HC Bratislava
Wikipedia - Bratislava Capitals
The Bratislava Capitals were a professional Slovak ice hockey club based in Bratislava, Slovakia. They mostly played in the ICE Hockey League in Austria. The club was established in 2015 and ceased operations in 2022.
History
HC Bratislava was established in 2015 in response to the lack of a Bratislava senior team in Slovak competitions. In its first season in the second division, it finished 12th out of 16 teams. In the 2016/17 season, the club found a stable home in Vladimír Dzurilla Arena in Ružinov. The club stabilized, established itself in the second hockey league and finished fourth out of 20 teams. In 2019/20, the club went through a complete rebranding, changing its name to the Bratislava Capitals. That season, the team started playing its home games at Ondrej Nepela Arena, also known as Slovnaft Arena.
After the 2019–20 season, the Capitals were accepted to play in the Austrian-based bet-at-home ICE Hockey League (formerly the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga) on 24 April 2020 beginning in the 2020/21 season.
On October 30, 2021, player Boris Sádecký collapsed during a game, reportedly due to cardiac arrest, and died three days later. On November 5, the team's general manager Dušan Pašek was found dead from suicide. Following the incidents, the club suspended its season after 14 games, but announced its return for the 2022/23 season on May 16, 2022.
The team's home arena is the Ondrej Nepela Arena, which has a capacity of 10,055 spectators. HC Bratislava's colors are blue and white, and the team's logo features a stylized eagle with its wings spread.
HC Bratislava has a strong roster of talented players, including Slovakian national team members and international players from around the world. The team is known for its fast-paced, aggressive style of play and its ability to score goals in bunches.
Off the ice, HC Bratislava is deeply rooted in the local community and has a passionate fan base that supports the team through thick and thin. The team's motto, "Together we are stronger," reflects the close bond between the players, coaches, and fans that drives HC Bratislava's success.