The 2011–12 AIK IF season is AIK's 28th and current season in the Elitserien ice hockey league (SEL), the top division in Sweden. The regular season began on September 15, 2011, at home against Timrå IK and concluded on March 6, 2012, at home against Skellefteå AIK. The following playoffs began on March 10 and ended on April 7.

AIK improved from previous season by finishing 7th in the regular season and once again qualified for the playoffs. Richard Gynge captured the Håkan Loob Trophy by scoring 28 goals, and Robert Rosén won the scoring league with 60 points (21 goals, 39 assists). Viktor Fasth also won the Honken Trophy for the second consecutive year. Just like last year, AIK were chosen to meet the regular-season champions, Luleå HF, in the quarterfinals. AIK eliminated Luleå in five games and advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive year, where they would face Skellefteå AIK. AIK were once again eliminated in the semifinals, this time in seven games.

Pre-season

Game log 2011 AIK exhibition games log Exhibition games: 5–2–2 # Date Opponent Score OT Goaltender Protocol Ref 1 July 29 Visby/Roma HK 2 – 1 Fasth/Svensson 1–0–0 2 August 18 Brynäs IF 4 – 2 Viktor Fasth 2–0–0 3 August 23 Timrå IK 1 – 4 Markus Svensson 2–1–0 4 August 25 Ilves 2 – 4 Viktor Fasth 2–2–0 5 August 27 HPK 4 – 3 Markus Svensson 3–2–0 6 August 31 Södertälje SK 2 – 1 Viktor Fasth 4–2–0 7 September 2 Almtuna IS 3 – 4 SO Markus Svensson 4–2–1 8 September 8 Skellefteå AIK 3 – 2 SO Viktor Fasth 4–2–2 9 September 10 Modo Hockey 4 – 1 Viktor Fasth 5–2–2 Legend:

Regular season

Summary AIK's first local derby game of the season, against Djurgårdens IF, was played on September 20, 2011. AIK lost the game 4–2, which recorded AIK's fourth consecutive loss to Djurgården counting the teams' previous season meetings.

By beating Färjestads BK 2–1 in the second round, on away ice in a shootout, AIK recorded their first win against Färjestad in over ten years since 2001, the year when AIK were last relegated from the SEL.

On November 14, 2011, after a one-week break, AIK resumed the season with the second Stockholm derby game of the season against Djurgården. AIK were dressed as the home team. Because of illness, AIK's primary goaltender Viktor Fasth could not play and was replaced by the team's main backup goaltender Markus Svensson. Junior goaltender Niklas Lundström was dressed as the team's backup goaltender in the game. In front of 11,428 spectators, Svensson shutout Djurgården as AIK came on top with a 5–0 win. This was the biggest win in a Stockholm derby since November 15, 2001 (5–0 to Djurgården), AIK's biggest Stockholm derby win since December 28, 2000 (5–0 to AIK), as well as the first shutout win in a Stockholm derby since the November 15, 2001 game. This was also Svensson's first shutout win in the Elitserien league. As a result of the win, AIK received three points and jumped to the ninth spot in the standings at 26 points, the same number of points as Djurgården at that time.

Standings

Game log 2011–12 AIK IF regulation games log: 19–19–17 (Home: 12–7–9; Away: 7–12–8) September: 2–3–2 (Home: 1–1–1; Away: 1–2–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Goaltender Venue Attendance Protocol Pts Ref 1 September 15 Timrå IK 5 – 1 Viktor Fasth Hovet 5,475 1–0–0 3 2 September 17 Färjestad BK 2 – 1 SO Viktor Fasth Löfbergs Lila Arena 6,281 1–0–1 5 9 September 20 Djurgårdens IF 2 – 4 Viktor Fasth Ericsson Globe 13,850 1–1–1 5 3 September 22 Modo Hockey 2 – 0 Viktor Fasth Fjällräven Center 5,684 2–1–1 8 4 September 24 Frölunda HC 1 – 0 SO Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,815 2–1–2 10 5 September 26 Linköpings HC 2 – 5 Svensson/Fasth Cloetta Center 6,064 2–2–2 10 6 September 29 Luleå HF 0 – 1 Viktor Fasth Coop Norrbotten Arena 4,269 2–3–2 10 October: 2–4–3 (Home: 1–2–1; Away: 1–2–2) # Date Opponent Score OT Goaltender Venue Attendance Protocol Pts Ref 7 October 1 Brynäs IF 3 – 4 Viktor Fasth Läkerol Arena 6,942 2–4–2 10 8 October 4 HV71 7 – 8 SO Markus Svensson Hovet 3,826 2–4–3 11 10 October 8 Skellefteå AIK 2 – 1 Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,726 3–4–3 14 14 October 11 Frölunda HC 2 – 3 OT Viktor Fasth Scandinavium 7,566 3–4–4 15 11 October 13 Växjö Lakers HC 4 – 0 Viktor Fasth Vida Arena 5,163 4–4–4 18 12 October 15 HV71 1 – 3 Viktor Fasth Kinnarps Arena 6,766 4–5–4 18 13 October 18 Växjö Lakers HC 3 – 4 Viktor Fasth Hovet 3,444 4–6–4 18 16 October 27 Timrå IK 4 – 3 SO Viktor Fasth E.ON Arena 4,088 4–6–5 20 17 October 29 Brynäs IF 0 – 4 Viktor Fasth Hovet 6,385 4–7–5 20 November: 5–4–1 (Home: 3–2–0; Away: 2–2–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Goaltender Venue Attendance Protocol Pts Ref 18 November 1 Skellefteå AIK 3 – 4 Viktor Fasth Skellefteå Kraft Arena 4,841 4–8–5 20 19 November 3 Färjestad BK 3 – 2 Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,602 5–8–5 23 20 November 5 Luleå HF 0 – 2 Viktor Fasth Coop Norrbotten Arena 5,233 5–9–5 23 31 November 7 HV71 3 – 4 Fasth/Svensson Hovet 3,337 5–10–5 23 15 November 14 Djurgårdens IF 5 – 0 Markus Svensson Ericsson Globe 11,428 6–10–5 26 22 November 19 Modo Hockey 2 – 4 Viktor Fasth Hovet 6,008 6–11–5 26 32 November 21 Brynäs IF 4 – 2 Viktor Fasth Läkerol Arena 4,486 7–11–5 29 23 November 23 Timrå IK 5 – 4 Svensson/Fasth Hovet 3,489 8–11–5 32 24 November 25 Modo Hockey 5 – 4 Viktor Fasth Fjällräven Center 6,530 9–11–5 35 25 November 29 Växjö Lakers HC 0 – 1 SO Viktor Fasth Vida Arena 4,781 9–11–6 36 December: 2–2–2 (Home: 2–1–1; Away: 0–1–1) # Date Opponent Score OT Goaltender Venue Attendance Protocol Pts Ref 26 December 1 Linköpings HC 3 – 2 OT Viktor Fasth Hovet 5,325 9–11–7 38 27 December 4 Skellefteå AIK 0 – 2 Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,513 9–12–7 38 29 December 8 Färjestad BK 3 – 6 Markus Svensson Löfbergs Lila Arena 7,771 9–13–7 38 30 December 10 Luleå HF 3 – 2 Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,443 10–13–7 41 28 December 22 Djurgårdens IF 2 – 3 SO Viktor Fasth Ericsson Globe 13,850 10–13–8 42 33 December 28 Frölunda HC 6 – 2 Viktor Fasth Hovet 6,469 11–13–8 45 January: 3–3–5 (Home: 3–1–2; Away: 0–2–3) # Date Opponent Score OT Goaltender Venue Attendance Protocol Pts Ref 35 January 3 Brynäs IF 5 – 1 Viktor Fasth Hovet 7,719 12–13–8 48 21 January 5 Linköpings HC 1 – 3 Viktor Fasth Cloetta Center 7,710 12–14–8 48 34 January 10 Linköpings HC 3 – 0 Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,018 13–14–8 51 37 January 12 HV71 3 – 2 OT Viktor Fasth Kinnarps Arena 6,580 13–14–9 53 38 January 14 Modo Hockey 3 – 6 Fasth/Svensson Hovet 6,279 13–15–9 53 36 January 16 Frölunda HC 2 – 1 OT Viktor Fasth Scandinavium 8,114 13–15–10 55 39 January 19 Färjestad BK 3 – 0 Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,565 14–15–10 58 40 January 21 Luleå HF 0 – 3 Viktor Fasth Coop Norrbotten Arena 5,448 14–16–10 58 41 January 24 Timrå IK 0 – 1 OT Viktor Fasth E.ON Arena 4,317 14–16–11 59 42 January 26 Djurgårdens IF 4 – 3 OT Viktor Fasth Ericsson Globe 12,079 14–16–12 61 43 January 31 Växjö Lakers HC 3 – 2 SO Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,475 14–16–13 63 February: 5–2–2 (Home: 2–0–2; Away: 3–2–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Goaltender Venue Attendance Protocol Pts Ref 44 February 2 Skellefteå AIK 1 – 2 Markus Svensson Skellefteå Kraft Arena 4,432 14–17–13 63 45 February 4 Modo Hockey 5 – 1 Viktor Fasth Fjällräven Center 7,233 15–17–13 66 46 February 14 HV71 3 – 4 SO Markus Svensson Hovet 4,218 15–17–14 67 47 February 16 Djurgårdens IF 4 – 1 Niklas Lundström Ericsson Globe 10,061 16–17–14 70 48 February 18 Linköpings HC 4 – 2 Niklas Lundström Hovet 6,021 17–17–14 73 49 February 21 Frölunda HC 0 – 1 SO Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,714 17–17–15 74 50 February 23 Färjestad BK 1 – 3 Viktor Fasth Löfbergs Lila Arena 5,652 17–18–15 74 51 February 26 Timrå IK 8 – 2 Viktor Fasth Hovet 5,695 18–18–15 77 52 February 28 Brynäs IF 4 – 2 Viktor Fasth Läkerol Arena 7,027 19–18–15 80 March: 0–1–2 (Home: 0–0–2; Away: 0–1–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Goaltender Venue Attendance Protocol Pts Ref 53 March 1 Luleå HF 0 – 1 OT Markus Svensson Hovet 5,411 19–18–16 81 54 March 3 Växjö Lakers HC 0 – 2 Markus Svensson Vida Arena 5,329 19–19–16 81 55 March 6 Skellefteå AIK 2 – 3 SO Viktor Fasth Hovet 4,852 19–19–17 82 Legend:

Statistics

Players Player Team

Goaltenders Player Team

Playoffs In each series the better-seeded team gets home-ice advantage, meaning that they play four home games. Each series is a best-of-seven, where the team that wins four games advances to the next round. AIK is seeded 7th.

Summary

Game log 2012 Playoffs log: 7–5 (Home: 4–1; Away: 3–4) Quarterfinals vs. (1) Luleå HF: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Away: 2–1) # Date Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Series Ref 1 March 10 3 – 6 Viktor Fasth Coop Norrbotten Arena 5,897 0–1 2 March 12 4 – 2 Viktor Fasth Hovet 8,094 1–1 3 March 14 3 – 2 Viktor Fasth Coop Norrbotten Arena 5,408 2–1 4 March 16 4 – 1 Viktor Fasth Hovet 8,094 3–1 5 March 18 3 – 0 Viktor Fasth Coop Norrbotten Arena 5,088 4–1 Semifinals vs. (2) Skellefteå AIK: 3–4 (Home: 2–1; Away: 1–3) # Date Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Series Ref 1 March 26 4 – 1 Viktor Fasth Skellefteå Kraft Arena 5,541 1–0 2 March 28 4 – 5 OT Viktor Fasth Hovet 8,094 1–1 3 March 30 1 – 5 Fasth/Svensson Skellefteå Kraft Arena 6,001 1–2 4 April 1 5 – 3 Viktor Fasth Hovet 8,094 2–2 5 April 3 2 – 8 Viktor Fasth Skellefteå Kraft Arena 6,001 2–3 6 April 5 2 – 1 Viktor Fasth Hovet 8,094 3–3 7 April 7 3 – 5 Viktor Fasth Skellefteå Kraft Arena 5,855 3–4 Legend:

Statistics

Players Player Team

Goaltenders Player Team

Transactions AIK's pre-season started with Josh MacNevin, Viktor Fasth, Daniel Bång and Stefan Johansson extending their respective contracts mid-season by two years. Later a published interview revealed that goaltender Christopher Heino-Lindberg and winger Mattias Beck would leave the club prior to the 2011–12 season. A few days later Kent McDonell and Fredrik Carlsson extended their contracts by one year and two years respectively. A few days later it was announced that the junior players Eric Norin, Patric Gozzi, Henrik Nilsson, Mathias Franzén and Andreas Dahlström would be loaned to the HockeyAllsvenskan team Almtuna IS for the 2011–12 season, and then Johannes Salmonsson extended his contract by two years. In mid-April Fredrik Svensson, Victor Ahlström and Oscar Ahlström extended their respective contracts by one year; and shortly after, Linus Videll, Robert Rosén and Tobias Viklund—who all played in Elitserien in the 2010–11 season—were appointed. The appointment of Robert Rosén effectively re-united him and Josh MacNevin, as they played in the same team, Växjö Lakers Hockey, in the 2009–10 season. The same day as those appointments were made, AIK said goodbye to the two Slovak forwards Rastislav Pavlikovský and Richard Zedník, who were acquired mid-season. A few days later Johan P. Andersson left AIK and signed with Timrå IK, Mattias Beck—who had been loaned to Mora IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan (Swe-1) the previous season—signed with Mora IK, and Markus Svensson was presented as a new goaltender in AIK. On April 19, 2011, it was announced that Peter Nolander would leave AIK, as AIK had already found a replacement for him. Jonas Liwing then extended his contract with AIK a week later. In early May, Tobias Ericsson left AIK to sign with Mora IK, and a week later Filip Olsson left the AIK organization and signed with the Division 1 (Swe-2) club Mörrums IK. On May 9 it was announced that the Division 1 player Christopher Aspeqvist had signed a try-out contract with AIK. On September 1, 2011, Aspeqvist extended his contract with the club to one year.

On October 11, 2011, the acquired goaltender Markus Svensson was temporarily loaned to the Swe-1 team IK Oskarshamn for two games. A week later, junior player David Lillieström Karlsson signed a senior contract with AIK. Six days later, acquired forward Linus Videll was sold to Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) after just 14 games, for financial reasons.