It has been requested for a very long time and on Friday it will finally become a reality. Goal cameras will be introduced in SDHL from this season onwards.
It's extremely important that we take these small steps. It's extremely important for credibility. It's extremely important that the players who put in so much time also get the same conditions as they have, to the greatest extent possible, on the men's side, says Schillgard.
He means that the reactions have been positive.
It has existed in men's hockey and not in women's hockey. So it's fully natural that it's coming. It's positive and above all it's very fair in the situations that can arise.
"Ghost goals" last year
Last year, there was a notable goal in the match between Luleå and Brynäs. Luleå's Ronja Savolainen scored 4–3, but it was very difficult to determine via replay images that the puck was in.
Something that sparked the debate.
Such situations happen a few times per season. It becomes even clearer that we need video review. So that the outcome doesn't become unfair, said Luleå's national team player Anna Kjellbin to NSD.
Cameras have now been mounted and installed in all the clubs' main arenas. These will be used to review goals and "as a complement in assessments of major penalties and more", according to the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. This has been tested during the preseason.
It feels good. We've gotten positive feedback. But it has to grow in too, says Schillgard.
Some matches without cameras
Video review will not be available when SDHL clubs play in other arenas than their home arena. Something that usually happens a couple of times per season. But according to Schillgard, the clubs don't see it as a problem.
It's the reality we're living in right now. So it becomes a part of the whole. Women's hockey is coming and is here. But since many teams share arenas with their respective men's teams, it becomes clashes, he says.
Schillgard emphasizes that it won't happen in that many matches.
So everyone felt that if it's just a few, it's okay. It would have been worse if it was one match every round, and that's definitely not. Everyone felt that now we're getting cameras and then we'll have to accept the situation.
Friday: 18.00: HV71–Brynäs, Linköping–Skellefteå. 19.00: SDE–Leksand, Frölunda–Modo, Djurgården–Luleå.
