HC Nové Zámky

HC Nové Zámky
City:	Nové Zámky, Slovakia
League:	Slovak Extraliga
Founded:	1965
Home Arena:	Nové Zámky Ice Stadium
Colors:	Blue, White, Green

HC Nové Zámky is a professional ice hockey team playing in the Slovak Extraliga, the top level of ice hockey in the country. They play in the city of Nové Zámky, Slovakia at Nové Zámky Ice Stadium. The team is nicknamed Býci, meaning "Bulls" in English.

History

History of ice hockey in Nové Zámky started in 1937. In 1965, team Lokomotíva Nové Zámky was founded. They played in 2. Slovak National Hockey League until 1993, when Czechoslovakia broke up into Czech Republic and Slovakia and Lokomotíva was moved to newly created Slovak 2.Liga. During season 2006/07, Lokomotíva played in Hungarian Borsodi Liga. Next year club have won the 2. Liga and qualified to Slovak 1.Liga, but after 3 seasons, Lokomotíva was relegated to Slovak 2.Liga. In 2011, current team HC Nové Zámky was created and replaced Lokomotíva Nové Zámky in Slovak 2. Liga, where they ended on 6th place in group West. In season 2012/13, Nové Zámky joined international MOL Liga, where they managed to reach semi-finals from 4th place, but lost to HSC Csíkszereda 3–0 on aggregate. In the 2013–14 season, Nové Zámky ended in basic part on 2nd place with 90 points, just behind champion from last season, Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák. In semi-final, Nové Zámky defeated 4th team, Miskolci Jegesmedvék JSE 1–3 on aggregate and for the first time, team managed to qualify to MOL Liga Finals. There, Nové Zámky confronted ASC Corona Brașov, which defeated DAB. Docler in semi-finals. Nové Zámky have won 4–2 on aggregate and became first and only Slovak team to won MOL Liga title. Next season 2014–15 they lost in final with DVTK Jegesmedvék, 0–4 in series. In the same season, team won the lowest league in Slovakia Slovak 2.Liga against MHK Humenné and qualify to Slovak 1.Liga. In first season of the second level of ice hockey in the country, they ended in basic part on 2nd place with 90 points behind HC 46 Bardejov. Nové Zámky then defeated in quarterfinals HC Dukla Senica 3–1 on aggregate, in semi-finals HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš 3–0 on aggregate and in finals HC 46 Bardejov 3–2 on aggregate and won a title 2015–16 season.