A quarter of the way through the 2024-25 SDHL season, here are some notes and takeaways from HV71, Leksands, and Linkoping start:

HV71 gutted out a rough start to the season, losing their first three games by a combined score of 21-4, and have patiently climbed their way back up the standings in recent weeks. Under the guidance of 2022 SDHL Coach of the Year Thomas Pettersen, HV are winners of four straight and seem to be brimming with confidence. Newly acquired forwards Julia Nearis and Kennedy Bobyck have quickly found chemistry, accounting for a combined seven points and four goals in three games. Captain Elin Svensson tallied a career-high 20 goals last season, and has continued where she left off, currently scoring at a point-per-game pace. Goaltending tandem Lina van Noort and Viktorie Švejdová have been more inconsistent than the team would like — each has a save percentage below 90%, good for 11th and 12th place in the league goalie standings, and they have given up a league worst 3.86 Goals Per Game. On the bright side, Van Noort has won 67% of her starts, behind only Luleå’s Frida Axell, MoDo’s Andrea Brändli, and Frölunda’s Stephanie Neatby. If capable players like stud Swedish defender Jessica Adolfsson and Ohio State commit Hilda Svensson can continue to add value, his is a team that has the potential to finish in the top half of the league.