I still remember the playoff success and attendance records for the Spring Summer Final between Lulha and Prenas in front of the nearly out of stock stands.
But now SDHL is back in everyday life again and a core series
which averaged 120 spectators per match last year.
Although it is the best women’s team in the world.
The SDHL can still call themselves that, because it’s the only league
In the world with continuity and organization and to some extent with money.
But is this what Swedish women’s hockey needs?
No, I’d rather call it the third best women’s team in the world to avoid the massive domination of imported female players.
I remember sitting and going in the lineup at the Olympics
In Beijing last winter, he talked about the number of foreign stars who played for Swedish clubs. Although I already knew the term.
Over a hundred imports in the league
It topped last year’s regular season scoring league in the SDHL with four imports and eight of the top ten belonging to national teams other than Sweden.
Does hockey benefit Sweden?
barely.
Alarm bells have been ringing for a long time now, and the controversy has increased at the same pace that the women’s crowns have fallen in the rankings.
The SDHL introduced a restriction until last season 2021/22, when there were 96 imports in the league.
the influence?
Quite the opposite.
The epitome of pure horror
Prior to this season, I stopped counting when that number crossed 100. And so the situation actually got worse a year later, when the base was very generous.
Currently, the requirement is that each team must have nine homegrown players in a team of 21-22 players.
Some teams have to struggle to get to that number.
Gutenberg is a pure example of horror. They earned one point in 36 games in the 2021/22 chaotic season, but were able to qualify after beating Skellefteå. Only two players remained and both were imports.
They were now filled with so many players that it was almost a panic to fulfill the requirements of the local players.
No, I’m not a supporter of import freezes, but
In SDHL it has gone too far.
It hurts Swedish hockey and Swedish players, not least the women’s crowns.
The United States moved to seize the opportunity
While many foreign players can live as professionals in Sweden, Swedish girls have to work or live on student loans.
One example is national team defense Eba Berglund, who is now moving to the United States to be able to play hockey full time. Not because she basically wanted to, but because it was the only chance.
It will be interesting to see how new sporting director Oskar Alsenfeldt deals with this problem when he takes over.
Now there are superstars playing in the SDHL, like Swiss Lara Stalder of Brynä and Finnish defender Luleå Jenni Hiirikoski, some of the best hockey players in the world.
Preferably that advice remains in the league. But SDHL is in dire need of more Swedish label names and profiles.
But the most positive thing now is Frölunda’s massive investment in a women’s team.
They made their Women’s League debut this fall with a team that hasn’t already made it to the SDHL.
Audience Record in SM Final
Today there are five SHL clubs in the SDHL and Frölunda will definitely be the sixth.
Färjestad, Skellefteå and Malmö are three other SHL clubs with women’s initiatives underway, and it is here that the Varmlanders are perhaps the ones who have reached the furthest point at the moment.
They are needed to make women’s hockey stronger and more established.
Otherwise, it’s as if Luleå will dominate too
This winter. After a slightly shaky season, they were the best when they reached the final against Prenas and took SM gold in front of a record 7,765 at the Monitor ERP arena in Gävle. The old record of 6,537 in the same arena only survived for four days.
But it’s time until the annual party.
The primary series is still seen by those closest to the deceased.
Unfortunately.
