| AIK | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Stockholm,Sweden |
| League | HockeyAllsvenskan |
| Founded | 1921 (1891) |
| Home arena | Hovet andAvicii Arena |
| Colors | |
| General manager | Lars Johansson |
| Head coach | Fredrik Hallberg |
| Captain | Filip Windlert |
| Website | aikhockey.se |
| Franchise history | |
| 1921–1923, 1925–present | AIK |
| Championships | |
| Le Mat Trophy | (1934, 1935, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1982, 1984) |
 Current season | |
Allmänna Idrottsklubben Ishockeyförening (abbreviatedAIK IF, also known asAIK Hockey, often abbreviatedAIK in hockey subjects), is theice hockey department of sports clubAIK based inStockholm,Sweden. Since 2014, AIK's men's team compete inHockeyAllsvenskan, the second tier ofice hockey in Sweden, following a four-year spell in the top flight, theSHL. The women's team competes inSwedish Women's Hockey League, the highest division of women's ice hockey. AIK's home games are mainly played atHovet, which seats 8,094[1] spectators, though some high-profile games may be played atAvicii Arena which has a larger capacity of 13,850.[2][3]
In the team's 103-year history, AIK has played 66 seasons in Sweden's top division, 27 of which in the SHL. They have won theLe Mat Trophy asSwedish champions in ice hockey seven times (in 1934, 1935, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1982, and 1984) and have been runners-up an additional six times (in 1930, 1936, 1940, 1968, 1978, and 1981).
AIK's ice hockey section was formed in 1921 by Anton Johansson. The team's first competition was a non-championship series,Träningsserien, which they won. However, just two years later, in 1923, the section was shut down,[4] only to be re-founded in 1925.[5]
AIK participated in its first season in theformer Elitserien in 1930–31. They finished in fifth place and qualified for the playoffs, where they lost toSödertälje SK in the semifinal.[6] The following season, AIK finished in top place in the league, but again lost in the semifinal to Södertälje.[7] AIK knocked out their fierce rival,Djurgårdens IF, en route to clinching their first championship in 1934.[8] In the final, AIK metHammarby IF, defeating them by a score of 1–0.[8]
Over the years, AIK would face Hammarby many times in championship battles. In 1935, AIK defended the trophy with another final win against Hammarby, this time with a score of 2–1.[9] In 1936, Hammarby beat AIK when the teams both made it to the final. The first game ended 1–1, and in the second leg, Hammarby won 5–1.[10] In 1938, AIK won their third championship with a 2–0 win in the final against Hammarby.[11] In 1940, IK Göta would reach the final, instead of Hammarby, to meet AIK. AIK lost the final 1–4.[12] It would take four years until AIK returned to the final, with a chance to win theLe Mat Trophy, in 1945. However, AIK lost in the final to Södertälje,[13] but won the championship in the two following years.[14]
After these successful years, AIK wouldyo-yo between the new first-tier leagueDivision I and the second-tier league Division II from 1954 to 1960. In 1960, AIK entered the highest division again, but it would be almost two decades until the team would make another final. During this period, their best result came in the 1965–66 season, when they reached the quarterfinal.[14]
In 1978, AIK metBrynäs IF in the semifinals.[15] InGävle, AIK lost 2–3, which put pressure on AIK's side in the second leg. 9,155 supporters at Hovet saw AIK crush Brynäs 8–0, necessitating a third game, to be played at a neutral arena,Scandinavium. AIK won 3–2 and reached the final againstSkellefteå AIK,[14][15] who had won both semifinal games againstModo. In the final against AIK, Skellefteå won two of the three games and received the gold medals.[15]
After two disappointing consecutive seasons, AIK's golden era began. The team finished in second place in the 1980–81 Elitserien season and made the playoffs.[14]Västra Frölunda IF were their opponents in the semifinals, where AIK easily won 6–3 and 5–1.Skellefteå AIK were seeking to again join AIK in the final. ButFärjestads BK won two of three games against them and instead Färjestad reached the final. Färjestad showed strength in the final games and won three out of four games; AIK became the second best team once again.[16]
AIK finished in third place in the following season, eight points behind the winners, Färjestad.[14] AIK faced Färjestad in the semifinals. InKarlstad, AIK won 5–4 and had a great opportunity to qualify for another final game. At home at Hovet, AIK treated their supporters to a 4–0 win. The other team to reach the final wasIF Björklöven, who finished in second in Elitserien. Four games were about to be played. AIK lost the first 0–2, but the following two games ended with AIK winning 3–2 and 4–3. The team now had a chance to win the championship at Hovet. Björklöven, though, took their last chance and won 4–2. The final fifth leg was played in Scandinavium inGothenburg. AIK won 3–2 and became the Swedish champions for the first time in over 30 years.[17] The following season, Färjestad exacted their revenge in the semifinals by knocking out AIK with two wins to one.[18]
But it wouldn't take long for the team and their fans to celebrate once again. AIK finished first in the1983–84 Elitserien season, ahead of Djurgården, Björklöven and Södertälje.[14] In the semifinals against Södertälje, AIK won the final two games 5–3 and 4–3. Awaiting AIK in the best-of-three finals were Djurgården, this being the first and thus far only time that these two Stockholm rivals met in a Swedish Championship final. AIK won the first game 5–2 and continued on with a 2–0 win in the second leg. The final game ended 4–1 to AIK, who were thus crowned 1984 Swedish Champions, their seventh title, and also their most recent.[19]
The success of the 1983–84 season was immediately followed by disappointment, with the club failing to make the playoffs following an eighth-place finish.[14][20] This was just the beginning however, as the following year, AIK finished 10th, and were relegated toDivision 1.[21] This visit to the second tier would be short, with the team finishing a perfect first in their Division 1 group, with an 18–0–0 record, and then finishing first in continuation league Allsvenskan, winning promotion back to Elitserien.[14][22]
In Elitserien, the playoffs now included quarter finals, where AIK in 1988 won against Djurgården. However, Färjestad knocked out AIK in the semifinals.[23]
In the 1992–93 season, AIK finished last in the first round and were sent down to Allsvenskan after Christmas. AIK finished fourth in Allsvenskan and had to win a best-of-three playoff series to keep their Elitserien hopes alive. But AIK lost two games against Hammarby and were relegated to Division 1.[14][24]
AIK made it short in Division 1. The team won the Eastern Division and reached Allsvenskan, where they finished on third place and qualified for the playoffs to theKvalserien. Whilst there, AIK knocked outSkellefteå AIK and joined the final Kvalserien. AIK headed first-placedBodens IK in the last game and had to beat them by three goals to be promoted to Elitserien. In a remarkable and among the AIK supporters historical game, AIK won against Boden 3–0. AIK's goaltenderRolf Ridderwall saved a penalty shot in the final minutes, which led AIK back to Elitserien.[25]
AIK didn't reach the playoffs in neither the 1994–95 nor 1995–96 season.[14][26][27] However, the following season, they made it to the semifinals, after having knocked out Djurgården in the quarterfinals.[14][28]Luleå HF, though, won three games out of five in the semifinals.[28]
In 1998, AIK once again had to qualify in order to keep playing in Elitserien. This time the team showed their qualities by winning the five entering games and kept their Elitserien spot.[29] The two following seasons AIK missed the playoffs.[30][31]
In the 2000–01 Elitserien season, AIK played in their last playoff series in that league before their relegation. The team were knocked out by Djurgården in the quarterfinals after having won just one of five games.[32] The following season AIK finished on eleventh place and played in Kvalserien. AIK didn't finish among the promoted teams and were thus relegated toAllsvenskan.[33]
AIK would spend the rest of the decade in divisions below Elitserien. In the team's two seasons inAllsvenskan before being relegated down to Division I, AIK made it to the Kvalserien both years but failed to qualify back to Elitserien both times.[34][35] After finishing fifth in SuperAllsvenskan in the 2003–04 season, AIK were relegated to the third-tier leagueDivision 1 due to their financial difficulties.[35] AIK finished first in their division the following season and had their chance to qualify for Allsvenskan. Because of theNHL lockout, AIK was strengthened byNHL playersMattias Norström andGeorges Laraque. AIK won theirAllsvenskan qualifier and were promoted back to Allsvenskan, together withNybro Vikings IF who finished second.[36]
AIK started a massive effort to return to Elitserien in the 2008–09 season, one of the reasons being financial problems. FormerTre Kronor head coachRoger Melin was appointed, and NHLdefencemanDick Tärnström and Elitserien players such asChristopher Heino-Lindberg andPer Savilahti-Nagander joined the club.
With a second-place finish inHockeyAllsvenskan the following season, AIK qualified for the2009 Kvalserien, where they finished in third place, just three points behind second placedRögle BK. With another second-place finish the following season, AIK once again joined theKvalserien. With only one game left againstVäxjö Lakers Hockey at Hovet, AIK were on the second and last Elitserien spot with only one point ahead of the third placed teamRögle BK. AIK won the game 2–0 and returned to the top-tier league Elitserien after eight years.[37]
AIK'sfirst season in Elitserien in nine years was a major success. The team were expected by many hockey experts to be forced to play in theKvalserien qualification for Elitserien, but the team managed to capture the 8th and last playoff spot and thus reached the playoffs. AIK's starting goaltenderViktor Fasth contributed greatly to this success and received theHonken Trophy award as a result. In the playoffs the team went on to beat regular season championsHV71 4–0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, AIK metFärjestads BK, who finished second in the regular season. Färjestad knocked out AIK from the playoffs, beating AIK 4–0 in the semifinals.
In the 2011–12 season, AIK improved and finished 7th and once again qualified for the playoffs.Richard Gynge captured theHåkan Loob Trophy by scoring 28 goals, andRobert Rosén won the scoring league with 60 points (21 goals, 39 assists).Viktor Fasth also won theHonken Trophy for the second consecutive year. Just like last year, AIK were chosen to meet the regular-season champions,Luleå HF, in the quarterfinals. AIK eliminated Luleå in five games and advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive year, where they would faceSkellefteå AIK. AIK were once again eliminated in the semifinals, this time in seven games.
Head coachRoger Melin and assistant coachGunnar Persson left the club after the 2011–12 season. In replacement,Per-Erik Johnsson was acquired as AIK's new headcoach whileMats Lindgren andAnders Hultin became new assistant coaches.[38]
In November 2009, AIK were invited to join theKontinental Hockey League (KHL). The agreement would have let AIK join the KHL in the2010–11 season.[39] AIK organized a meeting with the club's supporters where the members would make their decision through voting.[40] However, theSwedish Ice Hockey Association (SIHA) declined AIK's request to join the KHL.[41]
| Year | Level | Division | Record | Avg. home atnd. | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | W-OT-L | ||||||
| This is a partial list, featuring the five most recent seasons. For a more complete list, seeList of AIK IF seasons. | |||||||
| 2020–21 | Tier 2 | HockeyAllsvenskan | 9th | 19–8-3–22 | 11 | [42] | |
| Eighth-finals | — | 2–0–0–0 | 0 | Won 2–0 vsTingsryds AIF | [43] | ||
| HockeyAllsvenskan playoffs | — | 1–0–1–2 | 0 | Lost in quarterfinals, 1–3 vsTimrå IK | [43] | ||
| 2021–22 | Tier 2 | HockeyAllsvenskan | 9th | 22–4-0–26 | 2,842 | [44] | |
| Eighth-finals | — | 0–0–0–2 | 2,214 | Lost 0–2 vsVästerviks IK | [45] | ||
| 2022–23 | Tier 2 | HockeyAllsvenskan | 10th | 17–4-6–25 | 4,107 | [46] | |
| Eighth-finals | — | 2–0–0–0 | 2,216 | Won 2–0 vsAlmtuna IS | [47] | ||
| HockeyAllsvenskan playoffs | — | 1–1–0–4 | 5,238 | Lost in quarterfinals, 2–4 vsMoDo Hockey | [47] | ||
| 2023–24 | Tier 2 | HockeyAllsvenskan | 3rd | 25–7-6–14 | 4,631 | [48] | |
| HockeyAllsvenskan playoffs | — | 2–0–2–2 | 5,381 | Lost in quarterfinals, 2–4 vsMora IK | [49] | ||
| 2024–25 | Tier 2 | HockeyAllsvenskan | 5th | 27–7-1–17 | 4,564 | [50] | |
| HockeyAllsvenskan playoffs | — | 4–5–2–7 | 7,809 | Won in quarterfinals, 4–3 vsIF Björklöven Won in semifinals, 4–2 vsBIK Karlskoga Lost in Finals, 1–4 vsDjurgårdens IF | [51] | ||
| No. | Player | Position | Career | No. retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leif Holmqvist | G | 1964–1975 | – |
| 2 | Mats Thelin | D | 1980–1984, 1987–1994 | – |
| 5 | Bert-Ola Nordlander | D | 1963–1973 | – |
| 10 | Rolf Edberg | C | 1970–1978, 1981–1983 | – |
| 11 | Peter Gradin | LW | 1978–1998 | – |
| 18 | Leif Holmgren | C | 1971–1986 | – |
| 22 | Ulf Nilsson | C | 1967–1974 | – |
Rikard Franzén: 1999–2000Bert-Ola Nordlander: 1966–67Leif Holmqvist: 1967–68, 1969–70Rolf Edberg: 1977–78Per-Erik Eklund: 1983–84Bo Berglund: 1987–88Viktor Fasth: 2010–11Viktor Fasth: 2010–11, 2011–12Robert Burakovsky: 1989–90Michael Nylander: 1991–92Leif Holmqvist: 1967–68 Mats Lindberg: 1999–2000
