Luleå Will Face Stiffer Competition This Season In The SDHL

Luleå has won five straight SDHL titles, but several teams have improved their rosters and will provide more competition in the SDHL this year.

Luleå is a powerhouse. They've won five straight SDHL titles spanning back to 2018, and the team also won the 2016 title. This season however, the depth and talent of the SDHL looks stronger than it has in recent memory, meaning Luleå will have a tougher path to a fifth straight title.

Luleå returns a powerhouse roster including on their blueline wiht Finland's Jenni Hiirikoski and Ronja Savolainen, Czechia's Daniela Pejsova, and Sweden's Anna Kjellbin, and they also added Dominika Laskova, signing the PHF all-star to a contract with an exit clause to potentially return to the new North American pro league.

Up front, the Finnish trio of Petra Nieminen, Noora Tulus, and Viivi Vainikka will lead the way, while Sara Grahn, last year's SDHL goalie of the year is back between the pipes.

It's a strong and deep roster, but Luleå will face stiff competition from a group of improved teams.

Brynäs has fought to runner up position multiple times in recent seasons and they look read to challenge again this year. A healthy Klara Peslarova in net could be the difference, but she'll have help in front of her as well. Maja Nylén Persson is back and will serve as captain, while Czechia national team member Sara Cajanova also returns to the blueline, while Finland's Sini Karjalainen is a newcomer to watch on the point. Up front, reigning SDHL MVP Anna Meixner returns, but the loss of veterans Lara Stalder and Alena Mills will hurt. Newcomers Jennina Nylund and Josefine Jakobsen will be counted up to pick up the slack.

While they just earned promotion, Frolunda will be an instantaneous challenge to the SDHL competition. Superstars Michelle Karvinen and Hanna Olsson headline the roster, but they're not alone up front as Frolunda will also send out Emilia Vesa, Andrea Dalhen, and Sarah-Ève Coutu-Godbout. Defensively, Lindsay Agnew will carry the load, while Stephanie Neatby will be tough to beat in net.

MoDo looks primed to challenge Luleå and Brynäs this season as well. They lost significant star power, but also brought in talent. Alongside Swedish forward Lina Ljungblom, MoDo will welcome Adela Sapovalivova, Lauren Bellefontaine, Taylor House, and Abby Moloughney up front. Their blueline looks like a powerful crew with Ebba Berglund, Emma Seitz, Linnea Andersson, and Aneta Tejralova leading the way. Swiss netminder Andrea Brandli will be counted on in goal.

Leksands may not find their way to the top, but they'll also present a larger challenge to the opposition this year adding several international players like Shay Maloney, Tatum Amy, Autumn Macdougall, Lore Baudrit, and Alexandra Huszak to the roster.

Similarly, SDE looks vastly improved capitalizing off the acquisition of the PHF to grab a handful of recruits, as well as utilizing national team members from Division 1A rosters.

The SDHL season drops the puck September 24.