2014–15 SHL season

The 2014–15 SHL season was the 40th season of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). The regular season began on 10 September 2014 and ended on 5 March 2015. The following playoffs began on 12 March and ended on 23 April 2015.

2014–15 SHL season
League Swedish Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration10 September 2014 – 23 April 2015
Number of games55 (330 total)
Number of teams12
Total attendance1,987,961[1]
Average attendance6,024[1]
Regular season
League ChampionSkellefteå AIK
Season MVPJúlius Hudáček (Örebro)
Top scorerDerek Ryan (Örebro)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPNoah Welch (Växjö)
Finals
ChampionsVäxjö Lakers (1st title)
  Runners-upSkellefteå AIK

Skellefteå AIK won the regular season for the third consecutive season. Växjö Lakers won the Swedish Championship title by defeating Skellefteå in six games in a series where none of the two teams won at home until Växjö in game six. The title was Växjö's first in only their second play-off appearance.

Modo Hockey and Leksands IF were forced to play in the Direktkval till SHL to defend their SHL status. Modo swept the series against HC Vita Hästen while Leksand lost to Malmö Redhawks over seven games. Therefore Malmö were promoted to the SHL on the expense of Leksand.

Pre-season

On 29 April 2014, the Swedish Sports Confederation (RF) informed that Modo Hockey player Edwin Hedberg had tested positive for the banned substance sibutramine in February.[2][3] Hedberg voluntarily suspended himself for the duration of the investigation.[3] On 9 July 2014, the RF handed Hedberg a six-month suspension from all organised sporting activity; the suspension ended on 24 October 2014.[4]

On 7 July 2014, the RF suspended Luleå HF goaltender Mark Owuya from all sporting activity for one year.[5][6][7][8] The verdict came due to an incident in February, in which Owuya disappeared without supervision during out-of-competition testing for doping.[5][7] Owuya would have missed the entire 2014–15 season as a result, but appealed the decision to the top instance of the RF on 28 July 2014.[9] On 4 September 2014, the instance decided to lift the suspension.[10]

Regular season

Standings
Final standings
Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
Skellefteå AIK 55 32 5 5 13 169 116 +53 111 Advanced directly to the playoffs
Frölunda HC 55 23 11 6 15 145 120 +25 97
Växjö Lakers 55 24 9 6 16 158 120 +38 96
Linköpings HC 55 26 4 7 18 156 125 +31 93
HV71 55 25 6 5 19 145 141 +4 92
Örebro HK 55 21 10 7 17 156 128 +28 90
Färjestad BK 55 21 6 8 20 128 135 −7 83 Play-in for the playoffs
Luleå HF 55 21 6 4 24 127 131 −4 79
Djurgårdens IF 55 15 9 8 23 128 157 −29 71
Brynäs IF 55 19 3 5 28 132 159 −27 68
Leksands IF 55 15 3 6 31 116 179 −63 57 Relegation series
Modo Hockey 55 12 4 9 30 127 176 −49 53
Source: [11]

Scoring leaders

List shows the ten best skaters based on the number of points during the regular season. If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.

As of 5 March 2015[12]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Ryan, Derek Derek RyanÖrebro HK55154560+1818
Taffe, Jeff Jeff TaffeLinköpings HC54184159+1243
Little, Broc Broc LittleLinköpings HC55281947+1438
Micflikier, Jacob Jacob MicflikierLinköpings HC54242347+1326
Johansson, Martin Martin JohanssonÖrebro HK54242246+1810
Olimb, Mathis Mathis OlimbFrölunda HC5173946+1965
Rosen, Robert Robert RosénVäxjö Lakers53232144+2716
Christensen, Erik Erik ChristensenHV7146133144+714
Scott, Greg Greg ScottBrynäs IF47182442+420
Sweatt, Bill Bill SweattBrynäs IF54192241+336

Leading goaltenders

These are the leaders in GAA among goaltenders who played at least 40% of the team's minutes. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.

As of 5 March 2015[13]

GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Player Team GP TOI GA SO Sv% GAA
Lassinantti, Joel Joel LassinanttiLuleå HF382071:4865592.791.88
Hudacek, Julius Julius HudacekÖrebro HK452640:5484492.991.91
Svensson, Markus Markus SvenssonSkellefteå AIK301789:4757391.881.91
Nilstorp, Cristopher Cristopher NilstorpVäxjö Lakers382134:5270591.281.97
Fernström, Linus Linus FernströmFrölunda HC331851:5061490.631.98
Pogge, Justin Justin PoggeFärjestad BK301642:5955492.602.01
Johansson, Lars Lars JohanssonFrölunda HC301492:4650391.502.01
Rautio, David David RautioLinköpings HC331851:0763792.132.04
Hanses, Erik Erik HansesSkellefteå AIK251415:0648291.502.04
Högberg, Marcus Marcus HögbergLinköpings HC271462:5556391.722.30

Playoffs

The top six teams will qualify directly for the playoffs, while the four teams ranked 7–10 will play a best-of-three series and battle for the two remaining playoff spots.[14][15]

Play-in

The teams ranked 7 and 10, and the teams ranked 8 and 9, respectively, will face each other in a best-of-three series in order to qualify for the playoffs. The better-ranked teams in the two series will receive home advantage, i.e. two home games, if necessary. The two winners will take the two remaining playoff spots.[14][15]

(7) Färjestad BK vs. (10) Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF won series 2–1

(8) Luleå HF vs. (9) Djurgårdens IF
Luleå HF won series 2–0

Playoff bracket

In the first round, the top-ranked team will face the lowest-ranked winner of the two best-of-three series, the 2nd-ranked team will face the other winner of the two best-of-three series, the 3rd-ranked team will face the 6th-ranked team, and the 4th-ranked team will face the 5th-ranked team. In the second round, the highest remaining seed is matched against the lowest remaining seed. In each round the higher-seeded team is awarded home advantage. Each series is a best-of-seven series that follows an alternating home team format: the higher-seeded team will play at home for games 1 and 3 (plus 5 and 7 if necessary), and the lower-seeded team will be at home for game 2 and 4 (plus 6 if necessary).[14][15]

  Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
                           
  1 Skellefteå AIK 4  
10 Brynäs IF 0  
  1 Skellefteå AIK 4  
  4 Linköpings HC 1  
2 Frölunda HC 4
  8 Luleå HF 3  
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first round)   1 Skellefteå AIK 2
  3 Växjö Lakers 4
  3 Växjö Lakers 4  
6 Örebro HK 2  
  2 Frölunda HC 2
  3 Växjö Lakers 4  
4 Linköpings HC 4
  5 HV71 2  

(1) Skellefteå AIK vs. (10) Brynäs IF
Skellefteå AIK won series 4–0

(2) Frölunda HC vs. (8) Luleå HF
Frölunda HC won series 4–3

(3) Växjö Lakers vs. (6) Örebro HK
Växjö Lakers won series 4–2

(4) Linköpings HC vs. (5) HV71
Linköpings HC won series 4–2

(1) Skellefteå AIK vs. (4) Linköpings HC
Skellefteå AIK won series 4–1

(2) Frölunda HC vs. (3) Växjö Lakers
Växjö Lakers won series 4–2

Finals
Växjö Lakers won series 4–2

Playoff scoring leaders

List shows the ten best skaters based on the number of points during the playoffs. If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.

As of 23 April 2015[16]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Holmström, Axel Axel HolmströmSkellefteå AIK1571118+40
Little, Broc Broc LittleLinköpings HC115914+38
Tambellini, Jeff Jeff TambelliniVäxjö Lakers185813+82
Zackrisson, Patrik Patrik ZackrissonSkellefteå AIK154913+44
Kiiskinen, Tuomas Tuomas KiiskinenVäxjö Lakers184913+42
Rakhshani, Rhett Rhett RakhshaniVäxjö Lakers188412+98
Rosen, Robert Robert RosénVäxjö Lakers185712+56
Lajunen, Jani Jani LajunenVäxjö Lakers186511+68
Calof, Andrew Andrew CalofSkellefteå AIK154711+32
Heed, Tim Tim HeedSkellefteå AIK152911–20

Playoff leading goaltenders

These are the leaders in GAA and save percentage among goaltenders who played at least 40% of the team's minutes. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.

As of 23 April 2015[17]

GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Player Team GP TOI GA SO Sv% GAA
Nihlstorp, Cristopher Cristopher NihlstorpVäxjö Lakers161012:5729392.121.72
Lassinantti, Joel Joel LassinanttiLuleå HF7417:0613092.741.87
Svensson, Markus Markus SvenssonSkellefteå AIK15932:2029191.921.87
Johansson, Lars Lars JohanssonFrölunda HC13815:1627292.111.99
Wesslau, Gustaf Gustaf WesslauHV716357:3516090.862.68

SHL awards
Guldhjälmen: Derek Ryan, Örebro HK[18]
Guldpucken: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Honken Trophy: Joel Lassinantti, Luleå HF[19]
Håkan Loob Trophy: Broc Little, Linköpings HC
Rookie of the Year: Marcus Sörensen, Djurgårdens IF
Salming Trophy: Tim Heed, Skellefteå AIK
Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy: Noah Welch, Växjö Lakers
Guldpipan: Mikael Nord

See also

References
  1. "Team attendance rates for the 2014–15 SHL regular season". Swedish Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  2. Ek, Mattias (29 April 2014). "Modos Edwin Hedberg har åkt fast för doping". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  3. "Edwin Hedberg utreds för användande av otillåtet preparat" (in Swedish). Modo Hockey. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  4. Wahlberg, Malin (9 July 2014). "Hedberg stängs av sex månader". Sportbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  5. "Beslut från Dopingnämnden" (PDF). Swedish Sports Confederation (in Swedish). 7 July 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  6. Mattsson, Sebastian; Yesil, Sarp; Landén, Petter (10 July 2014). "Luleås Mark Owuya blir avstängd i ett år". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  7. Wahlberg, Malin (10 July 2014). "När han gick in på toa tänkte jag att han manipulerade testet". Sportbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  8. Hedlund, Robert (10 July 2014). "Avstängningen av Owuya" (in Swedish). Luleå HF. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  9. Winblad, Johan (28 July 2014). "Owuya överklagar dopingavstänging" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  10. Wahlberg, Malin (4 September 2014). "Owuyas nya bakslag – beslutet kan överklagas". Sportbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  11. "Statistik - SHL.se". SHL. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  12. "Statistik - SHL.se". SHL. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  13. "Start - SHL.se". SHL. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  14. "Datum och speldagar för Play In och Slutspel 2015". shl.se. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  15. "Datum och speldagar för Play In och SM-slutspel 2015". shl.se. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  16. "Statistik - SHL.se". SHL. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  17. "Start - SHL.se". SHL. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  18. http://www.hockeysverige.se/2015/03/16/guldhjalmen-till-derek-ryan/
  19. http://www.hockeysverige.se/2015/03/19/honken-trophy-gar-till-rookiesensationen/

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