Hockey Punks Vilnius

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Hockey Punks Vilnius
Hockey Punks logo.png
CityVilnius, Lithuania
LeagueLithuania Hockey League
Founded2007 (2007)[1]
Home arenaPramogų Arena[2][3]
(capacity: 2500[4])
ColoursBlack, red, white
     
Head coachLithuania
WebsiteHockey Punks

Hockey Punks Vilnius is an ice hockey team located in Vilnius, Lithuania, which plays in the Lithuania Hockey League, the top tier of ice hockey in Lithuania. They play home games at the Pramogų arena.

History[]

Hockey Punks Vilnius were founded in 2007 when Lithuanian national team players , and started popularising the sport in the capital.[1] Interest in the sport further increased following the launch of 'Heat on Ice' on Tango TV.[1] Heat on Ice was a weekly show covering the latest hockey news and highlights from around the world, with celebrity guests.[5] One of these guests was G&G Sindikatas rapper Gabrielius 'Svaras' Liaudanskas who would go on to be a prominent supporter of the team, often promoting Hockey Punks in interviews.[1] Svaras would subsequently play for the team for 6 years,[6][7] as did his bandmate Andrius 'Pushaz' Glušakovas.[1][8]

Initially, Hockey Punks focused solely on training, before ultimately joining the Lithuanian second tier in 2010.[1] Their first season was a tough one, only winning one game whilst suffering a goal difference of -41.[9] Three seasons later, Hockey Punks were admitted to the Lithuania Hockey League, where they have played since. During their time in the NLRL, Hockey Punks have not won the league, however, they have lost in the playoff finals on two occasions; in 2016 and 2019.[3]

Between 2013 and 2017 former NHL star and Olympic gold medalist Darius Kasparaitis played sporadically for the Hockey Punks in order to qualify for the Lithuanian national team, having previously represented Russia.[10][11] During this time with the team Kasparaitis played 7 games for the Hockey Punks, registering 22 points.[12]

In 2020 Hockey Punks took part in the inaugural Baltic Hockey League, a competition made up of two teams from each of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.[13] The team finished 2nd in their group after beating Estonian side HC Everest, but losing to Latvia's HK Liepāja,[14] and therefore qualified for the final round, scheduled for February 2021.

Roster[]

Updated January 22, 2021.[3]

Goaltenders
Number Player Catches Acquired Place of Birth
95 Lithuania L 2017 -
90 Lithuania L 2020 -
Defencemen
Number Player Shoots Acquired Place of Birth
72 Lithuania L 2012 -
94 Lithuania L 2013 -
35 Lithuania L 2020 -
68 Lithuania L 2020 -
5 Lithuania R 2020 Rokiškis, Lithuania
2 Lithuania - 2019 Klaipėda, Lithuania
27 Lithuania L 2020 -
24 Belarus L 2018 Minsk, Belarus
17 Lithuania L 2014 Elektrėnai, Lithuania
19 Lithuania L 2010 -
Forwards
Number Player Shoots Position Acquired Place of Birth
16 Lithuania R RW/LW 2019 -
99 Lithuania Aivaras Bendžius L F 2012 Elektrėnai, Lithuania
79 Lithuania R F 2010 -
31 Lithuania R F 2020 Elektrėnai, Lithuania
8 Lithuania R F 2010 -
15 Lithuania L F 2018 Elektrėnai, Lithuania
80 Lithuania R C/RW 2014 Elektrėnai, Lithuania
89 Belarus L F 2019 Minsk, Belarus
26 Lithuania L LW 2020 Klaipėda, Lithuania
25 Lithuania L C/RW 2020 Elektrėnai, Lithuania
18 Lithuania L F 2017 Elektrėnai, Lithuania
21 Lithuania L C 2015 Rokiškis, Lithuania
7 Lithuania R F 2019 Trakai, Lithuania
62 Lithuania L LW/RW 2017 -
93 Lithuania R F 2020 -
81 Lithuania R RW 2019 Elektrėnai, Lithuania
13 Lithuania L F 2014 Kaunas, Lithuania

Season-by-season record[]

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Season GP W L T OTW OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs
2015-16 24 16 6 — 0 2 50 130 89 2nd Final loss
2016-17 20 10 9 — 1 0 32 87 32 3rd Semi-final loss
2017-18 20 10 8 — 0 2 32 91 32 3rd Semi-final loss
2018-19 18 5 11 — 2 0 19 51 78 3rd Final loss
2019-20 18 12 4 — 1 1 39 120 64 2 Playoffs cancelled

Team records[]

Career[]

These are the top five scorers in Hockey Punks history.[3]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Player Pos GP G A Pts
F 104 44 88 132
F 63 51 76 127
F 94 53 68 121
F 98 47 45 92
D 46 25 41 66

Penalty minutes: , 188

Season[]

Regular season[]

  • Most goals in a season: , 21(2017–18)
  • Most assists in a season: , 29 (2017–18)
  • Most points in a season: , 50 (2017–18)
  • Most penalty minutes in a season: , 90 (2019–20)

Playoffs[]

  • Most goals in a playoff season: , 6 (2017–18)
  • Most assists in a playoff season: , 10 (2017–18)
  • Most points in a playoff season: , 11 (2017–18)
  • Most penalty minutes in a playoff season: , 31 (2018–19)

Notable players[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Vilniaus Hockey Punks nežada sustoti" (in Lithuanian). Sportland Magazine. December 18, 2005. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "Hockey Punks on Facebook". HockeyArenas.net. January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Hockey Punks". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Pramogų arena - Ąžuolyno g. 9, Vilnius - Koncertų salės - iVilnius.lt - Vilniaus miesto gidas" (in Lithuanian). ivilnius.lt. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  5. ^ "Tango TV – laida apie ledo ritulį "Karštis ant ledo"" (in Lithuanian). Delfi. October 13, 2006. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  6. ^ "Gabrielius Svaras Liaudanskas". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "Lietuvos ledo ritulio čempionate – reperio Svaro įvartis" (in Lithuanian). Delfi. December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  8. ^ "Andrius Glušakovas". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  9. ^ "Elite Prospects - Team Standings Lithuania2". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  10. ^ "Darius Kasparaitis putting retirement on hold to join Lithuanian national team". The Hockey News. January 17, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  11. ^ "Kasparaitis Is Playing for More Than a Paycheck". TheHockeyWriters.com. November 18, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  12. ^ "Darius Kasparaitis". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "Baltic Hockey League finally start". EuroHockey.com. November 16, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  14. ^ "Lietuva always h`ockey!" (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved January 14, 2020.

External links[]

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