Linköping HC

Linköping Hockey Club, often known by its initials LHC, or colloquially among its fans as Cluben, is a Swedish professional ice hockey club from Linköping, founded in 1976. The home arena of the team is Saab Arena (formerly Cloetta Center) which accommodates 8,190 spectators.
Competing in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL; formerly Elitserien), the club is placed twelfth in the marathon standings for the top Swedish ice hockey league.
==History==
===1942–1975: The club's roots===
In 1942, a group of football players of BK Kenty founded the ice hockey club BK Robbi, who mostly played friendlies against other local clubs on Stångån during the winter.Torell, p. 20. The board of Kenty had first been hesitant to establish a hockey department, but in 1945, the two clubs merged following lengthy discussions.Hagesund, p. 7-9. Being heavily dependent on weather conditions, Kenty only played 30 games in five seasons during the second half of the 1940s.Torell, p. 20. By the end of the 1950s, Kenty had established itself in Division 2, the domestic second tier. Meanwhile, the club was also granted a permanent home ground at Folkungavallen, close to the city centre.Hagesund, p. 9-17. In 1969, Kenty merged with another local club, IK Terra.Hagesund, p. 20. In the 1970s, Kenty suffered from internal differences, since part of the club's board wanted to financially prioritize football in favor of ice hockey.
===1976–1998: Foundation of LHC and rise to Elitserien===
Linköping HC was founded on 4 August 1976, as a spin-off from BK Kenty, and moved in to the newly-built indoor arena Stångebro Ishall. 
===1999–: Establishment in the top division===
Linköping HC first played in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL; formerly Elitserien) in the 1999–2000 season, and has been in the top division since the 2001–02 season. They have reached the playoffs eight times. LHC reached the final for the first time in 2006–07, where they lost to Modo Hockey. In the 2007–08 season, Linköping HC advanced to the final again, this time against HV71; they lost and won the silver medal.
===Season-by-season===
Season 	Level 	Division 	Record 	Record 	 	Notes
Season 	Level 	Division 	Position	W-T-LW-OT-L	 	Notes
 	 	 	 	 	 	
1999–00	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	12th 	9–6–35 	3,860	
1999–00	2000 Elitserien qualifier 	2000 Elitserien qualifier 	4th 	3–2–5 	3,174	Relegated to Allsvenskan
2000–01	Tier 2 	Allsvenskan South 	1st 	22–3–3 	2,642	
2000–01	Tier 2 	SuperAllsvenskan 	2nd 	6–4–4 	3,593	
2000–01	2001 Elitserien qualifier 	2001 Elitserien qualifier 	2nd 	6–2–2 	3,955	Promoted to Elitserien
2001–02	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	10th 	14–11–25 	4,349	
2002–03	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	12th 	10–9–31 	4,083	
2002–03	2003 Elitserien qualifier 	2003 Elitserien qualifier 	1st 	7–2–1 	4,199	
2003–04	Tier 1 	2003–04 	4th 	25–8–17 	4,247	
2003–04	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	1–4 	4,525	Lost in quarterfinals, 1–4 vs Timrå
2004–05	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	2nd 	30–5–15 	7,703	
2004–05	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	2–4 	8,410	Lost in quarterfinals, 2–4 vs Södertälje
2005–06	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	3rd 	25–14–11 	7,531	
2005–06	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	7–6 	8,066	Won in quarterfinals, 4–2 vs LuleåLost in semifinals, 3–4 vs Frölunda
2006–07	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	4th 	22–14–19 	7,266	
2006–07	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	10–5 	8,284	Won in quarterfinals, 4–0 vs LuleåWon in semifinals, 4–1 vs Färjestad Lost in finals, 2–4 vs MODO
2007–08	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	2nd 	21–20–14 	7,182	
2007–08	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	10–6 	7,962	Won in quarterfinals, 4–1 vs DjurgårdenWon in semifinals, 4–1 vs Färjestad Lost in finals, 2–4 vs HV 71
2008–09	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	2nd 	26–13–16 	7,467	
2008–09	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	3–4 	7,526	Lost in quarterfinals, 3–4 vs Skellefteå
2009–10	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	3rd 	27–8–20 	6,899	
2009–10	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	5–7 	7,856	Won in quarterfinals, 4–3 vs FrölundaLost in semifinals, 1–4 vs Djurgården
2010–11	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	5th 	22–14–19 	6,676	
2010–11	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	3–4 	7,315	Lost in quarterfinals, 3–4 vs Skellefteå
2011–12	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	10th 	17–14–24 	6,903	
2012–13	Tier 1 	Elitserien 	5th 	27–9–19 	6,287	
2012–13	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	5–5 	8,364	Won in quarterfinals, 4–1 vs HV 71Lost in semifinals, 1–4 vs Skellefteå
2013–14	Tier 1 	SHL 	9th 	20–11–24 	6,697	
2013–14	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	5–7 	7,138	Won in quarterfinals, 4–3 vs FrölundaLost in semifinals, 1–4 vs Skellefteå
2014–15	Tier 1 	SHL 	4th 	26–11–18 	5,850	
2014–15	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	5–6 	7,417	Won in quarterfinals, 4–2 vs HV71Lost in semifinals, 1–4 vs Skellefteå
2015–16	Tier 1 	SHL 	3rd 	23–16–13 	6,125	
2015–16	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	2–4 	7,076	Lost in quarterfinals, 2–4 vs Växjö
2016–17	Tier 1 	SHL 	4th 	27–10–15 	5,701	
2016–17	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	2–4 	 	Lost in quarterfinals, 2–4 vs Brynäs
2017–18	Tier 1 	SHL 	9th 	21–12–19 	5,688	
2017–18	Swedish Championship playoffs	Swedish Championship playoffs	— 	3–4 	 	Won in Wild Card, 2–0 vs HV71Lost in quarterfinals, 1–4 vs Djurgården
2018–19	Tier 1 	SHL 	12th 	15–14–23 	6,079	
2019–20	Tier 1 	SHL 	11th 	14–17–21 	6,306	
2020–21	Tier 1 	SHL 	12th 	17–7–28 	0 	
2021–22	Tier 1 	SHL 	11th 	16–13–23 	4,987	
2022–23	Tier 1 	SHL 	12th 	20–11–21 	6,045	
==References==
==External links==
* Official site (in Swedish)
Category:Ice hockey teams in Sweden