On May 15th, 2009 the representatives of the members of Austrian based ErsteBank Eishockey Liga (EBEL) unanimously voted to accept Croatian team KHL Medveščak from Zagreb as the tenth club for the season 2009/10.

This decision marked the end of the two year long campaign that started as a dream of the newly elected president/captain of Medveščak, Damir Gojanović. The end of the 2006/07 season witnessed a drop of the curtain on the Interliga, a competition of the best Slovenian, Hungarian and Croatian teams that lasted from 1999. The league ceased to exist when Slovenian team Olimpija and Hungarian powerhouse Alba joined EBEL for the 2007/08 season.

Faced with the prospect of competing only in the amateur Croatian championship, the new management applied for and was accepted in the Slovenian championship. Medveščak got to participate in the regular season only, playing against Slovenian teams other than members of EBEL, Jesenice and Olimpija. In first season, Medveščak took second place right behind Jesenice farm team, but this season was marked by unstable roster with half of the team composed of foreigners with various quality that in the end resulted with the loss of the Croatian championship after eleven consecutive titles.

In 2008/09 season, Medveščak, alongside Croatian champion Mladost, was allowed to play in the Slovenian playoffs. Learning from the experience, Medveščak increased its budget to € 300,000 and picked the best Slovenians available. The team, composed of good Slovenians, seasoned Croatian NT players and, after long time, a line composed of juniors was put under direction of Canadian coach Mike Shea with extensive experience of playing and coaching in Austria.

Medveščak played well, winning the regular season. After two rounds of playoff, in the semifinals Medveščak finally got a chance to prove itself against an EBEL team, Olimpija. The Croatian team lost the series, but scored an important victory in the first match in Ljubljana and managed to fill up the Dom sportova Hall with 3000 spectators for the second match.

Throughout those two seasons, the club management lobbied among EBEL teams in order to get invitation to the league. At first, few people took Gojanović and his colleagues seriously, but as time passed the Medveščak chances were growing. Then, in March 2009, Austrian team Innsbruck announcedits withdrawal from EBEL due to a financial reasons as well as lack of success and interest. The opportunity for the Croatian team has opened.

Working frantically, Medveščak's management got the support from the city of Zagreb in order to secure the rights to play in the city's only representative ice rink and presented all the necessary guarantees to the EBEL management that club has adequate budget and roster to be competitive in EBEL.

Following the formal admition into the league, Medveščak's sport managers started to gather the players for the team. Except for the finances, the significant limit in creation of the team were so called "points" where each player in EBEL is worth from 0 to 4 points, with foreign players older than 22 worth 4.

The first big name who signed was Slovenian best goaltender, Robert Kristan, who came from Swedish Allsvenska team, Mora.

After him followed two North Americans of Croatian origin, defender Andy Sertich from ECHL team Utah Grizzlies and forward John Hecimovic from HYS Den Haag.

Two young players arrived from Swiss NLB teams. Both are second generation emmigrant from Croatian families. Toni Bezina arrived from Visp, while Michael Novak left La Chaux-de-Fonds.

The place of honour belongs to the best scorer in EBEL in season 2007/08, American forward Aaron Fox who played for Vienna Capitals.

In addition, many Croatian players joined Medveščak. The one player that stands out is goalie Vanja Belić, the mainstay of Croatian national team who arrived from local rival, Mladost. The rest of the Croatian newcomers are members of the national U20 team who will play in Medveščak's farm team that will compete in the Slovenian championship.

The list of the arrivals is not yet finished. At the moment, the coach is not yet selected, although former Jesenice coach, American Doug Bradley was hired as a director of hockey operations.

Playing in EBEL is considered as giant step forward for the hockey in Croatia. It is expected that Medveščak shall put hockey back in the media focus and television. This, in turn, should be followed by increased interest of sponsors as well as children who should apply to hockey schools in greater numbers. Hopefully, Croatian hockey federation shall join the party and do its share of work to improve the hockey infrastructure by lobbing for building of new rinks, training new coaches and spreading the base of players, both junior and senior.

Medveščak's adventure begins on September 11th, with home game against Slovenian powerhouse Jesenice.

Erste Bank Liga (EBEL) 2009/10

EC KAC, Klagenfurt (AUT)
EC Red Bulls Salzburg (AUT)
EV Vienna Capitals (AUT)
EHC Black Wings, Linz (AUT)
Graz 99ers (AUT)
EV VSV, Villach (AUT)
HK Acroni Jesenice (SLO)
HDD Tilia Olimpija (SLO)
Alba Volan 19, Szekesfehervar (HUN)
KHL Medveščak, Zagreb (CRO)