Swedish Women's Hockey League

{{Short description|Swedish Championship league in women's ice hockey}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox sports league | title = Swedish Women's Hockey League<br>{{small|{{native name|sv|Svenska damhockeyligan}} }} | current_season = | last_season = 2025–26 SDHL season | upcoming_season = | logo = Logo SDHL.png | pixels = | caption = | formerly = {{Lang|sv|Riksserien}} {{small|(2007–2016)}} | sport = Ice hockey | founded = {{Start date|2007}} | motto = | inaugural = 2007–08 | folded = | teams = 10 | relegation = NDHL | country = {{SWE}} | champion = Brynäs IF | champ_season = 2025-26 | most_champs = Luleå HF/MSSK (7) | website = {{Official URL}} | President = Agne Bengtsson | TV = C More Sport, SVT | sponsor = | related_comps = Swedish Hockey League | founder = Swedish Ice Hockey Association | footnotes = }} The '''Swedish Women's Hockey League''' ({{langx|sv|Svenska damhockeyligan}}), abbreviated '''SDHL''', is the elite league for women's ice hockey in Sweden. It was established in 2007 as the {{Lang|sv|'''Riksserien'''}} by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and was renamed prior to the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Edwinsson|first=Lisa|date=18 March 2016|title=Ny riksorganisation ska lyfta damhockeyn|url=https://www.dn.se/sport/ishockey/ny-riksorganisation-ska-lyfta-damhockeyn/|access-date=18 March 2016|website=Dagens Nyheter|language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.svt.se/sport/ishockey/forandringen-som-ska-lyfta-svensk-damhockey|title=Så ska svensk damhockey lyfta|website=SVT Sport|first=Diljen|last=Otlu|language=sv|date=18 March 2016|accessdate=5 November 2022}}</ref> The league has ten teams and employs a system of promotion and relegation with the Nationella Damhockeyligan (NDHL). The unexpected withdrawal of Göteborg HC after playing only thirteen games of the 2022–23 season caused the number of teams to decrease to nine for the remainder of that season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Karlsson |first1=Mattias |title=Drar sig ur SDHL – mitt under säsongen |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockey/a/O8oaWk/ishockey-goteborg-hc-drar-sig-ur-sdhl-mitt-i-sasongen |website=Aftonbladet |access-date=2022-11-10 |language=sv |date=2022-11-02}}</ref>

Bodychecking was allowed for the 2022–23 season<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/swedish-womens-hockey-league-to-introduce-bodychecking|title=Swedish Women's Hockey League to introduce Bodychecking|website=The Hockey News|first=Ian|last=Kennedy|language=en|date=21 May 2022|accessdate=25 May 2022}}</ref> and goal cameras were introduced for the 2024–2025 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/sport/ishockey/sdhl-infor-malkamera-infor-nasta-sasong|title=SDHL inför målkamera inför nästa säsong|publisher=SVT Sport|author=Sebastian Vognsen|language=Swedish|date=20 June 2024|accessdate=20 June 2024}}</ref>

== Format == When a game is tied after regulation, a sudden death overtime is played with only four skaters per team for maximum 10 minutes (or 20 minutes in the playoffs). If the game is still tied after overtime, the winner is decided by game winning shots.

The regular season is a double round-robin tournament, with each team playing twice at home and twice away against every other team, resulting in a 36-game regular season per team. After the regular season, the top six teams qualify for the Women's Swedish Championship playoffs ({{langx|sv|SM-slutspel damer}}). The two teams with the best regular season records in the SDHL are given a bye to the semifinals, with the remaining four qualified teams starting in the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, team 3 gets to pick their choice of opponent between teams 5 and 6, leaving the remaining club to meet team 4. In the semifinals the first ranked team chooses an opponent from the two winners of the quarterfinals. The playoffs are all best-of-three series, with the higher ranked team starting with one match away, followed by the remaining two at home.

The two teams with the worst records in the regular season are forced to play a qualifier to defend their spots in the SDHL against challengers from the NDHL.

== Teams == {{Location map+ |Sweden |width=265 |caption=Location of '''SDHL''' teams in Sweden|places= {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=60.691111 |long=17.132222 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label=Brynäs |postion=}} {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=59.294861 |long=18.081944 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label=Djurgården |position=}} {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=57.677778 |long=11.936264 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label=Frölunda |position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=59.4075 |long=13.500833 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label=Färjestad |position=top}} {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=57.786944 |long=14.2325 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label=HV71 |position=}} {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=58.418056 |long=15.635 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label=Linköping |position=}} {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=65.597778 |long=22.148611 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label=Luleå |position=}} {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=63.283889 |long=18.725 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label=MoDo |position=left}} {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=59.35 |long=18.083333 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label=SDE |position=left}} {{Location map~ |Sweden |lat=64.761389 |long=20.967222 |background = rgba(255,255,255,0.5); |mark = Blue pog.svg |label={{nowrap|Skellefteå}} |position= }} }} From the formation of the SDHL in 2007, Luleå HF/MSSK have been the most successful club, winning six Swedish Championships. Luleå has been the most successful regular season team, finishing on top of the league six times. MODO Hockey was the first team from outside the Stockholm area to win the championship with their victory in 2012.

=== 2025–26 season === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Team ! City ! Arena ! Head coach ! Captain |- | '''Brynäs IF''' | 20px Gävle | Monitor ERP Arena | {{Sortname|Filip|Eriksson}} | {{Sortname|Julia|Östlund}} |- | '''Djurgårdens IF''' | 20px Stockholm | Hovet | {{Sortname|Rickard|Hårdstam}} | {{Sortname|Brette|Pettet}} |- | '''Frölunda HC''' | 20px Gothenburg | Frölundaborg | {{Sortname|Erika|Holst}} | {{Sortname|Hanna|Olsson}} |- | '''Färjestad BK''' | 20px Karlstad | Löfbergs Arena | {{Sortname|Johan|Fransson}} | {{Sortname|Emelie|Córdoba}} |- |'''HV71''' | 20px Jönköping | Husqvarna Garden | {{Sortname|Thomas|Pettersen}} | {{Sortname|Emmi|Rakkolainen}} |- | '''Linköping HC''' | 20px Linköping | Saab Arena | {{Sortname|Jan|Bylesjö}} | {{Sortname|Lindsay|Agnew Svedén}} |- | '''Luleå HF/MSSK''' | 20px Luleå | Coop Norrbotten Arena | {{Sortname|Melinda|Olsson}} | {{Sortname|Jenni|Hiirikoski}} |- | '''MoDo Hockey''' | 20px Örnsköldsvik | Hägglunds Arena | {{Sortname|Jared|Cipparone}} | {{Sortname|Ebba|Berglund}} |- | '''SDE Hockey''' | 20px Danderyd | Enebybergs Ishall | {{Sortname|Peter|Elander}} | {{Sortname|Mathea|Fischer}} |- | '''Skellefteå AIK''' | 20px Skellefteå | Skellefteå Kraft Arena | {{Sortname|Martin|Lindh}} | {{Sortname|Malou|Berggren}} |} Sources:<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Jay|first1=Michelle|last2=Murphy|first2=Mike|date=2020-09-10|title=2020-21 SDHL Preview|url=https://www.theicegarden.com/2020/9/10/21427896/2020-2021-sdhl-preview-womens-hockey|access-date=2020-09-12|website=The Ice Garden|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Svenska damhockeyligan – SDHL Team Rosters |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/sdhl-w/2025-2026 |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=Elite Prospects |language=en}}</ref>

== Previous winners ==

=== Regular season champions === {{col-begin-small}} {{col-2}} '''Riksserien''' * 2008 – AIK Hockey * 2009 – Segeltorps IF * 2010 – Segeltorps IF * 2011 – Segeltorps IF * 2012 – Brynäs IF * 2013 – MODO Hockey * 2014 – MODO Hockey * 2015 – Linköping HC {{col-2}} '''SDHL''' * 2016 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2017 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2018 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2019 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2020 – HV71 * 2021 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2022 – Brynäs IF * 2023 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2024 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2025 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2026 – Frölunda HC {{col-end}}

=== Swedish Champions (playoff winners) === {{col-begin-small}} {{col-2}} * 2008 – Segeltorps IF * 2009 – AIK Hockey Dam * 2010 – Segeltorps IF * 2011 – Segeltorps IF * 2012 – Modo Hockey * 2013 – AIK Hockey Dam * 2014 – Linköping HC * 2015 – Linköping HC * 2016 – Luleå HF/MSSK {{col-2}} * 2017 – Djurgårdens IF * 2018 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2019 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2020 – ''Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic'' * 2021 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2022 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2023 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2024 – Luleå HF/MSSK * 2025 – Frölunda HC * 2026 – Brynäs IF<ref name="engström20260327">{{cite news |last1=Engström |first1=Jennifer |title=Brynäs tar sitt första SM-guld – sänker Frölunda |url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/sdhl/brynas-tar-sitt-forsta-sm-guld-sanker-frolunda/ |access-date=2 April 2026 |work=Expressen |date=27 March 2026 |language=sv |trans-title=Brynäs claims its first Swedish Championship gold – defeats Frölunda}}</ref> {{col-end}}

== Attendance == While average attendance in the SDHL has been significantly lower than other professional leagues in Sweden and the Premier Hockey Federation in North America, attendance has tended towards increasing as the league receives greater investment and promotion, and as women's clubs have been less neglected by their parent organisations. There exists a considerable disparity in attendance between clubs, with Luleå HF/MSSK having led the league in attendance ever single year since the club's formation, often with almost ten time greater attendance than the worst attended club. Playoff attendance has also tended to be much higher than regular season attendance, averaging almost 900 per match in 2017–18 and 2018–19.

{| class="wikitable" |+ SDHL Regular Season Attendance |- ! Season !! Average !! Highest !! Lowest |- | 2013–14 Riksserien season || 114 || Munksund Skuthamn SK (205) || Segeltorps IF (59) |- | 2014–15 Riksserien season || 102 || Munksund Skuthamn SK (132) || IF Sundsvall Hockey (54) |- | 2015–16 Riksserien season || 141 || Luleå HF/MSSK (468) || IF Sundsvall Hockey (57) |- | 2016–17 SDHL season || 179 || Luleå HF/MSSK (542) || SDE Hockey (54) |- | 2017–18 SDHL season || 192 || Luleå HF/MSSK (442) || SDE Hockey (65) |- | 2018–19 SDHL season || 234 || Luleå HF/MSSK (831) || SDE Hockey (42) |- | 2019–20 SDHL season || 178 || Luleå HF/MSSK (539) || SDE Hockey (48) |} == League records == {{Updated|21 March 2023}}

=== Individual records === * Most goals in a season: Andrea Dalen, 47 goals (36 games, 2015–16) * Most assists in a season: Lara Stalder, 55 assists (33 games, 2021–22) * Most points in a season: Lara Stalder, 89 points (33 games, 2021–22) * Most points in a season, defenceman: Sidney Morin, 65 points (36 games, 2020–21) * Most penalty minutes in a season: Jenn Wakefield, 90 PIM (31 games, 2020–21) * Most shutouts in a season: Florence Schelling, 10 shutouts (31 games, 2017–18) * Best save percentage in a season, minimum 1/3 of games played: Kim Martin Hasson, .956 (17 games, 2014–15) * Beat goals against average in a season, minimum 1/3 of games played: Frida Axell, 1.00 GAA (14 games, 2022–23)

=== Club records === * Most points in a season: 99, HV71 in 2019–20<ref>{{Cite web |title=SDHL | stats.swehockey.se |url=https://stats.swehockey.se/ScheduleAndResults/Overview/11495}}</ref> * Highest attendance in a regular season match: 6,220<ref>{{Cite web |last=Funqvist |first=Sixten |date=2018-11-16 |title=Nytt publikrekord i SDHL |url=https://hockeysverige.se/2018/11/16/nytt-publikrekord-sdhl |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=HockeySverige |language=sv}}</ref> – Luleå HF/MSSK vs. AIK Hockey, 16 November 2018 * Highest attendance in a playoff match: 7,765<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hägglund |first=Johannes |date=2022-04-07 |title=Luleå/MSSK vinner SM-guld 2022 |url=http://www.sdhl.se/gamecenter/qbL-1G85iTXFL/articles/post |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=SDHL.se |language=sv}}</ref> – Brynäs IF vs. Luleå HF/MSSK at Monitor ERP Arena, 7 April 2022 (Game 5 of the 2022 Swedish Championship finals)

=== All-time leading scorers === The top-ten point-scorers (goals + assists) in SDHL history.

<small>Note: '''Nat''' = Nationality; '''Pos''' = Position; '''GP''' = Games played; '''G''' = Goals; '''A''' = Assists; '''Pts''' = Points; '''P/G''' = Points per game</small>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ style="color:black; background:#ffffff; border-top:#f2513f 5px solid;border-bottom:#f2513f 5px solid;"|'''Points''' ! Nat || Player || Pos || GP || G || A || Pts || P/G |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|AUT}} | align="left"| {{sortname|Denise|Altmann}}||RW|| 337 || 277 || 286 || '''563'''|| 1.67 |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|SWE}} | align="left"| {{sortname|Emma|Nordin}}||C|| 406 || 227 || 281 || '''508'''|| 1.25 |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|CHE}} | align="left" | {{sortname|Lara|Stalder}}||C|| 191 || 180 || 222 || '''402'''|| 2.10 |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|SWE}} | align="left" | {{sortname|Erika|Grahm}}||LW/C|| 385 || 179 || 212 || '''391'''|| 1.02 |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|SWE}} | align="left" |{{sortname|Lisa|Johansson|Lisa Johansson (ice hockey)}}||RW/LW|| 456 || 232 || 157 || '''389'''|| 0.85 |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|NOR}} | align="left" | {{sortname|Line|Bialik Øien}}||LW/RW|| 322 || 186 || 200 || '''386'''|| 1.20 |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|NOR}} | align="left" | {{sortname|Andrea|Schjelderup Dalen}}||LW|| 283 || 199 || 145 || '''344'''|| 1.22 |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|DEN}} | align="left" | {{sortname|Josefine|Jakobsen}}||C|| 307 || 158 || 185 || '''343'''|| 1.12 |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|SWE}} | align="left" | {{sortname|Anna|Borgqvist}}||C/LW|| 371 || 141 || 197 || '''338'''|| 0.91 |- align="center" |{{Flagicon|SWE}} | align="left" | {{sortname|Fanny|Rask}}||LW|| 397 || 142 || 192 || '''334'''|| 0.84 |} Source: <ref name="EP_All-Time">{{Cite web |title=SDHL (W) - All-time Totals Regular Season Player Stats |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/sdhl-w/stats/all-time?sort=tp&to=2021-2022 |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=Elite Prospects}}</ref> == See also == * Women's ice hockey in Sweden * List of SDHL seasons * Sweden women's national ice hockey team * Swedish Ice Hockey Association

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website}} {{In lang|sv}}

Category:Swedish Women's Hockey League Sweden Category:Women's ice hockey competitions in Sweden Category:2008 establishments in Sweden Category:Sports leagues established in 2008 Category:Women's sports leagues in Sweden Category:Professional ice hockey leagues in Sweden