Södertälje SK
Encyclopedia
Södertälje Sportklubb is a Swedish
professional ice hockey
club playing in HockeyAllsvenskan. Södertälje were charter members of Elitserien when the league was founded in 1975 and have since played 24 seasons in the league (1975–1978, 1980–1981, 1983–1992, 1996–1998, 2001–2006, 2007–2011). Södertälje SK's fan club is known as the "Blue Lightnings".
(SEL), Sweden's current top league, for 24 seasons.
Södertälje finished the 2004–05 Elitserien season
in 8th place and, in the following playoffs that season, advanced to the semifinals. This was the team's best performance in Elitserien since 1989. In the 2005–06 season
, however, they were relegated to Allsvenskan (now known as HockeyAllsvenskan). In 2007 the team qualified for Elitserien again. In the 2007–08 season
the team finished ninth in Elitserien and thus missed the playoffs but were automatically qualified for the following Elitserien season.
From 2009 to 2011, during Södertälje's three latest seasons in the Elitserien, the team appeared in the Kvalserien
three years in a row. In the respective Elitserien seasons they finished 12th and 11th. In both 2009
and 2010
the team survived Kvalserien and thus managed to stay in Elitserien. However, in 2011, things went worse. Prior to the last round, both Södertälje and Modo
had 17 points. In the final round of the 2011 Kvalserien
, both teams met each other in Fjällräven Center for a game that directly decided which team would be relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan. Södertälje lost the game 0–2 and thus were relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan. After Södertälje's failure to stay in Elitserien, Södertälje's then head coach Peter Popovic
was forced to leave the club. Johan Strömwall became Södertälje's new head coach.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
club playing in HockeyAllsvenskan. Södertälje were charter members of Elitserien when the league was founded in 1975 and have since played 24 seasons in the league (1975–1978, 1980–1981, 1983–1992, 1996–1998, 2001–2006, 2007–2011). Södertälje SK's fan club is known as the "Blue Lightnings".
History
Södertälje SK was founded in 1902 and have played hockey since 1925. The club has belonged to the top division in Sweden for more than 80 years. They are the team in Sweden which has played most years in the top league. They have won the Swedish championship seven times (1925, 1931, 1941, 1944, 1953, 1956, and 1985). The team has played in the ElitserienElitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
(SEL), Sweden's current top league, for 24 seasons.
Södertälje finished the 2004–05 Elitserien season
2004–05 Elitserien season
The 2004–05 Elitserien season was the 30th season of Elitserien. It started on September 20, 2004, with the regular season ending March 1, 2005. The playoffs of the 81st Swedish Championship ended on April 11, with Frölunda HC taking the championship....
in 8th place and, in the following playoffs that season, advanced to the semifinals. This was the team's best performance in Elitserien since 1989. In the 2005–06 season
2005–06 Elitserien season
The 2005–06 Elitserien season was the 31st season of Elitserien. It ran from September 26, 2005 until March 6, 2006, with the Elitserien playoffs, the 82nd Swedish Championship, to April 18, with Färjestads BK taking the championship.-Final standings:...
, however, they were relegated to Allsvenskan (now known as HockeyAllsvenskan). In 2007 the team qualified for Elitserien again. In the 2007–08 season
2007–08 Elitserien season
The 2007–08 Elitserien season was the 33rd season of Elitserien. It began on September 24, 2007, with the regular season ending March 8, 2008. The playoffs of the 84th Swedish Championship ended on April 18, with HV71 taking the championship.-Rule changes:...
the team finished ninth in Elitserien and thus missed the playoffs but were automatically qualified for the following Elitserien season.
From 2009 to 2011, during Södertälje's three latest seasons in the Elitserien, the team appeared in the Kvalserien
Kvalserien
Kvalserien, also known as Kvalserien till Elitserien, is the name of the Swedish round-robin ice hockey tournament to qualify for play in the next season of Elitserien, Sweden's top-level ice hockey league for men.-Teams:...
three years in a row. In the respective Elitserien seasons they finished 12th and 11th. In both 2009
2009 Kvalserien
The 2009 Kvalserien was the 35th Kvalserien qualification for Elitserien, played between March 13 and April 9, 2009.The 2009 Kvalserien included six teams. In this year's Kvalserien, Södertälje and Rögle, who both came from Elitserien, qualified for the 2009–10 Elitserien season...
and 2010
2010 Kvalserien
The 2010 Kvalserien was the 36th Kvalserien, played between 21 March and 11 April 2010. Södertälje and AIK, who finished 1st and 2nd respectively, qualified for the 2010–11 Elitserien season. Rögle were relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan....
the team survived Kvalserien and thus managed to stay in Elitserien. However, in 2011, things went worse. Prior to the last round, both Södertälje and Modo
MODO Hockey
Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006...
had 17 points. In the final round of the 2011 Kvalserien
2011 Kvalserien
The 2011 Kvalserien was the 37th Kvalserien, played between 14 March and 8 April 2011. Växjö Lakers Hockey and Modo Hockey, who finished 1st and 2nd respectively, qualified for the 2011–12 Elitserien season. Södertälje SK were relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan....
, both teams met each other in Fjällräven Center for a game that directly decided which team would be relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan. Södertälje lost the game 0–2 and thus were relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan. After Södertälje's failure to stay in Elitserien, Södertälje's then head coach Peter Popovic
Peter Popovic
Peter "Poppe" Popovic is a retired Swedish ice hockey defenceman and currently an assistant coach of Tre Kronor. Popovic was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 5th round of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft....
was forced to leave the club. Johan Strömwall became Södertälje's new head coach.
Board of Directors
- Chairman of the Board:
Jan Bergman - Board Member and Vice Chairman: Maria Andark
- Board Member and Financial Manager: Jan Päkkilä
- Board Member and Secretary: Jim Karlsson
- Board Member: Peter Thelin
- Board Member: Hans Gullström
- Board Member: Olle Eriksson
Management
- Club Diretor: Stefan Jonsson
- General Manager: Per Nygårds
- Marketing Manager: Fredrik Aminoff
- Ticket Manager: Jenny Palm
Kit and Medical
- Kit Manager: Anders Kellerstam
- Kitman: Lars Bergström
- Physio: Walter Skeppar
- Team Doctor: Tomas Hopfgarten
Former coaches
- Head Coach: 06/07, 07/08, 08/09 Leif Strömberg
- Head Coach: 09/10, 10/11 Peter PopovicPeter PopovicPeter "Poppe" Popovic is a retired Swedish ice hockey defenceman and currently an assistant coach of Tre Kronor. Popovic was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 5th round of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft....
- Assistant Coach: Peter Larsson
- Assistant Coach: Jörgen Bemström
- Goalkeeper Coach: Stefan Lahde