The sport was first organized in the country by the Swedish Football Association (SvFF), which was a member of the IIHF in 1912.

The SHL's average of 5,983[3] spectators per match is bested only by Allsvenskan, the country's top flight of association football.

[4][5][6] The first recorded official ice hockey game on Swedish soil was played at Stockholm Stadium on 30 January 1921 when IFK Uppsala defeated Berliner SC, 4–1.

[7] Often referred to by the nickname "Tre Kronor" (English: Three Crowns), the Swedish men's national ice hockey team is amongst the most successful in the world, being considered part of the Big Six.

[11][12] In the five Olympics that have featured women's ice hockey, the team has finished with a medal twice, bronze in 2002 and silver in 2010.