Kloten Flyers
Encyclopedia
The Kloten Flyers are an ice hockey
team based in the city of Kloten
in Switzerland
. They originated from the EHC Kloten. The team participates in the National League A and is known for its promotion of young players.
EHC Kloten won four consecutive Swiss championships from 1993 to 1996. They have never been relegated at any point in the club's history.
When EHC Kloten began to participate in the championship, they had to start in the lowest league, as usual. In 1941, they were promoted into the Serie B and five years later into the Serie A. One year later, in the year 1947, the EHC Kloten was promoted into the Nationalliga B. In 1962, they joined the Nationalliga A when the league expanded to 10 teams.
In 1967, they became the champions for the first time, headed by their Czech coach Vladimir Kobera.
The team has remained in the highest Swiss league since their promotion and are the longest-serving team in the NLA.
For the 1998-99 season the former Russian ice hockey player Vladimir Yurzinov
was asked to become the new coach. He introduced a new playing style and encouraged the development and promotion of young players. Even though many people liked this philosophy, the team remained unsuccessful. During the 2003-2004 season, the team had to play the playoffs for the first time in their history. A year later, in the 2004-2005 playouts, they again managed to remain in the highest league. However, this strategy is paying off today.
In October, 2004, Yurzinov was released as their coach. He took on a new role as a youth promoter until the end of the season. Yurzinov's successor was former EHC Kloten defenseman Anders Eldebrink
and assistant Felix Hollenstein
. The new coaching duo managed to get the team back to success and are still in charge of the team.
During the 2008-2009 season, the Flyers swept both HC Geneve-Servette and EV Zug
in the playoffs before losing the playoff final against HC Davos
in seven games. They finished the regular season in 3rd place.
The club has a well known junior program. There’s a partnership between the Kloten Flyers and the teams of Bülach
, Dielsdorf-Niederhasli
and Winterthur
. Since the founding of the elite-junior league, the teams have won 19 titles. The latest being in the season 2005-06.
, champion 1993, 1994 Alpo Suhonen
, champion 1995, 1996
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 based in the city of Kloten
Kloten
-External links:* -References:...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. They originated from the EHC Kloten. The team participates in the National League A and is known for its promotion of young players.
EHC Kloten won four consecutive Swiss championships from 1993 to 1996. They have never been relegated at any point in the club's history.
History
EHC Kloten was founded by a group seven members, led by Emil Hegner, on December 3, 1934. During the first few years, only exhibition matches were played. The home matches were played on the frozen Nägelimoos-Weiher.When EHC Kloten began to participate in the championship, they had to start in the lowest league, as usual. In 1941, they were promoted into the Serie B and five years later into the Serie A. One year later, in the year 1947, the EHC Kloten was promoted into the Nationalliga B. In 1962, they joined the Nationalliga A when the league expanded to 10 teams.
In 1967, they became the champions for the first time, headed by their Czech coach Vladimir Kobera.
The team has remained in the highest Swiss league since their promotion and are the longest-serving team in the NLA.
For the 1998-99 season the former Russian ice hockey player Vladimir Yurzinov
Vladimir Yurzinov
Vladimir Yurzinov is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for HC Dynamo Moscow. He was inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963....
was asked to become the new coach. He introduced a new playing style and encouraged the development and promotion of young players. Even though many people liked this philosophy, the team remained unsuccessful. During the 2003-2004 season, the team had to play the playoffs for the first time in their history. A year later, in the 2004-2005 playouts, they again managed to remain in the highest league. However, this strategy is paying off today.
In October, 2004, Yurzinov was released as their coach. He took on a new role as a youth promoter until the end of the season. Yurzinov's successor was former EHC Kloten defenseman Anders Eldebrink
Anders Eldebrink
Anders Eldebrink is a retired ice hockey defenceman in the SEL in the 1970s and 1980s. He also played 165 games for the Swedish national team....
and assistant Felix Hollenstein
Felix Hollenstein
Felix Hollenstein is a former Swiss ice hockey player, who became four times Swiss champion with the EHC Kloten in the Nationalliga A. Since 2004 he is the assistant coach of the Kloten Flyers...
. The new coaching duo managed to get the team back to success and are still in charge of the team.
During the 2008-2009 season, the Flyers swept both HC Geneve-Servette and EV Zug
EV Zug
EV Zug is a professional men's ice hockey team from Zug, Switzerland. They are a current member of National League A and play their home games at Bossard Arena.-History:EV Zug won its lone championship in the 1997–98 season....
in the playoffs before losing the playoff final against HC Davos
HC Davos
Hockey Club Davos is a professional Swiss ice hockey club based in Davos, Switzerland. Davos play in the Swiss National League A, which is ranked as Europe's sixth best ice hockey league. The team is usually a strong force in the league and often bolster their roster with Swiss national team...
in seven games. They finished the regular season in 3rd place.
The club has a well known junior program. There’s a partnership between the Kloten Flyers and the teams of Bülach
Bülach
Bülach is a municipality in Switzerland in the canton of Zurich, located in the district of the same name, and belongs to the Glatt Valley .-History:Bülach is first mentioned in 811 as Pulacha...
, Dielsdorf-Niederhasli
Niederhasli
Niederhasli is a municipality in the district of Dielsdorf in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Niederhasli has an area of . Of this area, 58.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 21.5% is forested...
and Winterthur
Winterthur
Winterthur is a city in the canton of Zurich in northern Switzerland. It has the country's sixth largest population with an estimate of more than 100,000 people. In the local dialect and by its inhabitants, it is usually abbreviated to Winti...
. Since the founding of the elite-junior league, the teams have won 19 titles. The latest being in the season 2005-06.
Fan base
The Kolping Arena is known to be atmospheric. On the standing places, it's Unity Kloten that is active. Unity is seeing themselves as an umbrella group of the South Kloten, Blue Eagles Kloten and Conspiro fan clubs. When choreos are done, the old logo of EHC Kloten is always used instead of the logo of the Kloten Flyers.Honored members
- 4 Marco Klöti, defenceman 1992-2007
- 7 Peter Schlagenhauf, winger 1969-1994
- 20 Reto Pavoni, goaltender 1989-2002
- 21 Roman Wäger, winger 1971-1998
- 24 Felix HollensteinFelix HollensteinFelix Hollenstein is a former Swiss ice hockey player, who became four times Swiss champion with the EHC Kloten in the Nationalliga A. Since 2004 he is the assistant coach of the Kloten Flyers...
, winger 1985-2002, assistant coach since 2006 - 26 Mikael JohanssonMikael Johansson (ice hockey b. 1966)Mikael Johansson is a retired professional Swedish ice hockey player, currently assistant coach of Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Elite League Elitserien. Johansson started his career at Huddinge IK, but moved to Djurgårdens IF in 1985. Johansson and his team won the Swedish championship in 1989,...
, center 1992-1997 - 32 Anders EldebrinkAnders EldebrinkAnders Eldebrink is a retired ice hockey defenceman in the SEL in the 1970s and 1980s. He also played 165 games for the Swedish national team....
, defenceman 1990-1995, head coach since 2006
Notable coaches
Vladimir Kobera, champion 1967 Conny EvenssonConny Evensson
Jan Olle Conny Evensson is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and coach. He is currently an advisor in leadership subjects for Frölunda HC....
, champion 1993, 1994 Alpo Suhonen
Alpo Suhonen
Alpo Suhonen was the first European-born NHL head coach in 50 years when he took over the Chicago Blackhawks on 22 May 2000.- Coaching career :...
, champion 1995, 1996