HockeyEttan: player route and rules 2026/27

League position and verified status

HockeyEttan is the national men’s level below HockeyAllsvenskan. On 29 July 2026 the federation confirmed 19 clubs in the North group and 20 in the South after the licence appeal process.

2026/27 competition format

No ranked Hockeytvåan club accepted the vacant northern place. North therefore plays with 19 teams and South with 20; North Play Out is between teams 18 and 19. The federation said the schedule would follow shortly.

Clubs and choosing a target

Do not send the same message to every club. Check the current roster, authorised sporting contact, location and whether the team needs the player’s position. A league page narrows the market; it does not prove a vacancy.

What clubs assess

• skating, pace and decisions under pressure;
• a defined position and special-teams role;
• recent verified statistics and contract status;
• full-game or full-shift video, not highlights alone;
• citizenship, transfer history and administrative readiness.

Roster and foreign-player rules

The group structure does not define a foreign-player quota. Current federation rules, ITC status and the club’s eligibility check control registration. Club economics and role are separate.

Recruitment timing and tryouts

Many clubs create varied needs, not automatic places. Target teams individually, verify the authorised contact and never pay an unknown intermediary for an undocumented promise.

Pay, housing and written terms

There is no single official salary table proving the terms at every club. Obtain the amount, gross/net basis, payment dates, housing, deposit, food, travel, equipment, insurance, tax help, injury terms, trial period, termination and return travel in writing. Calculate guaranteed income minus every player-paid cost.

Residence and right to work

A non-EU/EEA player working for a Swedish club may need the athlete work-permit route. Salary, employment and insurance requirements apply; an unpaid or weak offer may not qualify.

IIHF transfer, registration and insurance

A move between national associations follows the current IIHF International Transfer Regulations. The receiving club and associations handle the process. An ITC does not replace domestic registration, a valid contract, insurance or immigration permission. Confirm who starts the transfer and pays each fee before travel.

Player application package

• passport and any second citizenship;
• birth year, position, shot, height and weight;
• current team, league and verified statistics;
• Elite Prospects or federation profile;
• role-based highlights plus a recent full game;
• contract status, release if required and availability;
• the exact league, role and teams being targeted.