In our series of introducing all 48 CHL clubs, we now feature the Växjö Lakers. With 19 years as a hockey club and only five years in the SHL, the Lakers have already established themselves as the 2014-15 Swedish national champions. 

by Julia Bjers

The Växjö Lakers were founded in 1997 and started in the lowest league in Sweden. The club went from a mediocre hockey club to become a big and respected club in a few years. Numerous good players from North America and Europe play and have played for the Lakers, and they reached their goal when they won the Swedish league championship in 2015 – just their fourth year in the SHL.

Nobody really knows where the name Lakers originates from. There are many conjectures about the name. The most famous and most likely one is that there is a lake in the middle of the city of Växjö. This lake was important for the trade market in Växjö in the 19th century and therefore the club wanted it to be part of the team name.

Bankruptcy leads to Lakers founding

Before the Växjö Lakers were founded Växjö had another hockey team, Växjö HC, which was founded in 1971. At their peak they played in the second-highest league in Sweden. Växjö HC went bankrupt in 1997 and, because of this, the Växjö Lakers were founded. After only six years, the Lakers were back playing in the second-highest league, the Hockeyallsvenskan, again. The team played in the Hockeyallsvenskan for seven years before they finally took the step up to the Elitserien (the former name of Sweden’s top league).

In their first year in the Elitserien, the Lakers didn’t make it to the playoffs – they were only one position away from clinching a spot. Växjö had 77 points when the regular season finished, which is the most points for a new team in the league since the three-point system was introduced. The second season in the Elitserien didn’t go quite as well as the first. After only a few months, Head Coach Jan Karlsson was fired, and Assistant Coach Sam Hallam took over. He didn’t really get the team back on track after the switch; they barely qualified for the SHL (new name, same league) for the following season.

In the Lakers’ third season, 2013-14, they played a lot better than the two previous. Sam Hallam managed to get the team together really well and the players established great chemistry. When the regular season ended the Lakers were in third place and got into the playoffs for the first time. The Lakers won the quarter-final against the Luleå Hockey four games to two, but the season ended after a loss in the semi-final against Färjestad Karlstad. The Växjö Lakers had plenty to be proud about in their first playoffs, though. They had a good run and with a bit of luck they could have made the finals.

A title is won

The Lakers had momentum in the summer of 2014 and, going into their fourth SHL season, they were considered one of the favourites to win the title. They again finished third in the regular season, just one point behind Frölunda Gothenburg, and they beat Örebro HK in the quarter-finals in five games. The Lakers were underdogs against Frölunda in the semi-finals, but the young team provided an upset win in six games to go to the finals for the first time. Up next was three-time defending champions Skellefteå AIK. Not many gave the upstart Lakers a chance, but they prevailed again in six games, winning the last game on home ice on a goal by Tuomas Kiiskinen in the second overtime period. Unheralded defenceman Noah Welch won the playoff MVP trophy.

In 2015-16 the Lakers dropped to sixth place, but upset Linköping HC in six games to get back to the semi-finals. There they extended Skelleftea to seven games and almost took them out again, but lost in overtime to officially relinquish the title after a one-year reign.

Internationally

The Växjö Lakers didn’t play in the European Trophy but, because of their success in the last three SHL seasons, they've qualified for the Champions Hockey League three years in a row. In two CHL seasons, they've failed to earn a spot in the Round of 16 but were lose both times. In 2016-17, they hope to finally break through. 

The Orange Army

The Lakers plays their home games at VIDA Arena (capacity 5750). The arena opened the same year as the Elitserien promotion, in 2011. It was Anders Öman, chairman of the Växjö Lakers, who took action for a new arena. The Växjö Lakers supporters call themselves “The Orange Army”, originating from the team colours. The Orange Army expertise is creating a magical atmosphere in their home arena. The usual sighting at home games is an orange ocean on the terrace and constant singing, regardless of the result.

Between 1997 and 2011, the Lakers played in a smaller and less modern arena, which is situated right beside VIDA Arena, but the 4000-seat facility was too small for a team with high ambitions.

Notable Names

Since the Lakers are a young team, they don’t really have any players who were developed in the club and then had a big career. The Lakers’ have had a few stars that have played for the team. The most famous player is goaltender Viktor Fasth, who has represented Sweden at the World Championships and also played for the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL, and who also played in Växjö for three seasons before they reached the Elitserien. Former captain Tomi Kallio played 140 NHL games for three teams: the Atlanta Thrashers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers. Goalie and former Stanly Cup-winner Martin Gerber also played one season for the Lakers. When the club played in Hockeyallsvenskan, Shjon Podein skated with them for two seasons.

Dennis Rasmussen joined the team when they made it to the Elitserien and has played for the Lakers the last three seasons. He is now moving to America for a chance to play for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. He has the potential to become a great player and we might see him playing top-level hockey for years to come.

Former NHL goaltender and AHL playoff MVP Cristopher Nilstorp gave the Lakers two solid seasons of top-flight goaltending, including the championship season of 2014-15. The current team now includes former NHL defenceman Cory Murphy and long-time KHL and Belarusian national team forward Geoff Platt.

Team facts

CHL seasons

2015-16: 1st in Group O, Round of 32
2014-15: 2nd in Group G

NOTE: This article has been updated since its original publication.

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