Current season, competition or edition: 2014 HockeyAllsvenskan Kvalserien | |
Sport | Ice hockey |
---|---|
Founded | 2001 |
No. of teams | 6 |
Country | Sweden |
Most recent champion(s) | HC Vita Hästen, IF Björklöven |
Promotion to | HockeyAllsvenskan |
Relegation to | Hockeyettan |
Official website | Kvalserien @ HockeyAllsvenskan.se |
Kvalserien, also known as Kvalserien till HockeyAllsvenskan, is the name of the Swedish round-robin ice hockey tournament to qualify for play in the next season of HockeyAllsvenskan (formerly named Allsvenskan), Sweden's second highest ice hockey league for men.
Kvalserien is formed after the regular seasons of HockeyAllsvenskan and Hockeyettan (formerly named Division 1) are played. Prior to 2006, the two worst ranked teams in Allsvenskan Södra Vår and Allsvenskan Norra Vår, and the two best ranked teams in each Division 1 series, formed the leagues (one qualification league for the southern Allsvenskan, and another for the northern Allsvenskan). However, since 2006, the two worst ranked teams in HockeyAllsvenskan, and the four winning teams in the Division 1 playoffs, form the league. The six teams play each other twice, once at home and once on the road, for a total of 10 games per team and a total of 30 games. The teams finishing first and second are promoted to HockeyAllsvenskan the next season, while the other four teams play in Division 1 the following season.
The exception was the 2009 HockeyAllsvenskan Kvalserien, when the teams ranked 14th and 15th in HockeyAllsvenskan, and the four winning teams in the Division 1 playoffs, formed the league. The worst ranked team in HockeyAllsvenskan was automatically relegated to Division 1, and only the best team in the 2009 HockeyAllsvenskan Kvalserien was promoted to HockeyAllsvenskan, to allow a change in HockeyAllsvenskan from 16 to 14 teams.
Although Allsvenskan (currently named HockeyAllsvenskan) was formed in the 1999–2000 season, no Kvalserien was played in 2000; instead, the four worst teams in Allsvenskan were relegated to Division 1 while the four best teams in Division 1 were promoted to Allsvenskan.
Halmstad Hammers HC, HC Örebro 90, Huddinge IK, and Almtuna IS were promoted to Allsvenskan. IFK Kumla, IF Mölndal Hockey, Tierps HK, and IF Vallentuna BK were relegated to Division 1.
IF Björklöven returned to HockeyAllsvenskan after a three-year absence, and Karlskrona HK remained in the second-tier league for the 2013–14 season. Tingsryds AIF were relegated to Division 1.
HockeyAllsvenskan is a professional ice hockey league, and the second-highest league in the Swedish ice hockey system, after the SHL. Since the 2009–10 season, the league has consisted of fourteen teams.
The 2008–09 HockeyAllsvenskan season was the fourth season of the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second level of ice hockey in Sweden. 16 teams participated in the league, and the top four qualified for the Kvalserien, with the opportunity to be promoted to the Elitserien.
The 2006–07 HockeyAllsvenskan season was the second season of the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second level of ice hockey in Sweden. 16 teams participated in the league, and the top four qualified for the Kvalserien, with the opportunity to be promoted to the Elitserien.
The 2007–08 HockeyAllsvenskan season was the third season of the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second level of ice hockey in Sweden. 16 teams participated in the league, and the top four qualified for the Kvalserien, with the opportunity to be promoted to the Elitserien.
The J18 Region is the highest level of under-18 ice hockey in Sweden. The league was first played in the 1980 season. Färjestad BK has won the most league titles, with seven.
The 2012–13 HockeyAllsvenskan season was the 8th season of the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-highest level of ice hockey in Sweden. The regular season began on 12 September 2012 and ended on 2 March 2013, with the following playoffs and Kvalserien tournaments running until 5 April 2013. Leksands IF, following a season marked by financial instability and scandal, secured first place in the regular season standings, and continued to the qualification round for the 2013–14 SHL/Elitserien season, along with second-place Södertälje SK, third place VIK Västerås HK, and playoff winner Örebro HK. Meanwhile, 13th- and 14th-ranked Tingsryds AIF and Karlskrona HK were forced to defend their places in HockeyAllsvenskan for the 2013–14 season.
The 2001–02 Allsvenskan season was the third season of the Allsvenskan, the second level of ice hockey in Sweden. 24 teams participated in the league, and Leksands IF, Bodens IK, Bofors IK, and IF Björklöven qualified for the Kvalserien.
The 2012–13 Division 1 season in Swedish hockey was played from 12 September 2012 to 17 February 2013, with a number of playoff and promotion/relegation tournaments continuing until 27 March. The season resulted in IF Björklöven being promoted to the second-tier league HockeyAllsvenskan.
The 2013–14 HockeyAllsvenskan season began on 12 September 2013 and included 14 teams. IF Björklöven, Swedish champions in 1987, rejoined the league, following a three-year stint in Division 1 after their near-bankruptcy in 2010. They replaced Tingsryds AIF, who were demoted to Division 1 following a third-place finish in the 2013 HockeyAllsvenskan qualifiers. Also new to the league were Timrå IK and Rögle BK, both of whom were demoted from Elitserien, replacing Leksands IF and Örebro HK who were promoted up to the SHL in their stead.
1977–78 was the third season that Division 1 operated as the second tier of ice hockey in Sweden, below the top-flight Elitserien.
The 2013–14 season of Division 1, the third tier of ice hockey in Sweden, organized by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association (SIHA), began on 11 September 2013. The regular season concluded on 16 February 2014. The following playoffs towards the qualifier to the second-tier league HockeyAllsvenskan began on 19 February 2014 and ended on 7 March 2014. The qualifiers to Division 1 began on 2 March 2014 and ended on 26 March 2014. The qualifier to HockeyAllsvenskan began on 13 March 2014 and ended on 5 April 2014. The 2013–14 season was the last season the league was named "Division 1"; in April 2014, the league was renamed "Hockeyettan".
The 2011–12 season of Division 1, the third tier of ice hockey in Sweden, began on 14 September 2011 and ended on 19 February 2012, with promotion and relegation tournaments continuing until 6 April. 56 teams participated in the league, divided into six geographical groups lettered A through F.
2010–11 was the 12th season that Division 1 functioned as the third-level of ice hockey in Sweden, below the second-level HockeyAllsvenskan and the top-level Elitserien.
2009–10 was the 11th season that Division 1 functioned as the third-level of ice hockey in Sweden, below the second-level HockeyAllsvenskan and the top-level Elitserien.
2007–08 was the ninth season that Division 1 functioned as the third-level of ice hockey in Sweden, below the second-level HockeyAllsvenskan and the top-level Elitserien.
2006–07 was the eighth season that Division 1 functioned as the third-level of ice hockey in Sweden, below the second-level HockeyAllsvenskan and the top-level Elitserien.
1991-92 was the 17th season that Division 1 operated as the second tier of ice hockey in Sweden, below the top-flight Elitserien.
1993-94 was the 19th season that Division 1 operated as the second tier of ice hockey in Sweden, below the top-flight Elitserien.
1994-95 was the 20th season that Division 1 operated as the second tier of ice hockey in Sweden, below the top-flight Elitserien.
The 2014–15 Hockeyettan season was the 16th season that Hockeyettan has functioned as the third tier of ice hockey in Sweden, organized by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association (SIHA). The initial groups began on 21 September 2014 and ended on 10 December 2014. The following Allettan groups and continuation groups started on 27 December 2014 and finished on 15 February 2015. The promotion playoffs to the HockeyAllsvenskan qualifier began on 19 February 2015 and ended on 6–7 March 2015. The Hockeyettan qualifiers began on 1 March 2015 and ended on 25 March 2015. The HockeyAllsvenskan qualifier began on 12 March 2015 and ended on 4 April 2015.