Ice Hockey in Linköping

Ice hockey is one of the main sports in Sweden next to football. I have never heard of a Linköping football team, but I have definitely heard of the Linköping Hockey Club – LHC.

The men’s team play in the SHL – Svenska Hockeyligan (Swedish Hockey League) and the women play in the SDHL – Svenska damhockeyligan (Swedish Women’s Hockey League). The 22-23 season started on the 11 of September and ends on the 15th of March (SHL)/the 7th of April (SDHL). Usually, the men’s team plays its home games on Thursdays in the evening and the away matches on Saturdays. So, there are a lot of possibilities for you to go to one. Also, you can be quite spontaneous. To be honest, we are not quite the top team in either league meaning that the arena is rarely filled up. As a student you can get quite a good price on tickets starting from 79 SEK if you are luckily. Those seats are of course not the very best ones, but you can definitely see everything and are right next to the action! The tickets can be easily booked online where you can also choose your preferred seats.

Now, the home matches take place at the Saab Arena. It is quite close to the Central station, but because you still have to cross the canal which means there is still a 10-minute walk to the arena. You can of course also bike, but I have to say in winter when it’s snowy and dark I don’t feel like biking the way (mostly uphill) back to Ryd. Technically it’s just about 20 minutes from there.

I have been to four matches so far and they have all been wins! Those are of course the best cause the arena just goes crazy. It’s an amazing atmosphere. The Linköping Fan Curb definitely knows how to motivate the team and celebrate goals! And one of them at the end of last season (March 2022) the Club had organized a teddy bear toss. All the proceedings went to support children in the Ukraine. That was great fun for a good cause!

Also, one more recommendation: Put on thick cloths! It gets quite cold in the arena (obviously as the ice needs to be cooled down), but it easy to underestimate how cold it gets. Especially when you have a seat, and you don’t get up other than when there is a goal, and you celebrate. But there are of course also food stands around the arena where you can get something to warm you up. I recommend the popcorn!

A hockey match should definitely be on your Sweden must-do list!

All the best,

Emily