Kristianstads IK, or simply Kristianstad () is a Swedish ice hockey club based in Kristianstad. It plays in Hockeyallsvenskan, the second tier, having been promoted to that level for the first time in history in 2019. The team is nicknamed the "Wild Kings". In 2018–19 it had an average attendance of 1017, the fifth highest of the 47 teams in Hockeyettan, and the second highest for a sports team based in Kristianstad, after IFK Kristianstad. History The first hockey team in Kristianstad was the hockey section of association football club Åsums BK. The team originally played rink bandy from 1954 and started playing hockey in 1959. Its first game was against Tyringe SoSS that year. It played its home matches in an outdoor venue in Norra Åsum. In 1962, it defeated the Danish national team by 7–3 in Copenhagen as part of the opponent's preparations for that year's World Championship. The team was dissolved in 1966 due to lack of funds from the main club and decreasing commitment from key people. Kristianstads IK was founded on July 22 of the same year. It played at an outdoor venue until 1969, when it moved into the newly-completed Kristianstads ishall. Current Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella played for Kristianstad in the 1981–82 season. In 1996–97 Kristianstad played in the qualification (Kvalserien) to the second tier for the first time. It failed to achieve promotion after losing the decisive game away against Rögle BK. In 2000, due to financial troubles, it became the first sports club in Sweden to undergo debt restructuring. The club was relegated to the fourth level in 2003 but promoted back to the third level two years later. In 2006–07, Kristianstad reached the decisive playoffs for qualification to Kvalserien for HockeyAllsvenskan, but was defeated by Väsby IK. In March 2013, it underwent a second debt restructuring. In 2013–14 and 2015–16 the team reached the final playoff round for Kvalserien, but lost against Piteå HC and Södertälje SK, respectively. In 2016–17 it qualified for Kvalserien, but finished third and was not promoted to HockeyAllsvenskan. In the following season it was beaten by VIK Västerås HK in the final playoff round. In early 2019, the Swedish Tax Agency requested that the club be declared bankrupt due to unpaid debts. It paid the debts before the date of the bankruptcy hearing, and the request was withdrawn. In the same season