2018–19 SDHL season

The 2018–19 SDHL Season was the 12th season of the Swedish Women's Hockey League. The season began in September 2018 and ended in February 2019.

2018–19 SDHL season
League SDHL
SportIce hockey
Duration
  • Scheduled for:
  • 7 September 2018 – 2 February 2020
  • (Regular season)
  • February – March 2020
  • (Playoffs)
Regular season
First placeLuleå HF/MSSK
Top scorerMichela Cava (Modo Hockey)
Playoffs
SDHL Finals
ChampionsLuleå HF/MSSK
  Runners-upLinköping HC

Luleå HF/MSSK were the regular season champions for the fourth season in a row, and defeated Linköping HC 3-2 in the playoff finals to be crowned playoff champions for the third time in the last four years.[1] Göteborg HC and SDE Hockey finished at the bottom of the table, but were able to avoid relegation to Damettan in the playoffs to the SDHL.

League business

Partnerships

Prior to the beginning of the season, German company Axelent announced that they would redirect their sponsorship of HV71 away from the Champions Hockey League and towards HV71's women's side, after the men's side failed to qualify for the CHL.[2]

Broadcasting

12 regular season games were broadcast live by C More.[3]

Significant events

Pre-season

From the 30th of August to the 2nd of September, the Damcup Umeå exhibition tournament was held in Umeå, in northern Sweden, between Luleå HF/MSSK, Modo Hockey, Damettan team IF Björklöven, and the Japanese national team. Luleå were crowned winners of the tournament after winning all three of their games.[4]

At the end of September, the first Champions Cup was held in New Jersey between Luleå and the Metropolitan Riveters, the reigning NWHL champions.[5] Luleå won the cup with a 4-2 victory, although the Riveters were missing a number of players due to injuries.[6]

Post-season

On the 31st of March 2019, the Canadian Women's Hockey League announced that it was folding. In response, the league's players announced a strike movement titled ForTheGame, which led to the creation of the PWHPA. On the 10th of May, Kelty Apperson became the first ForTheGame player to sign a contract in Sweden, joining SDE Hockey.[7]

In July 2019, it was announced that the 2019 4 Nations Cup was due to be held in Luleå.[8] In September, the Cup was cancelled due to the uncertainty surrounding the Swedish players' strike as well as the events in North America.[9]

Standings

Each team played 36 regular season games, with three points being awarded for winning in regulation time, two points for winning in overtime or shootout, one point for losing in overtime or shootout, and zero points for losing in regulation time. At the end of the regular season, the team that finishes with the most points is crowned the league champion.

Regular season
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Luleå HF/MSSK 36 30 1 1 4 166 52 +114 93 Qualification to Quarter-finals
2 Modo Hockey 36 23 4 2 7 137 88 +49 79
3 Linköping HC 36 24 1 1 10 137 77 +60 75
4 Leksands IF 36 21 1 0 14 111 74 +37 65
5 HV71 36 20 0 4 12 118 70 +48 64
6 Djurgårdens IF 36 19 3 0 14 112 81 +31 63
7 Brynäs IF 36 12 1 2 21 71 107 −36 40
8 AIK 36 9 3 3 21 73 102 −29 36
9 SDE Hockey 36 4 2 2 28 54 147 −93 18 Qualification to Relegation playoffs
10 Göteborg HC 36 1 1 2 32 31 212 −181 7
Source: SDHL.se
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Playoffs
  Quarterfinal                    
  1 Luleå HF/MSSK 3  
  8 AIK IF 0   Semifinal
      1 Luleå HF/MSSK 3  
  Quarterfinal   5 HV71 0  
  4 Leksands IF 1
  5 HV71 3         Finals
              Gold Luleå HF/MSSK 3
  Quarterfinal             Silver Linköping HC 2
  2 Modo Hockey 3      
  7 Brynäs IF 0   Semifinal  
      2 Modo Hockey 0
  Quarterfinal   3 Linköping HC 3  
  4 Leksands IF 1
  7 HV71 3  

See also

References
  1. Murphy, Mike (May 17, 2019). "Just how good is Luleå/MSSK?". The Ice Garden.
  2. "Axelent steps up the sponsoring to HV71 Women". Axelent Germany.
  3. https://www.expressen.se/sport/hockey/sdhl/storsatsning-pa-sdhl-ar-fantastiskt-roligt/
  4. Payne, Shelley (September 11, 2018). "IF Bjorkloven: Damcup Umea Pre-Season Tournament".
  5. Murphy, Mike (October 1, 2018). "Five Takeaways From the Champions Cup". The Ice Garden.
  6. "Luleå bäst i världen – vann historisk titel i USA". Aftonbladet.
  7. "Women's professional hockey is at a crossroads; how we got here has been a long road". www.sportingnews.com.
  8. Foster, Meredith (July 23, 2019). "2019 Four Nations Cup schedule announced". The Ice Garden.
  9. "Four Nations Cup, top annual women's hockey tournament, is canceled". Associated Press. September 13, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.