Sport (Vaasa)

Sport is a Finnish ice hockey team based at Vaasa Arena (capacity 4600), Vaasa. Established in 1939. Full name of the club is "Hockey Team Vaasan Sport OY".

Currently they are coached by Juhani Tamminen.

History

Vaasan Sport was founded in 1939. The team was involved in the founding of SM-liiga in 1975, but were relegated in the 1975-1976 season [http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_roster.cgi?team=122&league=4&season=76 (roster for their first and only SM-Liiga season)] .

After this Sport played in the Finnish 1st Division (since then renamed as Mestis) until they were relegated in 1991-1992 to the Finnish Second Division. Climbing back up to the 1st division proved to be a tough task and wasn't accomplished until spring of 1997. With the game winning goal of the deciding game against Kiekko-67 being scored by Kari Teräväinen in overtime.

Arena

*Homeground is the Vaasa Arena.
*Capacity (seated/standing/luxury box): 4300 (1981/2519/100)

Retired numbers

*# 29 Håkan Hjerpe (his son Kristian Hjerpe plays for Sport in the same number)
*# 27 Tomi Väkelä
*# 14 Sami Laaksoharju (not officially retired, but number has been off rotation after the death of Laaksoharju)

Well known players

(in alphabetical order)
* [http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=810 Jonas Hemming]
* [http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=8805 Håkan Hjerpe]
* [http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=4016 Jari Munck]
* [http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=658 Jani Nikko]
* [http://www.mississaugaicedogs.com/display_player.asp?player_id=156 Oskar Osala]
* [http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=945 Jukka Seppo]
* [http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=3832 Patrik Westerback]

Website

* [http://www.vaasansport.fi/ www.vaasansport.fi]