Hockey Punks Vilnius

Hockey Punks Vilnius were founded in 2007 when Lithuanian national team players Šarūnas Kuliešius and Martynas Šlikas started popularising the sport in the capital.[1] Interest in the sport further increased following the launch of 'Heat on Ice' on Tango TV.[1] Heat on Ice was a weekly show covering the latest hockey news and highlights from around the world, with celebrity guests.[5] One of these guests was G&G Sindikatas rapper Gabrielius 'Svaras' Liaudanskas who would go on to be a prominent supporter of the team, often promoting Hockey Punks in interviews.[1] Svaras would subsequently play for the team for 6 years,[6][7] as did his bandmate Andrius 'Pushaz' Glušakovas.[1][8]

Initially, Hockey Punks focused solely on training, before ultimately joining the Lithuanian second tier in 2010.[1] Their first season was a tough one, only winning one game whilst suffering a goal difference of -41.[9] Three seasons later, Hockey Punks were admitted to the Lithuania Hockey League, where they have played since. During their time in the NLRL, Hockey Punks have not won the league, however, they have lost in the playoff finals on two occasions; in 2016 and 2019.[3]

Between 2013 and 2017 former NHL star and Olympic gold medalist Darius Kasparaitis played sporadically for the Hockey Punks in order to qualify for the Lithuanian national team, having previously represented Russia.[10][11] During this time with the team Kasparaitis played 7 games for the Hockey Punks, registering 22 points.[12]

In 2020 Hockey Punks took part in the inaugural Baltic Hockey League, a competition made up of two teams from each of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.[13] The team finished 2nd in their group after beating Estonian side HC Everest, but losing to Latvia's HK Liepāja,[14] and therefore qualified for the final round, scheduled for February 2021.

Updated January 22, 2021.[3]

Goaltenders
Number		Player	Catches	Acquired	Place of Birth
95		Simas Baltrunas	L	2017	-
90		Maksim Cizevskij	L	2020	-

Defencemen
Number		Player	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth
72		Karolis Andrikonis	L	2012	-
94		Rokas Bacevicius	L	2013	-
35		Andrius Budreika	L	2020	-
68		Domas Janusonis	L	2020	-
5		Jaunius Jasinevicius	R	2020	Rokiškis, Lithuania
2		Lukas Jonuska	-	2019	Klaipėda, Lithuania
27		Lukas Manomaitis	L	2020	-
24		Sergei Markovsky	L	2018	Minsk, Belarus
17		Valdas Pikcius	L	2014	Elektrėnai, Lithuania
19		Dovydas Vaisovas	L	2010	-

Forwards
Number		Player	Shoots	Position	Acquired	Place of Birth
16		Mauras Baltrukonis	R	RW/LW	2019	-
99		Aivaras Bendžius	L	F	2012	Elektrėnai, Lithuania
79		Donatas Dirginčius	R	F	2010	-
31		Dominykas Jurjevas	R	F	2020	Elektrėnai, Lithuania
8		Modestas Kartenis	R	F	2010	-
15		Laisvydas Kudrevicius	L	F	2018	Elektrėnai, Lithuania
80		Sarunas Kuliešius	R	C/RW	2014	Elektrėnai, Lithuania
89		Alexei Kuveko	L	F	2019	Minsk, Belarus
26		Denis Kuzminov	L	LW	2020	Klaipėda, Lithuania
25		Martynas Miliunas	L	C/RW	2020	Elektrėnai, Lithuania
18		Marius Rankauskas	L	F	2017	Elektrėnai, Lithuania
21		Martynas Slikas	L	C	2015	Rokiškis, Lithuania
7		Eimantas Steponavicius	R	F	2019	Trakai, Lithuania
62		Ernestinas Truksnys	L	LW/RW	2017	-
93		Domantas Varnys	R	F	2020	-
81		Povilas Verenis	R	RW	2019	Elektrėnai, Lithuania
13		Algimantas Visockas	L	F	2014	Kaunas, Lithuania

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

• Darius Kasparaitis
• Gabrielius 'Svaras' Liaudanskas
• Andrius 'Pushaz' Glušakovas

• Official website (in Lithuanian)
• Hockey Punks Vilnius on Facebook