Current season, competition or edition: 2023–24 SHL season
Formerly
Elitserien (1975–2013)
Sport
Ice hockey
Founded
1975
First season
1975–76
No. of teams
14
Country
Sweden
Most recent champion(s)
Skellefteå AIK (4th title)
Most titles
Djurgårdens IF (16th title)
TV partner(s)
Sweden:
TV4 Group
Finland:
C More Entertainment
Relegation to
HockeyAllsvenskan
International cup(s)
Champions Hockey League
Related competitions
Swedish Women's Hockey League
Official website
SHL.se
The Swedish Hockey League (SHL; Swedish: Svenska Hockeyligan) is a professional ice hockey league, and the highest division in the Swedish ice hockey system. The league currently consists of 14 teams. The league was founded in 1975, and while Swedish ice hockey champions have been crowned through various formats since 1922, the title and the Le Mat Trophy have been awarded to the winner of the SHL playoffs since the league's inaugural 1975–76 season.
The league was founded in 1975 as the Elitserien (known in English as the Swedish Elite League or SEL),[1] and initially featured 10 teams, though this was expanded to 12 for the 1987–88 season. The league was renamed the SHL in 2013,[2] and in 2014, a number of format changes were announced, including an expansion to 14 teams to be finalized prior to the 2015–16 season, and a new format for promotion from and relegation to HockeyAllsvenskan, the second tier league.[3]
Teams from the SHL participate in the IIHF's annual Champions Hockey League (CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the European/Asian Kontinental Hockey League). Going into the 2022–23 CHL season, the SHL was ranked the No. 1 league in Europe, allowing them to send their top five teams to compete in the CHL.
^Meltzer, Bill (17 June 2013). "World Junior hosts boast rich hockey heritage". NHL.com. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
^"SHL: Elitserien och Svenska Hockeyligan blir SHL". SHL.se. 17 June 2013.
^"SHL och HockeyAllsvenskan utvecklar elithockeyn". HockeyAllsvenskan. 13 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
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Global Information
2023–24 SHL season