Djurgardens IF Women
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- Swedish Hockey League Women 376 Club Friendlies Women (Regulation Only) 4
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- Djurgardens IF Djurgardens IF U20
Wikipedia - Djurgårdens IF Hockey (women)
Djurgården IF Hockey Dam are a professional ice hockey club in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL). They play in Stockholm at Hovet. The team is a section within the Djurgårdens IF multi-sport organization and are affiliated with its many other teams.
History
In March 2014, the Djurgårdens IF organisation announced its intention to form a women's ice hockey section, with Danijela Rundqvist in charge of recruitment and Jared Cipparone serving as head coach. The following year, the organisation took over the Segeltorps IF women's ice hockey club following its financial difficulties and relegation from Riksserien. After just one year under the Djurgården name in Damettan, during which the club made several big signings, including Valentina Lizana Wallner and Tina Enström, the club won promotion back to the top flight, defeating Södertälje 6–1 in the qualification playoffs.
On 9 September 2015, Djurgården played its first Riksserien match, with Andrea Schjelderup Dalen scoring the team's first Riksserien goal in a 5–1 loss to Linköping HC. The team's first Riksserien victory would come four days later, 5–2 against HV71. On 19 September 2015, the club played its first Riksserien match at home, beating Brynäs IF 5–3 in front of 834 spectators. The club finished the 2015–16 season in 4th place in the SDHL, losing to Linköping in the playoff semifinals, as Andrea Schjelderup Dalen set a single-season SDHL record for goals, with 47.
The club finished in second place in the SDHL in the 2016–17 season, the club's best regular season result to date. In the playoffs, the club made it to the finals against HV71, where they would win their first SDHL championship. That season, the club also participated in the first SDHL Winter Classic against IF Sundsvall Hockey. After the season, club founders Danijela Rundqvist and Nils Ekman left the club.
In August 2017, the club hosted the Minnesota Whitecaps during a series of exhibition games against SDHL teams in Stockholm.
During the 2018–19 season, second-highest all-time scorer in club history Hanna Olsson criticised the organisation's supporter club, Järnkaminerna, for not doing enough to support the women's side, despite the club supposedly having the best supporters in Sweden. In January 2019, she left the club on bad terms after conflict with the coach and the club's refusal to immediately let her sign a new contract with another SDHL club. The club would finish the season in 6th place, the worst regular season result in its history, and failed to advance past the playoff quarterfinals for the first time.
The club would improve in the 2019–20 season, finishing in 4th and being elimated by HV71 in the semi-finals. After the season, head coach Alana Blahoski, as well as Canadian players Jennifer Wakefield and Samantha Ridgewell announced they were leaving the club.
The team is known for its strong defensive play and physicality on the ice. They have a talented roster of players, including several members of the Swedish national team. The team's captain, Johanna Olofsson, is a skilled forward who has represented Sweden in multiple international tournaments.
Off the ice, Djurgårdens IF Women is committed to promoting women's ice hockey and encouraging young girls to get involved in the sport. The team regularly hosts clinics and events for young players and works closely with local schools and community organizations to promote the sport.
Overall, Djurgårdens IF Women is a highly respected and successful ice hockey team that is dedicated to promoting women's ice hockey and developing the next generation of players.