The world's most evenly matched professional hockey league

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 2010–11 season, the Swedish Hockey League achieved a rare feat in professional sports: it was ranked as the most evenly matched ice hockey league on Earth. This high level of parity is balanced by a rigorous promotion and relegation system that keeps the competition fierce.

The SHL (Svenska Hockeyligan) serves as Sweden's premier professional ice hockey tier, currently featuring 14 teams. While Swedish championships have been contested since 1922, the modern era of the league began in 1975 as Elitserien. It was eventually rebranded to SHL in 2013 to create a stronger brand identity for investment and easier translation into English. The league was originally founded with just 10 teams before expanding to 12 in 1987. It underwent another expansion to its current size of 14 teams starting in the 2015–16 season.

The league's competitive structure is defined by a high-stakes promotion and relegation system with HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier league. At the end of the regular season, the two lowest-ranked teams enter a best-of-seven series called Kvalserien to determine who stays in the top flight. The champion of HockeyAllsvenskan then takes the spot of the relegated team, ensuring that only the most capable clubs maintain their status. During the regular season, winning a game in regulation time earns three points. Conversely, victories in overtime or shootouts award two points while losses in those scenarios grant one point.

The SHL's prestige is reflected in its international standing; for 13 consecutive years leading into 2025, it has been ranked as the third-strongest professional hockey league globally, trailing only the NHL and KHL. This elite status allows its top five teams to compete in the Champions Hockey League (CHL), where they vie for the European Trophy. The league's top five teams earn spots in the Champions Hockey League based on their relative strength. This competition is notable because it excludes the KHL from participation.

Beyond the standings, the league is a cultural staple. With a mean of 6,385 fans per match, this European ice hockey league saw its highest turnout during 2011–12. It remains one of Sweden's most popular sports leagues, second only to football's Allsvenskan. A record attendance of 31,144 was set during an outdoor game at Ullevi in 2009. Additionally, only one Swedish hockey game has ever lasted longer than four full overtime periods.

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