Here's a look at how SDE and Skellefteå AIK through the first quarter of the SDHL's season.
Here's a look at how SDE and Skellefteå AIK through the first quarter of the SDHL's season.
A quarter of the way through the 2024-2025 SDHL season, here are some notes and takeaways from SDE and Skellefteå AIK.
SDE
SDE is the United Nations of Swedish hockey, featuring players from seven different countries. Despite a wealth of experience from the world’s best leagues, it appears that something has been lost in translation at times during the first quarter of the season. Undeniably talented, SDE plays an entertaining offensive game with intensity and flash, but has often struggled to score when it matters most. 26-year-old German national team forward Emily Nix has shown flashes of brilliance after many productive seasons in the top German league, the DFEL. Indeed, Nix has scored 30% of all of SDE’s goals this season. Norwegian Emma Bergesen, an SDHL rookie after five successful years at Mount Royal University (USports), is the fourth highest-scoring defender in the league, and is always threatening from the blue line. It is unclear what could account for the team’s seeming lack of direction, and moments when there appear be too many admirals on the ice and not enough sailors. Some bright spots have been the power play, which has a 20% success rate, good for second in the league, and goaltending. Kassidy Sauvé, who joined the team from Finland’s HPK this summer, has been outstanding between the pipes, posting a league-best .951 save percentage in eight starts. Goalies, however, cannot win games alone. They need goal support, and this is where SDE has struggled: the team has an anaemic 5.9 shooting percentage and has potted only 19 goals over 10 games. When a roster includes so many players who have proven themselves in the NCAA and internationally, fans can and should expect production. Malia Schneider, Lotti Odnoga, Lisa Johansson, Michelle Löwenhielm, Liliane Perreault, Julie Zwarthoed, Nix and Bergesen: these are players who can score. If they can settle in and develop a little bit more structure, SDE will be a more dangerous team in the weeks ahead.
2023-24 Final League Ranking: 7th
Current League Ranking: 5th
Skellefteå AIK
Rookie SDHL head coach Martin Lindh and his staff have done an admirable job forming and guiding Skellefteå through their first weeks in the top Swedish league since 2008. The team did not have to wait long for its first SDHL win, beating Djurgården 2-1 in only their second game of the season. While the squad has only won one other game, a 2-1 victory over Leksand at the end of September, they have managed to steal points in the standings from HV71 (whom they took to overtime before losing), SDE (lost in a shootout), Brynäs (lost in a shootout), and MoDo (lost in overtime). This team has chutzpah, and simply is not intimidated by more experienced and celebrated opponents. Some of their confidence can be attributed to the excellent play of SDHL rookie and former University of Saskatchewan standout goalie Camryn Drever, whose .939 save percentage and calm demeanour have given her team a chance to establish themselves in the league. Fellow off season additions Sini Karjalainen, Ida Kuoppala, Aino Karppinen, Mikayla Lantto and Marah Wagner are already paying dividends and have combined to score ten of the team’s 13 goals this season. If Ellen Lövgren and Laura Lerchová can find even some of the scoring form that helped the team win promotion from the NDHL last season, Skellefteå has the grit and determination to maintain their spot in the top 8.
2023-24 Final League Ranking: Promoted from NDHL
Current League Ranking: 8th