Story Summary
Elias Straume Vatne has left Stavanger Oilers and joined Ringerike Panthers after his contract with the Oilers was ended by mutual agreement at the player’s request. The move takes him from Stavanger to Hønefoss, where he will play at Schjongshallen.
Vatne said he is seeking a larger role and the chance to keep developing as a player. Stavanger sporting director and head coach Juha Kaunismäki said Ringerike represented a good destination because it should offer Vatne more responsibility and ice time.
Key Facts
- Elias Straume Vatne has left Stavanger Oilers to join Ringerike Panthers.
- His Oilers contract was terminated by mutual agreement and at his own request.
- Vatne said he wanted a bigger role than he had so far received with Stavanger Oilers.
- Juha Kaunismäki said Ringerike Panthers should give Vatne more responsibility and important developmental experience.
- Vatne is moving from Stavanger to Hønefoss and will play at Schjongshallen.
- Kaunismäki named Niclas Ekeland, Snorre Wick-Karlsen, Birk Hjelmås and Daniil Kuraiev among Oilers’ U20 international players.
- Ekeland has a contract with the Oilers senior side, while Wick-Karlsen, Hjelmås, Kuraiev and Sjur Østbø hold junior contracts.
IHM Discussion
The agreement gives Vatne the change of setting he was looking for without framing the departure as a dispute. His own remarks make the priority clear: a bigger role at Ringerike Panthers and continued development through greater involvement.
For Stavanger Oilers, Kaunismäki presented the move as part of the reality of developing young players. The club retains a pathway built around its academy, U20 team and a co-operation agreement with Gjøvik, while also acknowledging that some players will pursue opportunities elsewhere when senior ice time is limited.
Ringerike gain a player arriving with a stated appetite for responsibility. Vatne’s opportunity now is to turn that greater role into useful experience in his new surroundings.
Why It Matters
Player movement between EliteHockey Ligaen clubs can be particularly significant when it is driven by opportunity rather than a simple contractual reshuffle. Vatne has identified ice time and responsibility as central to his next stage, while Oilers have been open about the challenge young players face when stepping into their senior side.
The departure also places attention on Stavanger’s next wave. Kaunismäki specifically pointed to several U20 international players and junior-contract holders as part of the club’s developing group, underlining the depth of players still working towards senior opportunities.
Mini Q&A
Why has Elias Straume Vatne left Stavanger Oilers?
His contract was ended by mutual agreement at his request, with Vatne seeking a larger role than he had received with the Oilers.
Which club has Elias Straume Vatne joined?
He has joined Ringerike Panthers and will be based in Hønefoss, playing at Schjongshallen.
What did Stavanger Oilers say about their young-player pathway?
Juha Kaunismäki said the club has a strong academy, a strong U20 side and a co-operation agreement with Gjøvik to support young players’ development.
IHM Final View
Vatne’s Oilers spell has ended on agreed terms, with both sides expressing appreciation for the time together. His move to Ringerike Panthers is centred on the chance for a more substantial role, while Stavanger Oilers continue to place their faith in the young players progressing through their system.