Färjestad is only one win away from earning a spot in the SDHL for next season, while HV71 won their way back to Sweden's top league. 

(Series tied 1-1)

In the first SDHL Qualification Round match on Saturday, NDHL challengers Färjestad beat SDHL incumbents Leksand in dramatic fashion to force a decisive Game 3 in their series.  With the score tied 2-2 after regulation, the game went to double overtime where FBK’s Grace Parker played the hero.  

This was a back and forth affair, with the teams trading goals, penalties, faceoffs and perhaps questionable hits for nearly 82 minutes of play.  Emma Murén, Färjestad’s top scorer in the regular season, potted the game’s opening goal on the power play in the second period. Minutes later, Leksand responded to knot the game at 1-1. In the third, Leksand regained the lead when Agata Sarnovska tallied her first of the round. Though leading, Leksand never appeared to be in control. Perhaps the gravity of the moment affected them, but poor puck management cost them dearly when FBK tied the game late on an Alli Borrow goal off the rush.

The first overtime was chippy, nervous hockey, featuring chances both ways, but no goals. Finally, two minutes into double overtime, Färjestad’s big guns had had enough. Imposing Julia Gough received a Murén pass and drove wide down the left wing, eventually shovelling the puck on net.  Emma Polusny made the initial save, but Grace Parker poked home the rebound to the ecstatic celebrations of the Färjestad faithful in attendance.  

The decisive Game 3 is slated for Sunday at 2pm local time.  The winning team will play in the SDHL in 2025-26. 

(HV71 wins series 2-0)

HV71 rode a productive first period to victory over Södertälje in Game 2 of their best of 3 SDHL Qualification series.  The win allowed HV to sweep SSK, and retain their spot in the SDHL for the 202-26 season.  

Hilda Svensson, who played well all series, had a goal and an assist. Elin Svensson and Julia Nearis tallied HV’s other goals. Södertälje put up a much better effort in this game, but was never quite capable of adapting to the increased speed of their SDHL opponent. Skating faster is one thing, but SSK made decisions with the puck much too slowly, and telegraphed their passes and shots.  Handed a late power play with fewer than two minutes remaining in the game and the score 3-2, Södertälje had four shots blocked.  Their inability to force HV71’s penalty killers out of their tight defensive structure was their downfall, as they fell in the qualification round for a second straight year.

HV71 has an interesting off season ahead. Young stars Hilda Svensson and Jenna Raunio are both departing for Ohio State in the fall, and few of their core players have signed contracts that extend beyond this 2024-25.  There are holes that need to be filled and needs to be addressed.  This team could look very different in September.