Mladi Jesenice withdraws from Slohokej league

28 Jan 2012 | Vicko Ivanković

Jesenice farm team withdraws from league won't compete in domestic championship.

After financial problems hit HK Acroni Jesenice, member of EBEL, the same happened with its farm team: HD Mladi Jesenice. Farm team played this season in Slohokej league but didn't managed to finish the season. They played 25 games of 28 in regular season and then folded the competition. All Jesenice games will be deleted and won't count for standings.They also won't compete in upcoming Slovene national championship. In press release club stated that they are not financially able to finish the season. However they will pursue the club's participation in all youth categories in Slovenian youth leagues.

This was somehow expected because the whole club had many financial problems this season. Players in EBEL team had problems with delayed payments and club hardly managed to assure EBEL leaders that they will finish the season regularly. The club's president Slavko Kanalec resigned from his position few days ago. That was expected because fans think that the financial problems in the club are mainly his fault. Fans are one of the rare positive things in Jesenice this season. After the club was hit by financial problems they showed great loyalty to their club and started donations for players. Since then they managed to collect about 11.500 euro.

The future of hockey in Jesenice is unsure. One of the greatest hockey towns in this part of Europe and hometown of NHL star Anže Kopitar could lose it's hockey team and that would be disastrous for Slovenian hockey. The club's future is now under question mark and in few months it will be known how will this crisis finish