Women's ice hockey in Sweden
is one of Sweden's most popular sports and participation in women's ice hockey is increasing; the number of registered women's ice hockey players in Sweden increased from 3,425 in 2011 to 5,973 in 2020.
History
The first organized women's ice hockey game in Sweden was played in 1969 between Modo AIK and Timrå IK. The Swedish women's national team played its first games in April 1987, during the 1987 Women's World Tournament in Ontario, Canada.The first, unofficial National Championship was played in 1985. Three unofficial championships were held, in 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87. The championships were played as a round-robin tournament. Nacka HK won the National Championship title in all three seasons.
The Swedish Ice Hockey Association established the first, official Swedish Championship for the 1987–88 season. Division 1 served as the qualifying league for the Swedish Championship. This league had a variable number of teams distributed into some small regional leagues, followed by a national playoff.
During the 2007–08 season, the best Division 1 teams qualified for the new league, the Riksserien, which became the top-tier league. Division 1 became the second level of women's hockey in Sweden. The Riksserien comprised eight teams. Each team would face the seven opposing teams in four games, two at home and two away. The top two teams at the end of the regular season would qualify for the semi-finals. The teams classified in third to sixth place would each play a three-game playoff qualifying series. In the semifinals, the match for the third place and final depend on a simple match. The teams ranked seventh and eighth at the end of the regular season would face the top two from Division 1 in a promotion/relegation series to remain in the Swedish Women's Hockey League or be relegated Division 1
The Riksserien was reorganized and rebranded as the Svenska damhockeyligan prior to the 2016–17 season. The change was meant to increase public interest and sponsorship of the teams by branding the league in the style of the Swedish Hockey League and to encourage SHL teams to promote their sister teams.
Domestic league structure
- Swedish Women's Hockey League, organized by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association
- * 10 teams
- * 36 games in regular season
- * Playoffs for top eight teams, winner is named Swedish Ice Hockey Champion
- * Bottom two teams progress to qualifiers against top teams from DamEttan, relegation to DamEttan is possible
- DamEttan, organized by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association
- * 24 teams in the in 2019–20 season, split into four geographic divisions: Södra, Östra, Norra, and Västra
- ** DamEttan Södra: 6 teams
- ** DamEttan Östra: 8 teams
- ** DamEttan Norra: 4 teams
- ** DamEttan Västra: 6 teams
- * Number of games in regular season varies by region, from 18–28 games in 2019–20 regular season
- ** DamEttan Södra: 20 games
- ** DamEttan Östra: 28 games
- ** DamEttan Norra: 18 games
- ** DamEttan Västra: 20 games
- * Playoffs for top team from each division, top two teams proceed to qualifiers against the bottom teams from SDHL, promotion to SDHL is possible
- * Team finishing the regular season with the fewest points of any team in the league is relegated to DamTvåan
- DamTvåan, organized by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association
- * 15 teams in the 2019–20 season, split into three geographic regions: Södra, Västra, and Norra
- ** DamTvåan Södra: 4 teams
- ** DamTvåan Västra: 7 teams
- ** DamTvåan Norra: 4 teams
- * Number of games in regular season varies by region, from 6–12 games in 2019–20 regular season
- ** DamTvåan, Region Norr: 6 games
- ** DamTvåan Västra: 12 games
- ** DamTvåan, Region Syd: 9 games
- * Team finishing the regular season with the most points of any team in the league gains promotion to DamEttan
- Various local and district-level recreational leagues, regulated by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association but generally overseen by constituent entities
Swedish Championship
Results
Notes:All-time medal count
Updated 1 August 2020| Team | Total | ||||
| 1 | Nacka HK | 9 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 2 | M/B Hockey | 7 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | AIK IF | 4 | 6 | 1 | 11 |
| 4 | Segeltorps IF | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | Luleå HF/MSSK | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | FOC Farsta | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| 7 | MODO Hockey | 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 |
| 8 | Linköpings HC | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Djurgården IF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Brynäs IF | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 11 | Alvesta SK | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | Västerhaninge IF | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 13 | Limhamn HC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | HV71 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Veddige HK | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 16 | Vallentuna BK | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | Örebro HUF | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Teams 2010-11
Riksserien
- AIK IF
- Brynäs IF
- Leksands IF
- Linköpings HC
- MODO Hockey
- Munksund-Skuthamns SK
- Ormsta HC
- Segeltorps IF
Division I Region South A
- Grästorp IK
- Hisingen IK
- Hovås HC/Järnbrott
- Lerums BK
- Munkedal/Stenungsund
- Trollhättan HC
- Vårgårda HC
Division I Region South B
- Borås HC
- HV71 Queens
- IF Malmö Redhawks
- Karlskrona HK
- Motala AIF Hockey
- Rögle BK
- Växjö Lakers
Division I Region West
- Skogsbo SK
- Hällefors/Lindlöven
- Sandviken IK
- Malungs IF
- VIK Västerås HK Ungdom
- Leksands IF 2
- Kristinehamns HT
Division I Region East
- AIK 2
- Almtuna IS
- Järfälla HC
- Ormsta Hockey 2
- Tullinge TP
- Södertälje SK
- Segeltorps IF 2
- Västerhaninge IF
Division I Region North
- Modo Hockey Junior
- Clemnsnäs HC
- Luleå HF
- Sundsvall Wildcats
- IF Björklöven
Tournaments
| Event | Location | Finish |
| 2003 4 Nations Cup | Skovde | Fourth |
| 2004-05 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup | Solna | Gold for AIK IF |
| 2005 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships | Linköping, Norrköping | Bronze |
| 2005-06 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup | Solna | Gold for AIK IF |
| 2006-07 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup | Katrineholm | Gold for AIK IF |
| 2007 4 Nations Cup | Leksand | Fourth |
| 2007-08 IIHF European Women's Champions Cup | Vallentuna | Gold for AIK IF |
| 2011 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship | Stockholm, Sweden | No medal |