Petra Nieminen scored two goals as Luulaja beat rising team Frölunda 4–1 in Sweden’s SDHL. At the same time, Frölunda’s 40-match unbeaten streak was broken.
The SDHL club representing Lulea Petra Nieminen The tackle has made headlines in the Swedish media. The SDHL is the highest league level for women’s ice hockey in Sweden.
Nieminen tackled Frölunda’s captain Hanna Olsson in an open-ice puck pursuit situation, when Olsson focused on the shot. Olsson fell, drifted to the end and eventually had to be helped to the locker room.
The tackle situation can be seen in the embed below.
Nieminen survived the situation without punishment, SVT’s expert Maria Rooth in my opinion, the judges were not up to the level of the situation.
– The judges may not have seen the situation properly because it happened so quickly. It (the tackle) should have been at least two minutes, maybe even five minutes worth, Rooth assessed.
Nieminen commented to SVT after the match that his tackling was actually really good.
– I saw that the puck went to Hanna and I was ready to tackle her with my shoulder in the normal way. I think everyone has to be ready to take tackles as well. It doesn’t always work out that the tackler is at fault, Nieminen defended himself.
In Sweden, Tackling has been allowed in women’s games since last season. On open ice Tackling is prohibited in situations where players are skating in different directions.
Frölunda announced, that Olsson will be sidelined for 4–6 weeks due to injury. Also injured at the beginning of October Andrea Dale has been out of action for over a month.
– Both players have rehabilitation ahead of them and the medical staff is monitoring their progress, it is written on the club’s website.
In Luulaja’s 4–1 victory, Nieminen scored two goals and assisted one hit. Also a teammate Ronja Savolainen succeeded in scoring.
The loss was the first loss in the main series for Frölunda, who was promoted to the SDHL this season. At the same time, the team’s unbeaten streak of 40 matches was broken. The newly founded women’s team started the 2022-2023 season at the second highest league level and immediately moved up to the SDHL.
After six matches, Luulaja continues at the top of the league with a clean game. Frölunda is third, six points behind.
Petra Nieminen, 24, has represented Lulea since the 2018–19 season. He has won four Swedish championships. In Naisleijon, the Finnish striker has won Olympic bronze twice, World Championship silver and two World Championship bronzes. 19+14=33 powers have been accumulated in 39 World Cup matches.