A quarter of the SDHL's season has passed. Here's a review of the highs and lows for Lulea and MoDo.
A quarter of the SDHL's season has passed. Here's a review of the highs and lows for Lulea and MoDo.
Luleå: Winners of six straight league championships and seven in the last eight years, Luleå’s success is often taken for granted by fans and the media alike. Of course they are good. Of course they lead the league in wins, power play efficiency, total goals scored, and goal differential. Of course they have a handful of players ranked in the top 10 of every single individual statistical category. But to “of course” oneself past Luleå is to disrespect the work that goes into making a team so consistently excellent. Look closer. Look at veteran defender Jenni Hiirikoski, who has put 51 shots on goal this season, 20 more than any other defender. Sure, one might say, but she’s only scored one goal. Look closer: see that her game, and so much of her value, is her ability to just get pucks on net. She can thread a shot through the head of a needle. She finds space around, under and through defenders. She finds her teammates’ stick blades with pinpoint accuracy through traffic, leading to tips, deflections, rebounds, and goals. Hiirikoski’s world class (and possibly world’s best) accuracy forces opposing forwards to step up to attempt to block her shot, which only opens passing lanes that she is happy to use. If statisticians awarded three assists per goal, Hiirikoski might lead the league in scoring. Indeed, the SDHL’s top power play boasts an embarrassment of offensive riches: Hiirikoski, feisty Akane Shiga, powerful Petra Nieminen, rugged Jaycee Magwood, highly touted speedster Viivi Vainikka and capable Linnéa Johansson. Look closer and notice the SDHL’s highest scoring active player in Emma Nordin, who tallied 43 points in 35 games last season and has notched 559 points so far in her career.
This is a team that lost 4 key players to the PWHL over the summer in defenders Anna Kjellbin (drafted 35th overall in the 2024 draft by the Montreal Victoire), Daniela Pejšová (7th overall, Boston Fleet), and Ronja Savolainen (8th overall, Ottawa Charge) as well as top scoring forward Noora Tulus (13th overall, New York Sirens). These four players accounted for 38 goals and 115 points for Luleå last season. The team could be forgiven for struggling in their absence. But look closer — Luleå is growing stronger every week. First year head coach Melinda Olsson is leading with patience and a steady hand. There have been some close games this season, and even a pair of losses, but the team is finding its way. Luleå’s most recent drubbing of Skellefteå saw them playing with the confidence and pizzazz that fans have come to expect over the years. Those who take the time to watch them more closely in the coming weeks will not be disappointed.
2023-24 Final League Ranking: 1st
Current League Ranking: 1st
MoDo
Since surviving the Relegation Round in the 2019-2020 season, MoDo has slowly but steadily climbed the league standings, culminating in a trip to the Finals last year where they lost to perennial champions Luleå. Third year Head Coach Jared Cipparone has his team playing a fast-paced and entertaining brand of hockey that is heavy on forechecking effort and excellent transition. The team lost 2023-24 top scorer and league MVP Lina Ljungblom to the PWHL over the summer, as she signed a three-year entry level contract with the Montreal Victoire. So far, replacing Ljungblom’s scoring has been accomplished by committee, as six players have scored three goals or more through the team’s first nine games. Leading the way offensively have been a trio of 18-year-olds: homegrown talents Mina Hallin and Ebba Hedqvist, and 2023-24 SDHL Rookie of the Year Adéla Šapovalivová. The youngsters have been given the invaluable opportunity to develop alongside MoDo’s veteran imports Lauren Bellefontaine and Emma Seitz, as well as off season acquisitions Darcie Lappan, Brooke McQuigge and Alexie Guay, all of whom bring both NCAA and international experience to this relatively young team.
In their first game of the season, MoDo defeated a stacked Frölunda 2-1 on the strength of excellent goaltending from Andrea Brändli and a timely power play goal by Guay. MoDo did not, perhaps, get the respect they deserved for the win, as many observers chalked up their success to Frölunda’s lacklustre play. Undeterred, MoDo sent another message in Week 3, knocking off powerhouse Luleå 2-1 in a shootout. When this team maintains its intensity for 60 minutes, and capitalises on its high speed transition, it has the potential to defeat all comers. Look for MoDo to develop more consistency in the next quarter of the season.
2023-24 Final League Ranking: 2nd
Current League Ranking: 3rd