Contact | Home | Archive | AHL | ECHL | About Us | Duck Calls | Quick Shots | Audio | Europe | Web Radio
Ivo
Jaschick's
Eye on Europe
Reporting from Germany
and
across Europe
The
Swedish Elitserien
(Swedish Elite League)
JANUARY
23, 2008 -- The twelve-team Swedish Elitserien was founded in October
1975. For a victory after regulation a team gets 3 pts, 2 pts if they
win in OT, 1 pt if the score is tied after OT. The first eight are
qualified for the playoffs. Let's take a look around the 2007-08 Swedish
Elite League.
HV71:
On
September 24th the 32nd season in Sweden started with three games. HV71
played Frolunda and won 6-5. It was the beginning of an excellent year
for HV71. After 39 out of 55 games before the playoffs start they are
leading the standings 13 points ahead of the second. The squad consists
of 25 players – 18 are from Sweden, 4 from their Scandinavian neighbour
Finland, two made their first steps in Canada (Lance Ward, Eric
Johansson) and one Czech. Jukka Voutilainen, Johan Davidsson, Martin
Thörnberg & Czech Jan Hrdina are in the top 10 in the league’s scoring
list. Their No.1 goaltender, Detroit Red Wing draftee Stefan Liv is one
of the best in the league with a GAA of 2.37. They want to add a third
championship after winning titles in ´95 & ´04.
Brynas IF:
Nine
of 30 Brynas´ hockey players are born in countries other than Sweden. We
can watch five Finnish, two Norway, one Czech & one US born (Nicholas
Angell) players showing their skills for the fans in Gavle. Although
they have their players Czech Pavel Brendl (#3) & Mikael Lind (#6) in
the top 10 of the scorerlist they are placed in the lower part of the
standings. It seems as if their run for the cup wouldn´t be successful
after being champion five times (´76, ´77, ´80, ´93, ´99).
Djurgardens IF:
The
best years of this team located in the Swedish capital Stockholm are
over. After six titles (´83, ´89, ´90, ´91, ´00 & ´01) this
traditionally dominant team missed the playoffs in both of the last two
years. This year their goal is to be better than last year and finish
the regular season among the eight best teams, which if the season ended
today, they would be back in the postseason. With the exception of two
defenders (Czech Jiri Marusak & Finn Ossi Vaananen) they have a pure
Swedish team. Young and hungry talents added to the team will give a
better mixture of energy and experience. They are in a very close fight
for the last playoff spot.
Frolunda HC:
After
missing the playoffs last season coach Per Backman (who took over in the
middle of last season) helped to build a new team. They signed well
known players like the Finnish defender Toni Soderholm, MODO players
Justin Morrison and Michael Holmqvist and center Jonas Nordquist. This
team, based in the city of Gothenburg, features eight players from other
countries: Five Finns, two Swiss plus Canadian Steven Kariya, brother of
NHLer Paul. Frolunda would like to add the third championship after
winning the ´03 and ´05 titles.
Farjestad BK:
Last
season was a big disappointment for all fans & team members in Karlstad.
After winning the regular season they missed the final after six
consecutive apperances.
With only four players from other nations, they are trying to get the crown back. The defence is strenghened with the signing of a Slovakian line with Dominik Granak and Richard Lintner. The other two foreign players are both coming over the border from Finland - Eero Somervuori & Esa Pirnes. Together with Rickard Wallin they are trying to get their 8th Swedish title (´81,´86,´88,´97,´98,´02 & ´06) after dominating in previous years.
Linkopings HC:
Unexpectedly,
Linkoping advanced to the finals last year but lost them and during the
summer some very important players left the team. One of them is last
captain Magnus Johansson, who went to the NHL to become a Florida
Panther. But nevertheless this team is still very good. The fans and the
officials this time expect the team hopefully in the top four.
Lulea HF:
This
most northern Eltserien hockey town club is trying to reach the playoffs
with 14 players from their region. 7 of them learned playing hockey in
the youth teams of Lulea. After 1984 they reached the finals a second
time in 1996, which was the club’s first and only championship season
(vs. Frolunda). Since 1984 when they started in the highest league they
missed the post season only two times. With Canadian forward Cory Larose
the hockey team of Lulea started their new run for the cup but finally
found themselves at the bottom of the standings. Now they have to fear
to end at the end and have to qualify for starting in the Elitserien.
MODO Hockey:
Some
of Swedish hockey’s greatest players come from this town: Peter
Forsberg, Markus Naslund, Samuel Pahlsson & the twins Daniel and Henrik
Sedin. The reigning champion was able to substitute the loss of three
key players by adding Per Hallberg, Fredrik Warg and Magnus Wernblom.
With these signings they expect to be even better while these players
have grown up there and will identify with the club. With forward Ronald
Petrovicky they have a former NHL player in their lines who is able to
decide a game. MODO belongs to the top teams and may defend their title.
It would be the third after 1979 and 2007.
Mora IK:
Although
the team stayed together with the exception of top scorer Pavel Brendel
(Brynas IF) there was a big change in the coaching staff. Former NHL
player Magnus Arvedson took over the job but was fired after being
without success. Now the team is fighting the danger of stepping down
into the second league.
Sodertalje SK:
Welcome
back! The champion from ´85 is well prepared and back in the elite
league. 13 players were added to the rooster and it seems to be a good
mixture of young talents and more experienced players. Their goal is to
establish themselves again in the Elitserien. Canadian Defender Duane
Harmer and forward Quinn Hancock are trying to help SSK to reach the the
club´s goal.
Skelleftea AIK:
After
winning the elite league championship in 1978 they found themselves
relegated in 1990. Then, after 16 long years in the second division,
Skelleftea started a comeback last season. Now again it´s the second
year in the highest league of Sweden and normally this one is harder
than the first. AIK lost top scorer and powerplay specialist Magnus
Wernblom to league rival MODO but did not play too badly overall.
Importantly, they were a power at home and collected many points. But
now in the decisive stage, four important forwards are injured: former
NHL great Mikael Renberg (Flyers, Lightnings, Coyotes, Maple Leafs),
goal scorer Kent McDonnell and the wings Fredrik Krekula & Lee Goren.
Timra IK:
The
biggest change in the team had been the substitution of head coach Kent
Johansson by Challe Berglund and assist Per Nygards – both came from
rival Djurdardens Stockholm. They will bring new ideas and dimensions to
Timra´s game. Six Finns, one Norwegian defender (Peter Regin) and one
Czech forward are completing the very successful squad of the “Red
Eagles” – 2nd in the standings.
PHOTOS OF DJURGARDENS VS.
LULEA BY IVO JASCHICK:
Copyright 2008 Western Hockey Network
Eye on Europe:
2007-08
Two Canadian Goalies Shuffle between Russia and Germany
Kolzig Synonymous with Washington Capitals Franchise
Russian Super League (RSL) Preview O7/08
German Elite League (DEL) Preview 07-08
