Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs are primarily aimed at US players.

Q: What is the Swedish Winter Classic?

The Swedish Winter Classic is an Ice Hockey tournament that runs in January in the city of Stockholm, Sweden

Q: When will the next SWC be held?

Dates for SWC 2025 have not yet been announced. The tournament is usually held the second week of January.

Q: Where is it held?

The tournament has been held at Danderysvallen, an outdoor rink located in the northern suburbs of Stockholm, see the map below. Additional training sessions will accompany the tournament, held at other rinks around the inner city suburbs.

what is it?

when?

where?

do i need to know swedish?

how many teams?

who can play?

what’s the skill level?

Ice Rinks around town

Some additional friendly scrimmage games are played at a local city rink and apart from games, most of our time is spent at city rinks,

Mälarhöjdens ishall
Nacka ishall
Östermalms ishall
Stora Mossens ishall
Farsta Ishall
Österåker Sportcentrum

Check out these rinks on the map below to get a sense of how far away accommodation will be to where we will hang out

Skate in the center of the city, Kungsträdgården

Kids are in school and adults are working so the ice is very available from 8am to 4pm. Most rinks are public facilities and are free for public use – typically shared between hockey & figure skating. Schedules go up around October, basically there is more ice available than you will know what to do with it. The free skate etiquette is to not wear full gear as to not intimidate other skaters. Chesty and pants are required for any deflection practice.

In addition, there are so many places to skate around the city Kungsträdgården, pictured here is lit up as soon as the sun starts to disappear mid-afternoon and is free to public skate.

The Farsta ice rink (south of the city, see map above) is also available and free to the public for Gretzky/Stick ‘n’ Puck (half ice, shared with figure skaters) Monday – Friday 8am-3pm. This rink is next to a lake that freezes in the winter and is maintained for free public use.

If you’re interested in lake skating, guided day-tours are offered around the city

See Stockholm Adventures for more info on guided lake skating tours https://www.stockholmadventures.com/ice-skating/day-on-ice-guided-tour/

See Ice skating in Stockholm for more info.

Q: Do I need to know Swedish?

No you don’t. Most Swedes in and around the city speak English very well and would love the opportunity to practice with you. Swedish and English are closely related. It is second only to Norwegian as the simplest second language for English speakers to learn. Pronunciation is going to be different, but you’ll pick it up with time. See Swedish language – Wikipedia

It is always nice when a visitor makes an effort. Download DuoLingo and make some time to try out some Swedish if you can.

Q: How many teams will be playing?

In 2023 we had 3 Swedish teams and 1 US/CAN team and in 2024 there were 4 teams.

Q: Who can play?

This is a mixed tournament, open to senior players as long as they fit the appropriate skill level. It’s all about building on existing skills and having some fun. At this stage the tournament is extended to players by invitation.

Q: What is the skill level?

For Sharks Ice players, division 4 & 5 are most appropriate. For IHV, division 1 & 2.

Q: How do I get there?

Stockholm’s airport is called Arlanda, IATA code is ARN.

Return flights from SFO to ARN are about $800.

Flights take 10 – 15 hours depending on connections. The airport customs and luggage collection is usually fast. More than one hour from landing to getting out of the airport is uncommon.

Arlanda is far from the city but there are a number of transport options. See Stockholm Arlanda Airport – Wikipedia for more details.

Arland Express, high speed rail, will get you there the fastest but then you have to get to your accommodation with hockey bags and sticks.

Best outcome is to plan ahead, arrive together. Hire a van for a group of players, then carpool to and from the airport and the ice rinks.

Book your January flight no later than September. Prices go up after September and you’ll be less likely to get a good deal.

Q: What are the costs?

Assume $2000 as the minimum. Cheaper if we have more players.

An estimated breakdown of this includes:

Return Flights:
- from US (SFO): $800USD
- from Australia (MEL): $1800AUD
Accommodation: $600
Transport: $200
Games and Training: $300
Food: $200

This assumes carpooling, sharing your accommodation with other players and cooking simple meals together.

Naturally; if you eat at restaurants and drink cocktails for every meal then costs will be significantly higher. Stockholm can cater to all levels of comfort and decadence.

Mobile Phones AT&T and other US carriers offer $10/day international roaming. Alternatively, SIM cards can be purchased at convenience stores (Pressbyrån, 7-Eleven)

eSim If you can get by just on data, eSim is a very cheap alternative. For example, you can purchase 10G to last you 30 days for $15USD approx. You can order and activate instantly online. There are many carriers, but Maya Mobile has proven to offer simple, good service https://maya.net/esim/sweden

Please note that the organizers are arranging only hockey related activities. All flights, accommodation, off ice activities, and transport is up to each individual participant. Get together with your teammates to sync flights and share accommodation and transport to keep costs down. Almost all communication is shared over the Discord server (details will be shared after selection) leading up to and during the trip so make you sure you’re on the Server and have notifications on throughout planning and the trip.

Q: How do I get around the city?

With hockey gear; a car is the best way for a group to get to ice rinks. Carrying hockey equipment on the subway and buses is not fun. See Car Rental

Without hockey gear; public transport is the cheapest and easiest. Parking in downtown Stockholm is expensive and hard to find. European cities are not made for cars.

Public Transport

You can buy a one week card from any convenience store (Pressbyrån, 7-Eleven) or manned station. Costs approx $45 for a week.

Exception – rinks are usually a 10+ minute walk from the nearest subway station so driving to a rink with your gear is advised.

E-Scooters

Lime and all the others are in Stockholm. Get the app. Beware that the streets are icy in winter.

Car Rental

Organizers will get two large 9 seater vans for the group. The cost of this is distributed over the group. If you want a car for personal transport then read on.

You can pick one up at the airport to simplify getting to your accommodation. The airport car rental lot is located off-airport, don’t all go there with your gear. Have some people collect the car and then drive back to the airport to load all the gear. Assume ~$200 gas for a full week.

Parking

All parking for foreigners is managed via EasyPark. Download the app on your phone and get setup before you go.

Parking is done via license plate and zone. Pay to stay for as long as you like. The signs are complex and seem daunting at first. As a general rule weekdays are paid until late at night, weekends are free. Street cleaning is once a week early in the morning. If you obstruct the street cleaning you will get a hefty fine, or your car will be towed.

OBSERVE STREET CLEANING SIGNS! See Rules for Parking in Sweden | sweetsweden for more details. Leaving a car in a street cleaning zone during cleaning times is a hefty fine and your vehicle may get towed.