Sport (Vaasa)
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Sport is a Finnish ice hockey team based at Vaasa Arena (capacity 5000), Vaasa. Established in 1939. Full name of the club is Hockey Team Vaasan Sport OY.
Currently (the 2006-2007 season) they are coached by Mikko Manner.
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[edit] History
Vaasan Sport was founded in 1939. The team was involved in the founding of SM-liiga in 1975, but were relegated in that, the 1975-1976 season. ((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.
[edit] Arena
- Homeground is the Vaasa Areena.
- Capacity (seated/standing): 4781 (1981/2800)
[edit] Board and coaching staff
- Team GM: Jari Välimäki (from 1.7.2006->)
- Chairman: Henri Lassila
- Marketing director: Juha Saari
- Head Coach: Mikko Manner
[edit] 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 Laaksoharju passed away)
[edit] Well known players
(in alphabetical order)
[edit] Fans
Team fans, known as the "Red Army" is known to be one of the best support groups in all Finland, including SM-Liiga and football. For many years in a row, players of Mestis have chosen Vaasa as the best place to play, in Finnish hockey federation player feedback survey. Since players can not vote for their own team, almost all votes given to other team than Vaasan Sport, are from players playing for Sport. Fans keep the athmosphere high by singing songs familiar from international sporting events (with different lyrics, better suited for Sport), cheering and getting under the opponents skin. For nationally televised games, during the team entry, the fans have set up tifos which include flags, torches and other known material.
- Vaasan Sport Fan Club ry
- Red Army, which is an unofficial community founded in 1987 when supporters travelled in two buses to support Sport in Joensuu (the other end of Finland)
- Ultras 06
- Red Army Southern
- RödVitt
[edit] Website
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