Linköping smashes SDHL attendance record

Over 5,000 fans came to see the league’s top team.

Forget the lucky seven: fives ruled the roost in Linköping HC’s Rekordmatchen at Saab Arena on Sunday against HV71. Five goals, 50,000 kronor, 500 points, and over 5,000 people in attendance.

Designed to break the previous SDHL attendance record, the Rekordmatchen succeeded by a sizable margin as 5,128 fans took in Linköping’s 5-0 victory over HV71, breaking the old record of 4,563. The two clubs faced off last February in the previous Rekordmatchen, held on HV71’s home ice in Jönköping. Representatives from the larger Linköping Hockey Club organization were in attendance to present the women’s team with a 50,000 SEK (approximately $6,029 USD) donation.

Plenty of action

After a two-goal first period and a scoreless second, Linköping roared to life in the third, scoring three quick goals in just over five minutes to seal the game. Goaltender Florence Schelling bucked the five trend by pitching her league-leading sixth shutout of the season. She stopped 39 shots.

Linköping captain Denise Altmann netted a goal and an assist and was honored after the game for scoring 500 points with the club. A native of Austria, Altmann has played her entire SDHL career with Linköping and sits at 522 total points.

Idag hyllade vi #22 Denise Altmann som nådde 500 poäng i LHC tröjan!

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LHC general manager Kim Martin Hasson presents Denise Altmann with a ceremonial jersey.

“It was a really good match,” Linköping forward Pernilla Winberg told SverigesRadio. “They gave us a tough match and played tough, so it was a fun game to play.”

Winberg was cognizant also that one special event’s audience is not representative of their normal crowd, but she’s optimistic that seeing a game will be enough to earn new fans: “I hope they can come and check out more women's hockey matches.”