SHL (Swedish Hockey League)

Sweden's elite league

Sweden is one of the great ice hockey nations, and the SHL is its flagship. The league was founded in 1975 as Elitserien and has had its current name since 2013. Many future NHL stars started their careers here, and many return at the end of their careers.

Format

After a long regular season, the best teams go into the playoffs, played in a best-of-seven format. Teams placed just behind them play a preliminary round for the last playoff spots. At the bottom of the table, relegation looms: the last-placed team must go down to HockeyAllsvenskan, the second division, or survive a relegation series. The exact rule can change between seasons. The champion receives the Le Mat Trophy, one of the oldest trophies in European ice hockey.

Youth development

Swedish clubs are known for their development. Young players join the professional squad early, and many are selected in the NHL draft while still playing in the SHL. The system of youth leagues, schools with an ice hockey focus and club academies is regarded as a model for other countries, including Germany.

Style

The SHL is considered technically and tactically demanding. Games are played on larger rinks than in the NHL, which rewards game intelligence and skating ability. Defensive discipline is highly valued.

Comparison with the DEL

The SHL and the DEL meet in the Champions Hockey League. Swedish clubs are regularly among the favourites there. Players from the German-speaking region are rarer in the SHL than in the Finnish Liiga or the NHL, but they do appear.

Well-known clubs and derbies

The traditional clubs include teams from Stockholm, Gothenburg and smaller towns where ice hockey is the most important sport. In places such as Skellefteå, Luleå or Örnsköldsvik, the club shapes town life. Several famous players come from Örnsköldsvik, such as Peter Forsberg and the Sedin twins, who played together in the NHL for a long time.

Season and spectators

The SHL season runs from September to April. The arenas are modern, many with several thousand seats. Games are widely shown on TV and via streaming in Sweden, and average attendance is among the highest in Europe. For fans from Germany, a visit is a worthwhile addition to a trip to Scandinavia.

Sweden internationally

The Swedish national team, Tre Kronor, has won several World Championships and Olympic gold. A large part of its roster plays in the NHL, but the SHL regularly provides players for World Championship tournaments, which take place in spring in parallel with the NHL playoffs.