Ice Hockey in Sweden
Sweden has one of the strongest hockey cultures in the world, with a well-established club system and opportunities for players at many different levels. As a university student in Sweden, you can combine your studies with competitive club hockey and continue developing as a player.
Male students may also have the opportunity to represent their university in the Swedish University Hockey League, SUHL, while continuing to play for a local club.
Men’s Club Hockey in Sweden
The Swedish hockey system includes several levels, from professional hockey to competitive regional leagues. Bluechip helps each player identify clubs and opportunities that match their hockey background, ability and goals.
SHL
The highest professional hockey league in Sweden.
HockeyAllsvenskan
The second highest professional league in Sweden.
HockeyEttan
A strong national league with clubs throughout Sweden.
HockeyTvåan
Competitive regional hockey with teams across the country.
Division 3 and lower divisions
Regional leagues offering opportunities for players at a wide range of competitive levels.
Junior Hockey
Sweden also has a strong junior hockey system, including U20 Nationell, U20 Regional, U20 Division 1 and several U18 levels. Depending on a player’s age, background and goals, junior hockey may also be an option.
Swedish University Hockey League - SUHL
The Swedish University Hockey League, SUHL, is a national university hockey league for male students studying at Swedish universities. The league currently consists of nine teams and gives students the opportunity to represent their university and compete against other university teams from across Sweden.
SUHL is operated and organized by the Swedish University Hockey Federation, SUHF. Its mission is to develop university hockey in Sweden and give students the opportunity to combine higher education with competitive hockey.
One of the unique aspects of university hockey in Sweden is that players can play both club hockey and university hockey. This means you can represent a local Swedish hockey club while also playing for your university in SUHL.
The teams compete during the academic year for a place in the national championship, where the top university teams compete for the Swedish university hockey title.
For North American players, SUHL adds another dimension to the Swedish hockey experience. You can pursue your degree, play competitive club hockey and also experience representing your university in a national university hockey league.
SUHL Eligibility
To compete in SUHL, players must meet the league’s eligibility requirements. Rules and eligibility are determined by the Swedish University Hockey Federation and may be updated from season to season. Bluechip will help you understand the requirements and determine how they apply to your individual situation.
For current SUHL rules and eligibility requirements, visit the official SUHL website:
Women’s Club Hockey in Sweden
Sweden has a strong and well-established women’s hockey system, with opportunities for players at several competitive levels. Female students can combine their university studies with playing for a local Swedish hockey club in the same city or region.
SDHL
The Swedish Women’s Hockey League is the highest level of women’s hockey in Sweden and one of the leading women’s hockey leagues in Europe.
NDHL
The second highest level of women’s hockey in Sweden, with teams competing across the country.
Division 2
Regional competition offering additional opportunities for players at different levels.
Unlike the men’s side, there is currently no university hockey league equivalent to SUHL for women. Instead, female student-athletes continue their hockey careers through the Swedish club system while pursuing their university degree.
Bluechip helps evaluate each player’s hockey background and level and identifies suitable club opportunities in or near the cities where she is considering university programs.
What Level Could I Play At?
Every player is different, and the right level depends on your hockey background, age, position, experience and individual ability. As a general guide, the following comparisons can help give North American players an idea of where they may fit within the Swedish hockey system.
SHL is Sweden’s highest professional level. This is elite professional hockey with many players who have international, NHL or other high-level professional experience.
HockeyAllsvenskan is also high-level professional hockey and is typically suited to players with strong NCAA Division I or comparable elite-level experience.
HockeyEttan is a strong level of Swedish hockey and may generally be comparable to NCAA Division I and top NCAA Division III level.
HockeyTvåan may generally be comparable to strong NCAA Division III and high-level ACHA Division I hockey.
Division 3 and lower divisions provide opportunities for players from a broader range of NCAA, ACHA and junior hockey backgrounds.
These comparisons are intended as a general guide only. The level can vary between individual teams, and Bluechip evaluates each player based on their hockey background, ability and individual situation to identify realistic opportunities.
The Swedish hockey system also gives players the opportunity to move between levels. Starting at one level does not mean staying there. Players who perform well and develop within the Swedish system may earn opportunities to move to a higher-level club.
University Cities & Hockey Opportunities
Bluechip works with university and hockey opportunities in several of Sweden’s leading student cities, including Gothenburg, Karlstad, Jönköping, Lund, Växjö, Linköping, Örebro, Stockholm and Uppsala.
The right destination depends on much more than the city. We look at your academic goals, hockey background and available opportunities to identify combinations that may be right for you.
Bluechip works with both male and female players and helps each student-athlete evaluate the complete picture before deciding where to study and play. We use our experience and hockey network in Sweden to identify opportunities that fit your individual situation and goals.