Fehérvár AV19 will make their debut in the Champions Hockey League in 2022/23, also marking the first time a team from Hungary has participated in the competition.

From the town of Székesfehérvár some 70km south-west of Budapest, Fehérvár have a lengthy list of titles in their homeland. In 2007, they became the third foreign team to join Austria’s top-flight league where they have competed ever since.

The club traces its origins back to Székesfehérvári Volán Sports Club which was formed in 1960. With rinks only in Budapest and Dunaújváros, Budapesti Volán SC played in the capital from 1970 until 1977.

The team played its first season in Székesfehérvár in 1977, winning their first Hungarian Championship in 1981. The club later became known as Alba Volán Székesfehérvár until 2010, when it was changed to Fehérvár AV19.

Success in the ICE has been limited. The club only made two playoffs in their first six seasons in the league but have gradually improved their positioning. 2021/22's third-placed finish equalled their highest-ever from 2011/2012, but on six separate occasions, the Hungarians were unable to advance past the quarter-final stage of the playoffs.

The 2021/22 season has been historic for Fehérvár for several reasons. They first managed to win three games in a playoff round before winning a quarter-final series for the first time ever – which was also the franchise’s first-ever 4-0 sweep. They have since gone on to win their first games in the semi-finals.

The ‘AV’ part of the club’s name references ‘Alba Volán’, which comes from the city’s historic bus industry. ‘Alba Regia’ was the Latin name for Székesfehérvár during the Roman Empire.

Fehérvár play their home games at the 3,500-capacity Ifjabb Ocskay Gábor Jégcsarnok, which was initially built as an outdoor rink before being covered. It is named after the club’s, and national team’s, legendary player Gábor Ocskay who tragically died three days after helping his team win their 10th Hungarian title in 2009 aged just 33. His #19 jersey was retired by both the club and the Hungarian national team.

Former NHL head coach Kevin Constantine took charge of the team in the summer of 2021. After spells with the San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils, the American also went on to spend three seasons with HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland among other roles.

A new arena is currently under construction in Székesfehérvár which could be ready for the start of the 2023/24 season.