Luleå had six consecutive national championships.
But the upstart Frölunda – which has only existed for three seasons on the women's side – broke the Norrlanders' streak of 24 consecutive wins in the playoffs already in the first match.
Two more matches later, the gold streak was brutally broken.
The record crowd in Scandinavium offered an enormous cheer when the final signal went and the Frölunda players began their celebration on the ice.
"It's magical"
The entire organization has been behind us from day one. Now we're here. It's magical. And what a gang of girls. We fight for each other, for God's sake, says team captain Hanna Olsson to SVT.
Just look, what a crowd that lifts us up today, she says with tears in her eyes.
It had only gone nine seconds into the second period when Andrea Dalen placed the puck against – and straight into – the goal from a bad angle. It gave Frölunda a 2–1 lead and the upper hand in the third national championship final.
We've been behind in so many matches in the playoffs and have never had any doubts. You're completely exhausted, but you can manage anything when you have this support, says Olsson.
Just like in the two previous matches, it was also Luleå that took the lead. Halfway into the first period, the team took advantage of a sloppy pass in Frölunda's zone, and Sarah Bujold shot in 1–0.
The reply from Frölunda came quickly, however.
Less than three minutes later, Michelle Karvinen rounded the goal and passed to Andrea Dalen, who equalized to 1–1.
The Norwegian, who, like her teammates Michelle Karvinen and Hanna Olsson, has been with Frölunda since they started their campaign in 2022, then became a two-goal scorer in front of the record-large home crowd.
New attendance record
The people of Gothenburg flocked to Scandinavium when it became clear that Sunday's match could mean a national championship and set a nice SDHL record with 8,488 sold tickets. The previous record was held by Brynäs with 7,765 spectators in one of the final matches – also against Luleå – in 2022.
That we can give back to all the supporters who have taken themselves here – it's completely magical, says Hanna Olsson.
When half the match had gone, Nathalie Lidman also increased to 3–1 for Frölunda, although Viivi Vainikka shortly afterwards reduced the lead again.
Luleå has turned around 0–2 in matches once before, in the final series against Linköping six years ago. But there was no fourth final match this time.
Instead, Frölunda was the strongest even in the third final match and took a historic national championship.
24/25: Frölunda.
23/24: Luleå.
22/23: Luleå.
21/22: Luleå.
20/21: Luleå.
19/20: No champion was appointed.
18/19: Luleå.
17/18: Luleå.
16/17: Djurgården.
15/16: Luleå.
