Hokejsko drsalno društvo Olimpija Ljubljana, commonly referred to as HDD Olimpija or simply Olimpija, was a Slovenian professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...

club from

Ljubljana Ljubljana (also known by other historical names) is the capital and largest city of Slovenia. It is the country's cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative center. During antiquity, a Roman city called Emona stood in the ar ...

. They played their home games at the

Tivoli Hall Tivoli may refer to: * Tivoli, Lazio, a town in Lazio, Italy, known for historic sites; the inspiration for other places named Tivoli Buildings * Tivoli (Baltimore, Maryland), a mansion built about 1855 * Tivoli Building (Cheyenne, Wyoming) ...

. Olimpija has won 13 Yugoslav championships and 15 Slovenian championships. They won ten consecutive titles between 1995 and 2004.

History

The club was founded in 1928 as SK Ilirija. It was the first club on the territory of Yugoslavia to play organized ice hockey under the Canadian rules. In the 2007–08 season, their first in

Erste Bank Eishockey Liga The ICE Hockey League (International Central European Hockey League), known as the win2day ICE Hockey League for sponsorship reasons, is a Central European hockey league that also serves as the top-tier ice hockey league in Austria, it currently f ...

, they made it all the way to the Finals, but lost 4 games to 2 against

EC Red Bull Salzburg EC Red Bull Salzburg is a professional ice hockey team based in Salzburg, Austria, that currently plays in the ICE Hockey League. The club play their home games at the Eisarena Salzburg. History The history of ice hockey in Salzburg at the highe ...

. Following the 2016–17 season, the club was dissolved due to financial debt. ;Club names through history: * SK Ilrija (1928–1941) * HK Udarnik (1946) * HK Triglav (1947) * HK Enotnost (1948) * HK Ljubljana (1949–1961) * HK Olimpija (1962–1985) * HK Olimpija Kompas (1985–1991) * HK Olimpija Hertz (1991–1998) * HK Olimpija (1999–2002) * HDD Zavarovalnica Maribor Olimpija (2002–2008) * HDD Tilia Olimpija (2008–2012) * HDD Telemach Olimpija (2012–2016) * HDD Olimpija (2016–2017)

Arena

The team played their home matches at the

complex, a 7,000 all-seated ice hockey indoor hall in

Honours

* Austrian Hockey League :: Runners-up (1): 2007–08 *

Yugoslav Ice Hockey League The Yugoslav Ice Hockey League was the top ice hockey league in the old Yugoslavia. In 1939, Yugoslavia became a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. That year also, the country held its first national championship, with Ilirija e ...

''(until 1991)'' ::Winners (13): 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1983–84 ::Runners-up (13): 1947–48, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1964–65, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1987–88, 1990–91 * Yugoslav Ice Hockey Cup ''(until 1991)'' ::Winners (4): 1969, 1972, 1975, 1987 *

Slovenian Championship The Slovenian Hockey League is the highest level ice hockey league in Slovenia. The championship phase is contested after the regular season to determine the national champion. History The Slovenian Hockey League was firstly contested in the 1 ...

::Winners (15): 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16 ::Runners-up (10): 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2016–17 * Slovenian Ice Hockey Cup ::Winners (4): 1993–94, 1995–96, 2000, 2015–16 *Slovenian Ice Hockey Supercup ::Winners (2): 1998–99, 2016–17 *

Interliga The InterLiga was a football competition from 2004 to 2010 between Mexican clubs to determine qualifying spots for that country in South America's premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores. Prior to the 2004 Copa Libertadores, Mexican cl ...

::Winners (2): 2000–01, 2001–02 *

Alpenliga The Alpenliga was an international professional ice hockey league which existed between 1991 and 1999. It was contested by club teams from Austria, Italy and Slovenia. In 1994-95 and 1995–96, the Alpenliga was part of a larger competition call ...

::Runners-up (1): 1996–97 * IIHF Federation Cup ::Third place (1): 1995 *Karawankencup ::Winners (4): 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1978–79 *Alpencup ::Winners (1): 1971–72 *Rudi Hiti Summer League ::Winners (3): 2000, 2002, 2004

Team captains (since 1988)

* Srdan Kuret, 1988–1991 * Igor Beribak, 1991–2002 * Peter Rožič, 2002–2003 * Ildar Rahmatullin, 2003–04 *

Damjan Dervarič Damjan Dervarič (born February 6, 1982) is a Slovenian professional ice hockey player who is currently on a try-out contract with HKM Zvolen of the Slovak Extraliga. He participated at the 2011 IIHF World Championship as a member of the Sloven ...

, 2004–05 * Mitja Šivic, 2005–06 * Robert Ciglenečki, 2006–07

* Tomaž Vnuk, 2007–09 * Kevin Mitchell, 2009–10 * Jurij Goličič, 2010 *

Žiga Pance Žiga Pance (born January 1, 1989) is a Slovenian professional ice hockey forward who is currently a free agent having last played for DVTK Jegesmedvék of the Slovak Extraliga. He participated at several IIHF World Championships as a member of ...

, 2010–12 *

Aleš Mušič Aleš Mušič (born June 28, 1982) is a Slovenian professional ice hockey winger for Fehérvár AV19. Mušič competed in several IIHF World Championships as a member of the Slovenia men's national ice hockey team The Slovenia men's national ...

, 2012–2017 * Aleš Mušič and Andrej Tavželj (co-captains), 2015

Former NHL players

Jan Muršak Jan Muršak (born 20 January 1988) is a professional Slovenian ice hockey player for Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Muršak first played hockey in Slovenia as a member of HDK Maribor before he left to spend one season in the Cze ...

John Smrke John Smrke (born February 25, 1956) is a Canadian-born American former professional ice hockey player who played 103 games in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues and Quebec Nordiques between 1977 and 1980. Smrke was born in Chicou ...

Neil Sheehy Neil Kane Sheehy (born February 9, 1960) is a Canadian-born American professional ice hockey player with dual citizenship. He grew up in International Falls, Minnesota. A defenceman and Harvard University graduate, Sheehy signed as a free agen ...

Steve Bozek Steven Michael Bozek (born November 26, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left wing who spent 11 seasons in the NHL with five clubs. Noted for his hard shot, he was a reliable two-way forward and strong penalty killer. Playing c ...

* Brian MacLellan * Colin Patterson * Alain Côté *

Kimbi Daniels Kimball J. Daniels (born January 19, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played parts of two seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers. Playing career Daniels's career started with the Swi ...

* Ed Kastelic * Kraig Nienhuis *

David Haas David Robert Haas (born 1957 in Bridgeport, Michigan) is an American author and composer of contemporary Catholic liturgical music. In 2020, dozens of women accused him of sexual misconduct spanning several decades, and he issued a public apology ...

Bill McDougall William Henry McDougall (born August 10, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is best known for his record-setting scoring performance during the 1992–1993 AHL playoffs, in which he set the AHL records for goals, assis ...

* Len Hachborn *

Jason Lafreniere Jason Lafrenière (born December 6, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 146 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, and Quebec Nordiques between 1986 and 1994 ...

* Kim Issel * Pat Murray * Yves Héroux *

Lonnie Loach Lonnie Loach (born April 14, 1968) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Loach spent the majority of his career in the IHL but also played briefly in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. ...

* Jean-Francois Quintin * Mike Tomlak

* Chris Corrinet *

Manny Malhotra Emmanuel Noveen Malhotra (born May 18, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who is currently an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a former assistant coach of the Vancouver C ...

* Brian Willsie * Matt Pettinger * John Jakopin *

Ryan Jardine Ryan Jardine (born March 15, 1980) is a Canadian former professional Ice Hockey forward. He played 8 games in the National Hockey League with the Florida Panthers during the 2001–02 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 2000 to 20 ...

* Greg Kuznik * Ralph Intranuovo * Brian Felsner *

Todd Elik Todd Sloan Elik (born April 15, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1989 and 1997. After leaving the NHL he spent several years in Europe, retiring in 2008. ...

Frank Banham Frank Banham (born April 14, 1975) is a Canadian-born Hungarian former professional ice hockey winger who last played for Hungarian club, SAPA Fehérvár AV19 in the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL). Playing career Initially drafted 147th overa ...

* Mike Morrison *

Norm Maracle Norm Maracle (born October 2, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Prior to ending his career in Europe, Maracle played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings and Atlanta Thrashers. Playing career Juni ...

* Remi Royer * Steve Kelly * Matt Higgins *

Travis Brigley Travis Brigley (born June 16, 1977) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He has formerly played professionally for the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career Brigley w ...

* Burke Henry *

Kari Haakana Kari Haakana (born November 8, 1973 in Outokumpu, Finland) is a former ice hockey defenceman. He spent the majority of his career in Scandinavia, with brief stints in Germany and with the Edmonton Oilers. Biography As a youth, Haakana played in ...

Head coaches (since 1989)

* Nikolai Ladygin, 1989–1990 * Alexander Astashev, 1990–1991 * Štefan Seme, 1991–1992 * Peter Janoš, 1992–1993 *

Brad Buetow Bradly Buetow (born October 28, 1950) is a retired ice hockey player and coach. In college, he played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He played 25 regular season games in the World Hockey Association for the Cleveland Crusaders and 37 games ...

, 1993–1994 * Pavle Kavčič, 1994–1995, 1995–1996, 1996–1997 *

Matjaž Sekelj Matjaz Sekelj (born December 9, 1960 in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia) Career profile osports-reference.com/ref> is a retired Slovenian professional ice hockey player. Sekelj participated with HDD Olimpija Ljubljana in the Yugoslav Ice Hockey League for h ...

, 1997–1998, 1998–1999 * Bud Stefanski, 1998–1999 * Matjaž Sekelj, 1999–2000 * Marjan Gorenc, 2000–2001, 2001–2002 * Chris Imes, 2002–2003 * Matjaž Sekelj, 2003–2004, 2004–2005

* Andrej Brodnik, 2005–2006 * Ildar Rahmatullin, 2006–2007, 2007–2008 * Mike Posma, 2007–2008, 2008–2009 * Randy Edmonds, 2008–2009 * Bojan Zajc, 2008–2009 * Dany Gelinas, 2009–2010 *

Hannu Järvenpää Hannu Rainer Järvenpää (born May 19, 1963 in Ii, Finland) is a Finnish ice hockey coach and a retired professional ice hockey player. He is the current Head Coach of HC Gherdëina, an Italian team playing in the Alps Hockey League. Järvenp ...

, 2009–2012 * Heikki Mälkiä, 2012–2012 * Bojan Zajc, 2012–2014 * Ivo Jan, 2014 * Fabian Dahlem, 2014–2016 * Bojan Zajc, 2016–2017

Retired numbers

* 24 – Tomaž Vnuk, C, 1987–2009

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olimpija Ljubljana, HDD Ice hockey clubs established in 1928 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2017 Defunct ice hockey teams in Slovenia Sports clubs in Ljubljana Slovenian Ice Hockey League teams Former Austrian Hockey League teams Yugoslav Ice Hockey League teams Interliga (1999–2007) teams Alpenliga teams 1928 establishments in Slovenia 2017 disestablishments in Slovenia