HV71

Name:	Husqvarna Vätterstad 71 (HV71)
Founded:	1971
Home jersey:
Away jersey:
Retired numbers:	#14 Fredrik Stillman #15 Stefan Örnskog

Kontakt

Season 2009/2010

The team presentation will soon be added.

History

HV71 was founded when the clubs Husqvarna IF and Vätterstad were put together on the 24th of May 1971. But the origin of the club from Jönköping is older than that.

It all started in 1944 when IK Stefa was founded out of the remains of Hakarppojkarnas aborted bandy-team. Stefa later changed its name to IF Saab, but the name IK Stefa was taken back in 1966. The year after it was time for yet another fusion with another of the city’s ice hockey clubs, Vättersnäs, and the new club took the name Vätterstadens IF.

Only five years later, in 1971, Husqvarna IF and Vätterstadens IF united and founded HV71. The following year Norrahammars GIS were also incorporated in the fusion.

With united strength ice hockey in Jönköping was able to make a bold venture for promotion to the highest league. In 1979 the dream for Elitserien became true. But the club was instantly relegated and it took until 1984/1985 for the club to get back again. Ten years after the promotion the club took its first historical SM gold.

Although the club from Jönköping didn’t repeat the success directly, it was now an established team in Elitserien. During the first year of the new millennium, HV71 moved from the classic but old Rosenlundshallen to newly built Kinnarps Arena.

With a new home ground the club managed to conquer its second SM gold in 2003/2004. But the year after became a disappointing one when the champions only finished tenth in the table and missed the playoffs.

A half revenge was taken the following year when HV71 finished first in the regular seasons table but was eliminated by future champions Färjestad in the semi-finals. Last season HV71 once more reached the semi finals, but was beaten again by the future champions, this time MODO Hockey.