Swedish Weekend Mornings

A few years ago, I used to struggle to find any streams for the SDHL when it came to watching live hockey. Times changed, though, and my following of specific teams has changed as well. I now spend my winter weekend mornings with an SDHL game on TV, and I'll admit that my allegiance moves based on where former Canada West players play. MoDo used to be the team I'd try to watch most often with SDE getting their games in, but I admit that I spent a lot of time watching Leksands IF last season and will be doing so again this winter! If you're wondering why, there are a few former Canada West and U SPORTS players suiting up for that club, and they went and added another skilled player today who I'm very excited to watch on Swedish ice next season!

Of course, I'm excited to watch former Mount Royal Cougars forward Anna Purschke resume her career with Leksands after a solid season last year where she scored seven goals and added three helpers in 30 games. Leksand finished in sixth-place in the SDHL with a 9-15-2-6 record, and one of their main issues was scoring goals as they finished with the second-worst goals-for total in the SDHL with 60. Purschke's seven markers helped, but Leksands needed more from all over their lineup.

There were times where it appeared that former Mount Royal Cougars assistant coach Jordan Colliton struggled with players executing her systems, and that may have led to some of the scoring woes. I don't know how much of a language barrier there was between Colliton and some of the players who skated for Leksands last season, but that may have been a factor too. Whatever the case, Colliton needed to retool the roster with more scoring and players who may be more familiar with her systems.

Ella Albinsson's eight points will be back this season, but there were some major losses. Leading scorer Hana Haasova left for Djurgårdens, and third-highest scorer Annika Fazokas and fifth-highest scorer Noemi Ryhner went to EV Zug in Switzerland. There were holes in the Leksands lineup that needed to be filled, and it seems that Colliton saw some opportunities for players she's seen and knows to step in and help.

Former Montreal Carabins scorer and French national team member Lore Baudrit was signed by Leksands, and she'll provide some solid leadership along with scoring. She had six goals and seven assists in 32 games with Linköping last season, so she'll add some good middle-six depth for Leksands. The 31 year-old has lots of hockey left in her based on how she played at the IIHF Women's World Championship, so Baudrit should be a good addition for Colliton's group.

The big addition, though, was announced today as former Alberta Pandas sniper and former Buffalo Beaut and Montreal Force forward Autumn MacDougall signed with Leksands for next season! MacDougall had a knack for big goals during the 2021-22 season with Buffalo before she seemed to be stuck to the bench last season. What I really like about this signing is that not only is MacDougall a proven scorer, but the larger ice will give her more room to fly as she uses her speed and vision to find loose pucks and holes in defences. I suspect that she'll regain her form with Leksands this season when it comes to being an offensive dynamo.

Add in the Quinnipiac duo of forward Shay Morrison, who had 15 goals and 16 assists last season, and defender Courtney Vorster, who scored 11 assists, from the NCAA, and Leksands is really bolstering their lineup. Hungarian forward Alexandra Huszák should make an immediate impact as well as she averaged nearly 22 goals over five seasons with the EWHL's KMH Budapest from 2017-22, and had eight goals and seven assist with HK Budapest in eight games last season. Swedish defender Ida Press returns home after five seasons of NCAA play, and defender Taylor Leech joins after five seasons with the University of Maine and one in Lugano professionally.

In short, I like the changes that Leksands made, and I think it gives Colliton a number of weapons to send over the boards at any one time. If Leksands is aiming for the top-half of the standings, these additions may give them that opportunity. There still could be other signings to make the squad better - Tatum Amy, anyone? - but the skill and depth these signings offer Leksands should see them win more than eleven games next season.

If things go well, maybe we're talking a deep playoff run? Anything is possible, and I'll be watching as often as I can on weekend mornings this winter. Swedish women's hockey with breakfast is a good combination!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!