Frölunda HC

Frölunda Hockey Club, previously known as the Frölunda Indians,^[1] is a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Gothenburg. They currently play in the highest Swedish league, the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), formerly the Elitserien, where they have played for most of the club's existence. They last played in the lower division, the Allsvenskan, in 1995. Frölunda have won the national championship title five times: in 1965, 2003, 2005, 2016 and 2019.

Frölunda HC
City	Gothenburg, Sweden
League	Swedish Hockey League
Founded	3 February 1938
Home arena	Scandinavium (capacity: 12,044)
Colors
General manager	Fredrik Sjöström
Head coach	Roger Rönnberg
Captain	Max Friberg
Website	frolundahockey.com
Franchise history
1944–1984	Västra Frölunda IF (VFIF)
1984–1995	Västra Frölunda HC (VFHC)
1995–2020	Frölunda Indians
2020-present	Frölunda Hockey Club (FHC)
Championships
Le Mat Trophy	5 (1965, 2003, 2005, 2016, 2019)
Champions Hockey League	4 (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
Current season

The club was founded on 3 February 1938,^[2] as an ice hockey section in Västra Frölunda IF and became independent on 29 March 1984.^[3] Prior to the 1995/1996 season, the nickname Indians was adopted. This referring to the successful years of the 1960s, when fans started to call them the "Wild West" (Västra Frölunda is West Frölunda in English). But as they did not want a nickname like cowboys or something with firearms, Indians was selected. On 16 June 2004, the club shortened the name from Västra Frölunda Hockey Club to Frölunda Hockey Club. Frölunda's home venue is the Scandinavium arena in central Gothenburg, which has a capacity of 12,044 people. Frölundaborg is used when Scandinavium is occupied with other events. Frölunda's average home attendance has been the highest in the league for over a decade.^[4]

History

Frölunda's earlier crest to the right which was replaced in 2022.

In 2003 Frölunda became the champions after a 38-year hiatus. The final game in Scandinavium on 7 April against Färjestad BK was ended by late season recruit Tomi Kallio in the third overtime period.^[5] In the 2004–05 season, the club's 60th anniversary and 20th as independent club, the team won the league title, by having the best record during the regular season, and the Swedish Championship. That particular year was notable because the National Hockey League had a labour stoppage due to negotiations between the league and the players association. Many professional hockey players who could not play in the NHL chose to play in European or North American leagues. The largest number of professional NHL players were in Sweden during the season, including Gothenburg native Daniel Alfredsson, who joined his hometown club for the season. This increased the quality of play and many observers said that Elitserien was the best league in the world during 2004–05.^[6]

Frölunda set a new Elitserien record on 6 April 2006, by winning the Elitserien playoff semi-finals against Linköpings HC 4–3 after trailing the series 1–3. The season ended with a 2–4 defeat against Färjestads BK in the finals. The second game in the finals Ronnie Sundin played his 685th game for Frölunda becoming the player with most career games for the club.

Frölunda has claimed the Champions Hockey League title on four separate occasions in 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19 and 2019–20, the most titles out of any club.

On 2 February 2022, Frölunda Hockey Club presented their new logo. According to the club, the new logo represents the city of Gothenburg, Västra Frölunda, gentleness and excitement. The logo visualizes two F's, two hands and the letter H which stands for hockey. The proposed redesign received negative feedback from fans and media due to similarities of the Nazi Party flag. The previous logo was announced in 1995 and represented the club for 27 years.^[7] On April 20, 2022, Frölunda updated their logo, which had been chosen by members on a member meeting.^[8][9]

Season-by-season results

Fredrik Pettersson playing for Frölunda

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by Frölunda. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Frölunda HC seasons.

Season	League	Regular season[10]								Post season results
		Finish	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
2020–21	SHL	7th	52	28	23	1	133	131	84	Won in Eighth-finals, 2–1 (Djurgården) Lost in Quarterfinals, 0–4 (Rögle)
2021–22	SHL	4th	52	31	17	4	155	139	87	Won in Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Växjö) Lost in Semifinals, 1–4 (Luleå)
2022–23	SHL	6th	52	21	18	13	140	139	81	Won in Quarterfinals, 4–3 (Färjestad) Lost in Semifinals, 2–4 (Växjö)
2023–24	SHL	4th	52	24	14	14	144	119	96	Won in Quarterfinals, 4–3 (Leksand) Lost in Semifinals, 3–4 (Skellefteå)
2024–25	SHL	3rd	52	25	18	9	139	116	91	Won in Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Timrå) Lost in Semifinals, 2–4 (Luleå)

Players and personnel

Current roster

No.	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
17		Isac Born	LW	L	20	2022	Onsala, Sweden
92		Filip Cederqvist	C	L	24	2024	Skara, Sweden
44		Noah Dower Nilsson	C	L	20	2022	Strömstad, Sweden
46		Dominik Egli	D	R	26	2024	Frauenfeld, Switzerland
2		Christian Folin (A)	D	R	34	2021	Kungsbacka, Sweden
12		Max Friberg (C)	LW	R	32	2017	Skövde, Sweden
6		Filip Hasa	D	L	24	2022	Uppsala, Sweden
32		Noah Hasa	C	L	22	2021	Uppsala, Sweden
26		Isac Heens	D	L	25	2023	Vansbro, Sweden
33		Linus Högberg	D	L	26	2023	Stockholm, Sweden
1		Lars Johansson	G	L	37	2022	Avesta, Sweden
31		Nicklas Lasu (A)	C	L	35	2019	Mölndal, Sweden
11		Max Lindholm	W	L	27	2025	Österhaninge, Sweden
27		Theodor Niederbach	C	R	23	2025	Bjästa, Sweden
43		Tom Nilsson	D	R	31	2022	Tyresö, Sweden
62		Wiktor Nilsson	RW	R	23	2024	Vendelsö, Sweden
30		Tobias Normann	G	L	23	2024	Fredrikstad, Norway
40		Jacob Peterson	C	L	25	2025	Lidköping, Sweden
25		Arttu Ruotsalainen	RW	L	27	2024	Oulu, Finland
15		Gustav Rydahl	C	L	30	2023	Karlstad, Sweden
55		Ivar Stenberg	W	L	17	2024	Stenungsund, Sweden
86		Erik Thorell	LW	L	33	2023	Karlstad, Sweden
7		Henrik Tömmernes	D	L	34	2023	Karlstad, Sweden
9		Linus Weissbach	RW	L	27	2024	Gothenburg, Sweden
10		Max Westergård	LW	L	17	2025	Tampere, Finland

Updated 27 April 2025^[11]

Team captains

• Rune Johansson, 1945–1960
• Lars-Eric Lundvall, 1960–1968
• Arne Carlsson, 1968–1969
• Lars-Erik Sjöberg, 1969–1974
• Henric Hedlund, 1974–1976
• Leif Henriksson, 1976–1977
• Lars-Erik Esbjörs, 1976–1979
• Anders Broström, 1979–1980
• Göran Nilsson, 1980–1983
• Thomas Kärrbrandt, 1983–1984
• Göran Nilsson, 1984–1985
• Hasse Sjöö, 1985–1987
• Janne Karlsson, 1987–1990
• Mikael Andersson, 1990–1992
• Terho Koskela, 1992–1995
• Christian Ruuttu, 1995–1996
• Henrik Nilsson, 1996–2000
• Mikael Andersson, 2000–2003
• Jonas Johnson, 2003–2008
• Niklas Andersson, 2008–2009
• Joel Lundqvist, 2009–2023
• Max Friberg, 2023–present

Head coaches

• Karl-Erik Eriksson, 1956–1960
• Lars-Eric Lundvall, 1960–1963
• Curly Leachman, 1963–1964
• Lars-Eric Lundvall, 1964–1969
• Arne Eriksson, 1969–1971
• Jack Bownass, 1971–1973
• Lars Erik Lundvall, 1973–1975
• Arne Strömberg, 1975–1978
• Leif Henriksson, 1978–1980
• Berny Karlsson, 1980–1981
• Len Lunde, 1981–1982
• Leif Henriksson, 1982–1983
• Kjell Jönsson, 1983–1984
• Roland Mattsson, 1984–1985
• Thommie Bergman, 1985–1987
• Conny Evensson, 1987–1989
• Lennart Åhlberg, 1989–1990
• Lars-Erik Esbjörs, 1990–1991
• Leif Boork, 1991–1994
• Ulf Labraaten, 1994–1995
• Lasse Falk, 1995–1997
• Tommy Boustedt, 1997–2001
• Conny Evensson, 2001–2004
• Janne Karlsson, 2004 (interim)
• Stephan Lundh, 2004–2006
• Per Bäckman, 2006–2007
• Roger Melin, 2007–2008
• Ulf Dahlén, 2008–2010
• Kent Johansson, 2010–2013
• Roger Rönnberg, 2013–present

Honored members

Team captain and playing coach Lars-Eric Lundvall hoisting the Le Mat Trophy when Frölunda won the Swedish Championship in 1965. Lundvall's jersey number 13 is retired by Frölunda.

Frölunda HC retired numbers

No.	Player	Position	Career	No. retirement
5	Christian Bäckman	D	1998–2002 2004–2005 2009–2015	January 27, 2024
13	Lars Erik Lundvall	RW	1960–1968	March 3, 2002
14	Ronald Pettersson	RW	1960–1968	March 3, 2002
14	Patrik Carnbäck	RW	1986–1992 1994–1995 1997–2003	October 4, 2014
19	Jörgen Pettersson	RW	1973–1980 1986–1991	March 3, 2002
23	Ronnie Sundin	D	1992–1997 1998–2009	October 15, 2016
24	Niklas Andersson	LW	1987–1991 2001–2011	October 21, 2017
29	Stefan Larsson	D	1983–1987 1989–2001	March 3, 2002

Frölunda retired the numbers of four players, all on March 3, 2002. The number retired were; the number 13 worn by Lars Erik Lundvall, who spent eight seasons with Frölunda, all of them serving as team captain. The number 14 worn by Ronald Pettersson, who spent seven seasons with Frölunda before suffering a career-ending injury on 14 December 1967. The duo of Lundvall and Pettersson was one of the reason behind Frölunda's success in the 60's and secured that hockey got a strong foothold in Gothenburg. The number 19 worn by Jörgen Pettersson during his two stints with Frölunda. Pettersson joined the club in 1970 and played ten seasons for the club before joining the St. Louis Blues of the NHL. After five seasons in the NHL he returned and played another three seasons for the club. The number 29 worn by Stefan Larsson during his sixteen seasons with Frölunda. With the exception of two seasons, Larsson played for Frölunda his entire professional career. Since then an additional four players have had their numbers retired; number 14 a second time for Patrik Carnbäck on October 4, 2014. Number 23 for Ronnie Sundin on October 15, 2016. Number 24 for Niklas Andersson on October 21, 2017. And number 5 for Christian Bäckman on January 27, 2024.

Five former Frölunda players have been inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation's Hall of Fame. Forward Ulf Sterner, played three seasons for Frölunda before becoming the first European-trained player to play in the NHL during his short sojourn with the New York Rangers during the 1964–65 NHL season; he was inducted in 2001.^[12] Forward Ronald "Sura Pelle" Pettersson, represented team Sweden in three olympic games and ten IIHF World Championships, totaling 252 games played for the national team; he was inducted in 2004.^[12] Ville Peltonen played the 1997–98 season for Frölunda, where he was both the team's and the league's leading scorer, he was inducted in 2016.^[13] Daniel Alfredsson played a total of four seasons for Frölunda, winning the Swedish Championships with Frölunda during the 2004–05 season. In 2006 he was a member of Sweden's gold medal-winning team at the Winter Olympics, he was inducted in 2018.^[14] Petteri Nummelin played two seasons for Frölunda between 1995 and 1997, he was inducted in 2024.^[15]

In 2003, former Frölunda players Christian Ruuttu and Jorma Salmi were inducted to the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame.^[16] Ville Peltonen was inducted in 2014. Trio of former Frölunda players who all won the Swedish Championships with Frölunda; Antti-Jussi Niemi, Fredrik Norrena, and Sami Salo were inducted in 2017.^[17] Petteri Nummelin was inducted in 2019.

Club records and leaders

Career

• Most games played: Ronnie Sundin, 739 (1992–1997 and 1998–09)
• Most seasons played: Joel Lundqvist, 20* (2000–2006 and 2009–2023)
• Most points scored: Niklas Andersson, 540 (1987–1991 and 2001–2011)
• Most goals scored: Niklas Andersson, 201 (1987–1991 and 2001–2011)
• Most assists: Niklas Andersson, 339 (1987–1991 and 2001–2011)

Regular season

• Most goals in a season: Magnus Kahnberg, 33 (2003–04)
• Most assists in a season: Niklas Andersson, 38 (2004–05)
• Most points in a season: Kristian Huselius, 67 (2000–01)
• Most penalty minutes in a season: Patric Blomdahl, 116 (2008–09)
• Most points in a season, defenceman: Magnus Johansson, 35 (2001–02)
• Most points in a season, rookie: Patrik Carnbäck, 54 (1989–90)
• Most shutouts in a season: Frederik Andersen, 8 (2011–12)
• Most power play goals in a season: Jonas Johnson, 12 (2005–06)
• Most short handed goals in a season: Kristian Huselius, 5 (2000–01)

Playoffs

• Most goals in a playoff season: Daniel Alfredsson, 12 (2004–05)
• Most goals by a defenseman in a playoff season: Ronnie Sundin, 6 (2005–06)
• Most assists in a playoff season: Jonas Johnson, 11 (2005–06)
• Most points in a playoff season: Artturi Lehkonen, 19 (2015–2016^[18])
• Most points by a defenceman in a playoff season: Ronnie Sundin; Christian Bäckman, 9 (2002–03, 2005–06; 2004–05)
• Most shutouts in a playoff season: Henrik Lundqvist, 6 (2004–05)
• Most penalty minutes in a playoff season: Joel Lundqvist, 57 (2000–01)

Team

• Most points in a season: 112 (2004–05)
• Most wins in a season: 33 (2004–05)
• Most goals in a season: 181 (2001–02)
• Fewest goals against in a season: 96 (2004–05)

Scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers of Frölunda HC since the 1975–76 season. Figures are updated after each completed regular season.^[19]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game;   = current Frölunda HC player

Points

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	P/G
Niklas Andersson	LW	548	176	297	473	0.86
Joel Lundqvist	C	727	151	252	403	0.55
Jonas Johnson	C	513	156	196	352	0.68
Tomi Kallio	RW	433	168	180	348	0.80
Magnus Kahnberg	RW	587	169	168	337	0.57
Patrik Carnbäck	LW	379	133	179	312	0.82
Peter Ström	F	472	86	127	213	0.45
Ronnie Sundin	D	705	63	141	204	0.28
Ove Karlsson	C	294	103	87	190	0.64
Stefan Larsson	D	463	83	101	184	0.39

Awards and honours

Team

Le Mat Trophy
Swedish Champions

• 1964–65, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2015–16, 2018–19

Champions Hockey League
Winners

• 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20

Individual

Guldpucken
The Golden Puck: Player of the year

• Ulf Sterner: 1962–63
• Gert Blomé: 1964–65
• Niklas Andersson: 2002–03
• Henrik Lundqvist: 2004–05

Guldhjälmen
The Gold Helmet: Most valuable player as judged by the league's players

• Kristian Huselius: 2000–01
• Niklas Andersson: 2002–03
• Magnus Kahnberg: 2003–04
• Henrik Lundqvist: 2004–05

Honken Trophy
Goaltender of the year

• Henrik Lundqvist: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05
• Johan Holmqvist: 2008–09
• Lars Johansson: 2015–16, 2023–24

Håkan Loob Trophy
Top goal scorer

• Kristian Huselius: 2000–01
• Magnus Kahnberg: 2003–04
• Tomi Kallio: 2005–06
• Victor Olofsson: 2017–18

Skyttetrofén
Top point scorer

• Lars-Eric Lundvall: 1961–62
• Ronald Pettersson: 1962–63
• Ville Peltonen: 1997–98
• Kristian Huselius: 2000–01
• Magnus Kahnberg: 2003–04
• Ryan Lasch: 2015–16, 2018–19, 2021–22

Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy
Playoffs' most valuable player

• Johan Sundström: 2015–16
• Ryan Lasch: 2018–19

SHL Rookie of the Year

• Patrik Carnbäck: 1989–90
• Loui Eriksson: 2003–04
• Andreas Johnsson: 2013–14

Årets junior
Junior of the year in Swedish hockey

• Mikael Andersson: 1983–84
• Thomas Sjögren: 1987–88
• Niklas Andersson: 1990–91
• Henrik Lundqvist: 2001–02
• Alexander Steen: 2002–03, 2003–04
• Alexander Wennberg: 2013–14
• Rasmus Dahlin: 2017–18

Champions Hockey League MVP
Most valuable player

• Mathis Olimb: 2014–15
• Ryan Lasch: 2015–16, 2019–20
• Joel Lundqvist: 2016–17

Salming Trophy
Best Swedish-born defenceman

• Henrik Tömmernes: 2016–17

Rinkens riddare
Knight of the rink: The most gentlemanly player

• Lars-Eric Lundvall: 1964–65
• Lars-Erik Sjöberg: 1972–73

Swedish All star team

• Ronald Pettersson: 1961–62, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67
• Ulf Sterner: 1961–62, 1962–63, 1968–69
• Gert Blomé: 1961–62, 1964–65, 1966–67
• Lars-Erik Sjöberg: 1969–70, 1971–72, 1973–74
• Thommie Bergman: 1971–72
• Kristian Huselius: 2000–01
• Henrik Lundqvist: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05
• Ronnie Sundin: 2002–03
• Niklas Andersson: 2002–03
• Magnus Kahnberg: 2003–04
• Christian Bäckman: 2004–05
• Samuel Påhlsson: 2004–05
• Daniel Alfredsson: 2004–05
• Joel Lundqvist: 2015–16, 2018–19
• Lars Johansson: 2015–16
• Johan Sundström: 2015–16
• Henrik Tömmernes: 2016–17
• Max Friberg: 2023–24
• Malte Strömwall: 2023–24

Stora Grabbars Märke
Big Boys' Badge: Honorary award within Swedish sports

• Lars-Eric Lundvall #47
• Ronald Pettersson #50
• Gert Blomé #55
• Leif Henriksson #73
• Lars-Erik Sjöberg #75
• Göran Högosta #98
• Mikael Andersson #142
• Daniel Alfredsson #160
• Ronnie Sundin #161
• Joel Lundqvist #166

Coach of the Year

• Lasse Falk: 1995–96
• Conny Evensson: 2002–03
• Stephan Lundh: 2004–05

Leader of the Year

• Benny Westblom: 2004–05
• Roger Rönnberg: 2015–16