Liiga vs HockeyEttan- Sweden Divison 1

How would you compare/contrast Liiga and HockeyEttan- Sweden Division 1?

Liiga sits at a higher caliber than HockeyEttan. Teams here have higher expectations for imports and the skill level/depth across rosters is notched up.

Liiga vs HockeyEttan- Sweden Divison 1 comparison

Our team has been scouting each of these leagues for countless years. Our insights on each respective league comes from this first-hand knowledge.

Liiga

Liiga is the top ice hockey league in Finland.

HockeyEttan- Sweden Division 1

HockeyEttan, also known as Sweden Division 1, is the third tier of ice hockey in Sweden.

Location: Finland

Location: Sweden

Skill Level in Liiga

Liiga is the highest professional hockey league in Finland. Founded in 1975, the league has 15 clubs that span from the South near Helsinki all the way up to the Arctic Circle. It's considered by many to be one of the stronger leagues in Europe.

Skill Level in HockeyEttan

HockeyEttan is Sweden’s third-tier league, with a few dozen teams divided regionally from the South near Stockholm up to the North near the start of the Arctic Circle. HockeyEttan acts both as a developmental league for young players and a majority of teams also roster several imports to further strengthen their rosters each season.

Player Perspective: Liiga

"Liiga is the perfect league to play in, especially as an import from North America who enjoys the physical play paired with skill. I'd agree that Liiga's caliber is up there with a number of the top leagues in Europe based on my experience also playing in Germany and Austria. The fans hear love their hockey.

Player Perspective: HockeyEttan

"HockeyEttan provided the perfect environment for me to hone my skills and gain exposure. Our team had a number of veteran players who I learned a great deal from."

Number of Teams in Liiga: 15

Number of Teams in HockeyEttan: 36

Caliber of Players and Imports in Liiga

Skill level of Liiga players is extremely high, with only the best Finnish players moving up to the highest league. For imports, teams expect players in Europe with strong resumes and players from North America with high-end ECHL/AHL experience on their resumes. Some even have NHL games played. This shows the strength of the league.

Caliber of Players and Imports in HockeyEttan- Sweden Division 1

sweden division 1 hockeyettan level of play photo

For third tier leagues in Europe, it's one of the very best due to how strong Sweden is as a hockey country overall. Rosters here are comprised of up and coming talent aiming to move up, a handful of experience imports, and experienced Swedish players who continue playing locally at the Sweden Division 1 level.