the club any subsidies, and the high cost of playing at Oslo Spektrum. The team would then have been renamed Bergen Flyers and play their matches in BergenshallenBergenshallen
Bergenshallen is an indoor ice hockey arena in Bergen, Norway. It was built in 1968 and seats 1,800 people and has standing room for 1,200 more. The arena hosts the home games of the Bergen Flyers ice hockey team....
. The management of Manglerud Star stated that they were opposed to the plans, and that it was unrealistic to move an entire club, even if permission was granted. Initially the plans were to only play the playoff matches in Bergen, and the club would thereby be required to pay the transport to and overnighting in Bergen for both themselves and the opponent teams. At the time, Bergen—Norway's second-largest city—did not have a team in the premier league. An official application to move was sent to the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association on 26 January. The application was approved by the association, and the club announced it would play its first play-off match in Bergenshallen on 15 February.
On 1 February, the Kirkvaag stated that they had decided to move the team permanently to Bergen. Vålerenga stated that it was opposed to the play-off games being played in Bergen and that they wanted a possible local derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
between the Oslo teams to be played in the city. Representatives from the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association stated that Flyers had primarily given financial reasons for the move, but that they at the same time had rejected playing their matches at Jordal Amfi, which would have cost a lot less. The first training in Bergenshallen took place on 7 February. On 15 February, the annual meeting in Manglerud Star decided to terminate the agreement with Flyers, as it did not want its elite team to play out of town. Those players who were under contract with Manglerud Star would return, and the team would revoke its premier league license, which it would use to play itself with home matches at Manglerudhallen
Manglerudhallen
Manglerudhallen is an indoor ice hockey arena located in Manglerud, Oslo, Norway. The capacity of the arena is 2,000 and it was opened in 1979. It is the home arena of the Manglerud Star ice hockey team....
. The contract with Flyers would terminate from 1 May, although the latter was free to use the rest of its resources (albeit without a license to play in the top division) in Bergen.
The team's first match in Bergen was a quarter-final against Stjernen; despite having a 3–0 lead, Flyers ended up losing 3–4. The match was seen by 2,532 spectators, and Kirkvaag stated that he satisfied with the turn-up. Four days later, the team lost 2–1 against Lillehammer. They were sent out of the play-offs after a 5–3 loss against Stjernen on 23 February. The final match was played against Lillehammer in Bergen. Afterwards, Kirkvaag stated that the team had three options: either take over the elite licenses of Hasle-Løren, Manglerud Star or Lørenskog IK and move the team to Bergen; take over the license in the First Division of Bergen IK
Bergen IK
Bergen Ishockeyklubb is an ice hockey club from Bergen.- History :Bergen Flyers were elite commitment to the club until 2005. Elite team's history went back to the hockey team to the Sport Club Djerv, which changed its name in turn to "Bergen / Djerv" , "Bergen Hockey Club" and finally "Bergen...
and attempt to win the league to be promoted to the top division, or participate in the planned International Hockey League. Kirkvaag stated that no matter what, the team would play in Bergen.
Twelve of the Flyers players were transferred back to Manglerud Star. By April, Flyers had not paid wages since 1 January and the Norwegian Players’ Association threatened to file the company for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. By June, Serge Boisvert, Sergej Pusjkov, Geir Hoff, Cato Tom Andersen, Jan-Roar Fagerli and Lars E. Lund had all signed for Vålerenga. Hoff, Lund and Fagerli all had contracts with Manglerud Star, but these were terminated and the players became free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
s after Flyers had failed to meet their financial obligations. Kirkvaag took over as director of Bergen IK, which rebranded itself as Bergen Flyers and introduced many of the same concepts as Spektrum Flyers had in an attempt to increase spectator rates.
Results
| Season | Rank | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | Pts | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 1994–95 Eliteserien season The 1994–95 Eliteserien season ended with Storhamar claiming their first Norwegian title after defeating Stjernen 3–0 in the finals.-Final standings:... |
4 | 28 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 118 | 84 | 33 | |
| 1995–96 1995–96 Eliteserien season The 1995-96 Eliteserien season was the 57th season of ice hockey in Norway. Eight teams participated in the league, and Storhamar Ishockey won the championship.-Regular season:- Group A :- Group B :- Playoffs :- Gruppe A :- Group B :... |
4 | 28 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 132 | 90 | 37 |