Färjestad makes history – Wins longest game in Swedish hockey to secure SDHL promotion

The stakes couldn’t have been higher at Tegera Arena on March 2, 2025. Leksand, desperate to retain its SDHL status after finishing last in the regular season, faced a determined Färjestad side aiming for its first-ever promotion to the top division.

With the best-of-three series tied at 1-1, everything came down to this decisive game. Few could have predicted it would stretch into the annals of hockey history.

A Goaltending Duel for the Ages

Leksand struck first just 3:48 into the game when Lillian George found the net, assisted by Tereza Radova. But Färjestad responded at 16:49 of the first period through Emma Murén, leveling the score at 1-1.

What followed was an extraordinary goaltending duel. Färjestad’s Amanda Rampado put on a historic performance, stopping 97 of 98 shots, while Leksand’s Emma Polusny was equally stellar, making 77 saves on 79 shots.

Despite power plays and chances at both ends, neither team could break the deadlock through regulation or the first four overtime periods. As the minutes ticked past 141, this game officially became the longest in Swedish hockey history, surpassing the 2002 playoff clash between Troja/Ljungby and BIK Karlskoga.

The Moment of Glory

The dramatic winner finally arrived at 156:19 in the fifth overtime, when Wilma Johansson capitalized on a rare opening to bury the puck past Polusny, sending Färjestad into rapturous celebrations.

As the final whistle blew, Leksand’s SDHL tenure came to an end, while Färjestad made history—not just by earning promotion, but by doing so in a game that will be remembered for decades.

For the 469 spectators who witnessed the battle live, and the countless more watching online, this was a moment of Swedish hockey history they won’t forget.

Tweets by @eurohockey