Leksands IF
Encyclopedia
Leksands Idrottsförening is a Swedish ice hockey
team from the town of Leksand
in the region of Dalarna
. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden
, HockeyAllsvenskan. Leksand has played 53 seasons in the top Swedish league (since 1975 called Elitserien
) – between 1951
to 2001
, 2002
to 2004
, and 2005–06
. The club's home arena is Tegera Arena.
11–0. Leksands IF is one of the most popular teams throughout Sweden, despite the fact that the town of Leksand
only has 6,000 inhabitants. Despite that, and the fact that Leksand presently plays in the second tier division HockeyAllsvenskan, the club averages nearly 5,000 spectators per game in their home arena. Leksand played in the top hockey division in Sweden from 1951 until 2001. The club was very successful between 1969 and 1975, when they became Swedish champions four times (1969
, 1973
–1975
). Before the current top division, Elitserien
, was formed prior to the 1975–76 season
, they had been the runner-ups four times: 1959
, 1964
, 1971
and 1972
. Leksand has never become Elitserien champions despite winning Elitserien's regular season in 1980
, 1994
and 1997
, and being the runner-ups in 1989
. In 2001 they were the club with the second most consecutive seasons in the highest division at that point (the record is held by Södertälje SK
, with 53 consecutive seasons between 1925–1978).
Following the relegation to HockeyAllsvenskan in April 2001, Leksand has commuted between the top and second divisions until 2005–06
, when the team was relegated to the second tier again, where they still find themselves today.
For the 2007–08 season
, Leksand signed former NHL
goaltender Ed Belfour
in an attempt to regain top league status. After winning the second league with relative ease, the team failed in the final qualification stage, Kvalserien
, to gain promotion. Ed Belfour retired after the 2007–08 season.
Leksand once again won Allsvenskan in the 2008–09 season
, but once again failed to qualify for the Elitserien in the 2009 Kvalserien
. The managers Thomas Kempe
and Thomas Jonsson were sacked following three straight defeats in the beginning of the Kvalserien
. The team finished the 2009 Kvalserien with five wins in the last six games, but still failed to qualify. For the 2009–10 season, Leksand employed Leif Strömberg, who had previously successfully guided Södertälje SK
through Kvalserien. The team once again won Allsvenskan and qualified for the 2010 Kvalserien
, finishing three points ahead of AIK
. In the ninth round of the 2010 Kvalserien, Leksand had a good chance to be promoted back to Elitserien, but Leksand failed to beat the Kvalserien's worst ranked team Växjö Lakers
and, despite a win in the tenth and final round, Leksand missed Elitserien as both AIK and Rögle BK
won their respective games in the final round. The following season Leksand would attempt to reach the Kvalserien for the seventh consecutive season. The team finished fourth in Allsvenskan and missed automatic qualification for the Kvalserien and had to play in a pre-qualification series to reach the Kvalserien, but Leksand finished third and missed the Kvalserien.
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...
team from the town of Leksand
Leksand Municipality
Leksand Municipality is a municipality in Dalarna County in central Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Leksand....
in the region of Dalarna
Dalarna
', English exonym: Dalecarlia, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. Another English language form established in literature is the Dales. Places involving the element Dalecarlia exist in the United States....
. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden
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....
, HockeyAllsvenskan. Leksand has played 53 seasons in the top Swedish league (since 1975 called Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
) – between 1951
1951–52 Swedish Division I season
The 1951–52 Swedish Division I season was the eighth season of Swedish Division I. Sodertalje SK defeated Gavle GIK in the league final, 2 games to none.-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-External links:*...
to 2001
2000–01 Elitserien season
-Standings:-Playoffs:...
, 2002
2002–03 Elitserien season
-Standings:-Playoffs:...
to 2004
2003–04 Elitserien season
The 2003–04 Elitserien season was the 29th season of Elitserien. It started in September 2003, with the regular season ending February 2004.-Final standings:- Scoring leaders :-Playoff bracket:...
, and 2005–06
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:...
. The club's home arena is Tegera Arena.
History
The club was formed in 1919 and the first hockey game was played in 1938, when they beat Mora IKMora IK
Mora Ishockeyklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey club from Mora, Sweden. They are currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan...
11–0. Leksands IF is one of the most popular teams throughout Sweden, despite the fact that the town of Leksand
Leksand
Leksand is a locality and the seat of Leksand Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 5,861 inhabitants in 2005.- Sport :Leksand is famous for the Leksands IF ice hockey team. Leksand is also home to the Leksands Baseball and Softball Club, one of the oldest and more successful baseball clubs...
only has 6,000 inhabitants. Despite that, and the fact that Leksand presently plays in the second tier division HockeyAllsvenskan, the club averages nearly 5,000 spectators per game in their home arena. Leksand played in the top hockey division in Sweden from 1951 until 2001. The club was very successful between 1969 and 1975, when they became Swedish champions four times (1969
1968–69 Swedish Division I season
The 1968–69 Swedish Division I season was the 25th season of Swedish Division I. Leksands IF won the league title by finishing first in the final round.-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-Final round:-External links:*...
, 1973
1972–73 Swedish Division I season
The 1972–73 Swedish Division I season was the 29th season of Swedish Division I. Leksands IF won the league title by finishing first in the final round.-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-Final round:-External links:...
–1975
1974–75 Swedish Division I season
The 1974–75 Swedish Division I season was the 31st and final season of Swedish Division I. It was replaced by the Elitserien for 1975–76. Leksands IF won the final Division I title by defeating Brynas IF in the final.-Regular season:-External links:*...
). Before the current top division, Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
, was formed prior to the 1975–76 season
1975–76 Elitserien season
-Standings:-Playoffs:Semifinals*Farjestads BK beat Leksands IF 2 games to none*Brynas IF beat Skellefta AIK 2 games to noneFinal*Brynas IF beat Farjestads BK 2 games to none3rd place*Leksands IF beat Skellefta AIK 2 games to none...
, they had been the runner-ups four times: 1959
1958–59 Swedish Division I season
The 1958–59 Swedish Division I season was the 15th season of Swedish Division I. Djurgardens IF won the league title by finishing first in the final round.-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-Final round:-External links:*...
, 1964
1963–64 Swedish Division I season
The 1963–64 Swedish Division I season was the 20th season of Swedish Division I. Brynas IF won the league title by finishing first in the final round.-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-Qualification round:-Final round:-External links:*...
, 1971
1970–71 Swedish Division I season
The 1970–71 Swedish Division I season was the 27th season of Swedish Division I. Brynas IF won the league title by finishing first in the final round.-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-Final round:-External links:*...
and 1972
1971–72 Swedish Division I season
The 1971–72 Swedish Division I season was the 28th season of Swedish Division I. Brynas IF won the league title by finishing first in the final round.-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-Northern Group:-Southern Group:-Final round:-External links:*...
. Leksand has never become Elitserien champions despite winning Elitserien's regular season in 1980
1979–80 Elitserien season
-Standings:-Playoffs:...
, 1994
1993–94 Elitserien season
-First round :- Final round :-Playoffs:...
and 1997
1996–97 Elitserien season
-Standings:-Playoffs:...
, and being the runner-ups in 1989
1988–89 Elitserien season
- First round :- Final round :-Playoffs:...
. In 2001 they were the club with the second most consecutive seasons in the highest division at that point (the record is held by Södertälje SK
Södertälje SK
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...
, with 53 consecutive seasons between 1925–1978).
Following the relegation to HockeyAllsvenskan in April 2001, Leksand has commuted between the top and second divisions until 2005–06
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:...
, when the team was relegated to the second tier again, where they still find themselves today.
For the 2007–08 season
2007–08 HockeyAllsvenskan season
-Standings:-References:This page uses content from the Swedish Wikipedia....
, Leksand signed former NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
goaltender Ed Belfour
Ed Belfour
Edward John Belfour is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.Belfour was born in Carman, Manitoba and grew up playing hockey. He played junior hockey for the Winkler Flyers before going to the University of North Dakota where he helped the school win the NCAA championship in the...
in an attempt to regain top league status. After winning the second league with relative ease, the team failed in the final qualification stage, 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:...
, to gain promotion. Ed Belfour retired after the 2007–08 season.
Leksand once again won Allsvenskan in the 2008–09 season
2008–09 HockeyAllsvenskan season
The 2008–09 HockeyAllsvenskan season was the 27th season of HockeyAllsvenskan, the second highest ice hockey league for men in Sweden.██ Advanced to the 2009 Kvalserien██ Advanced to playoffs to the 2009 Kvalserien...
, but once again failed to qualify for the Elitserien in the 2009 Kvalserien
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...
. The managers Thomas Kempe
Thomas Kempe
Thomas Kempe was a medieval Bishop of London.Kempe was the nephew of John Kemp, Archbishop of Canterbury.Kempe was provided to London on 21 August 1448 and consecrated on 8 February 1450. He died on 28 March 1489. He had previously held the office of Archdeacon of Richmond from 1442 to 1448.-...
and Thomas Jonsson were sacked following three straight defeats in the beginning of 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:...
. The team finished the 2009 Kvalserien with five wins in the last six games, but still failed to qualify. For the 2009–10 season, Leksand employed Leif Strömberg, who had previously successfully guided Södertälje SK
Södertälje SK
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...
through Kvalserien. The team once again won Allsvenskan and qualified for the 2010 Kvalserien
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....
, finishing three points ahead of AIK
AIK IF
Allmänna Idrottsklubben Ishockeyförening is the ice hockey section of the sports club Allmänna Idrottsklubben based in Stockholm, Sweden...
. In the ninth round of the 2010 Kvalserien, Leksand had a good chance to be promoted back to Elitserien, but Leksand failed to beat the Kvalserien's worst ranked team Växjö Lakers
Växjö Lakers Hockey
Växjö Lakers Hockey is an ice hockey club from Växjö in Sweden. They play their home games in the Vida Arena. The club makes their debut in the Elitserien , Sweden's top ice hockey league, in the 2011–12 season...
and, despite a win in the tenth and final round, Leksand missed Elitserien as both AIK and Rögle BK
Rögle BK
Rögle Bandyklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey club. They currently play in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second highest league in Sweden. The team has previously played four seasons in Elitserien between 1992–93 and 1995–96 and between 2008–09 and 2009–10....
won their respective games in the final round. The following season Leksand would attempt to reach the Kvalserien for the seventh consecutive season. The team finished fourth in Allsvenskan and missed automatic qualification for the Kvalserien and had to play in a pre-qualification series to reach the Kvalserien, but Leksand finished third and missed the Kvalserien.
Team name
The letter combination "IF" is short for "idrottsförening", which is the Swedish word for sports association. This is a commonly used abbreviation among Swedish sports teams.Honored numbers
- 3 Vilgot Larsson
- 12 Mats ÅhlbergMats ÅhlbergMats Bertil Åhlberg is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the Elitserien. He played for Leksands IF. He was a member of the Swedish 1976 Canada Cup team. He also competed for Sweden in the 1980 Winter Olympics and won the bronze medal.-External links:...
- 15 Dan SöderströmDan SöderströmDan Söderström is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the Elitserien. He played for Leksands IF. He won a bronze medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics.-External links:...
- 22 Nisse NilssonNisse NilssonNils "Nisse" Nilsson is a retired Swedish ice hockey player. He participated at the 1964 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal. He was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 2002.-External links:...
External links
- Leksands IF - Official site
- Leksand Superstars supporter's club
- Tokiga Masar Götaland supporter's club