The 2011–12 Frölunda HC season is Frölunda HC's 32nd and current season in the top Swedish league, Elitserien (SEL). The regular season started on September 13, 2011 at home against newly promoted Växjö Lakers and ended on March 6, 2012 at home against Färjestad BK.

Regular season On November 3, in a home game against Modo, early in the first period Frederik Andersen was run over by Modo's captain Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, who received a minor penalty for charging. Andersen's head struck the crossbar but he continued playing, allowing two goals despite making a spectacular save before the first period ended. During the first intermission, Andersen felt ill and decided to not return to the ice for the rest of the game. Hellberg stepped in and Frölunda managed to overcome their two-goal deficit by scoring four goals in the first nine minutes of the second period. In the third Modo's Nicklas Danielsson elbowed Joel Lundqvist in the face, causing a jaw fracture for Lundqvist. The game eventually ended in a 6–3 win, and Danielsson was reported to the Swedish Ice Hockey Association's Disciplinary Board the following day for checking to the head. Danielsson was suspended for two Elitserien games and one international Karjala Cup game, and was fined 11,000 SEK. In the following game on November 5 against Linköping—the last game before the Karjala Cup break—the injury list was further expanded when Magnus Kahnberg was hit blind-sided in the head by former teammate Sebastian Karlsson. Kahnberg fell unconscious, with his face first to the ice, and laid bleeding for several minutes before he was taken out on a stretcher. The hit resulted in Kahnberg being hospitalised with a severe concussion, a deep forehead laceration, and several teeth knocked out. Karlsson was ejected from the game for checking to the head, and received a match penalty. Karlsson was later suspended for eleven Elitserien games and three 2011 European Trophy playoff games. Frölunda suffered their first loss on home ice as the game ended 1–2, and Frölunda went into the break third in the standings with 37 points, two points short of then league leaders HV71.

Lundqvist returned to action on November 28, in a 1–4 loss against Färjestad. In early December, Pierre Johnsson was forced to undergo surgery for an inguinal hernia, sidelining him for four weeks.

After a great start of the season with a top 4 spot in the league, Frölunda fell back in December with only six points in nine games. As a result, Frölunda fell to the sixth spot in the league at 49 points. In a 2–6 loss on December 28 against AIK, Jari Tolsa was suspended for 2 games and fined 9,000 SEK for running over a linesman after an offside call. He returned on 12 January against Djurgården, a 3–2 overtime win, but after two hits on Jimmie Ölvestad and Daniel Tjärnqvist in that game, leaving both opponents with a concussion, he was re-suspended for 2 games and fined 9,000 SEK for the hit on Tjärnqvist. Kahnberg returned as well in that game, scoring one goal. Johnsson returned to action on January 3 in a 3–2 win against Linköping. Tolsa returned on January 18 in a 4–1 home win against Brynäs.

Standings

Games log 2011–12 Elitserien games log; 22–17–16 (Home: 15–7–6; Away: 7–10–10) September: 5–0–1 (Home: 3–0–0; Away: 2–0–1) Round Date Opponent Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Record Pts 6 September 13 Växjö Lakers HC 2–0 Andersen Scandinavium 12,044 1–0–0 3 1 September 15 Modo Hockey 4–1 Andersen Fjällräven Center 5,846 2–0–0 6 2 September 17 Luleå HF 2–1 Andersen Scandinavium 9,210 3–0–0 9 3 September 21 Brynäs IF 2–0 Andersen Läkerol Arena 5,305 4–0–0 12 4 September 24 AIK IF 0–1 (SO) Andersen Hovet 4,815 4–0–1 13 5 September 27 Timrå IK 5–0 Hellberg Scandinavium 8,775 5–0–1 16 October: 4–4–3 (Home: 4–0–2; Away: 0–4–1) Round Date Opponent Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Record Pts 7 October 1 Skellefteå AIK 2–3 Andersen Skellefteå Kraft Arena 5,011 5–1–1 16 8 October 4 Färjestad BK 2–3 (OT) Hellberg Scandinavium 11,296 5–1–2 17 9 October 6 Linköpings HC 1–2 Andersen Cloetta Center 5,496 5–2–2 17 10 October 8 Djurgårdens IF 2–0 Andersen Scandinavium 10,507 6–2–2 20 14 October 11 AIK IF 3–2 (OT) Andersen Scandinavium 7,566 6–2–3 22 11 October 13 HV71 3–0 Andersen Scandinavium 10,181 7–2–3 25 12 October 15 Färjestad BK 1–2 Andersen Löfbergs Lila Arena 7,566 7–3–3 25 13 October 20 HV71 3–4 (SO) Andersen Kinnarps Arena 7,000 7–3–4 26 15 October 24 Luleå HF 3–2 Hellberg Scandinavium 10,775 8–3–4 29 16 October 27 Brynäs IF 5–1 Hellberg Scandinavium 11,231 9–3–4 32 17 October 29 Timrå IK 1–3 Andersen E.ON Arena 4,008 9–4–4 32 November: 2–3–3 (Home: 2–2–1; Away: 0–1–2) Round Date Opponent Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Record Pts 18 November 1 Djurgårdens IF 3–2 (SO) Andersen Hovet 7,546 9–4–5 34 19 November 3 Modo Hockey 6–3 Hellberg Scandinavium 11,688 10–4–5 37 20 November 5 Linköpings HC 1–2 Hellberg Scandinavium 11,027 10–5–5 37 21 November 15 Växjö Lakers HC 1–3 Andersen Vida Arena 5,241 10–6–5 37 22 November 18 Skellefteå AIK 3–1 Andersen Scandinavium 11,255 11–6–5 40 23 November 22 Djurgårdens IF 4–3 (SO) Hellberg Scandinavium 10,027 11–6–6 42 24 November 26 Skellefteå AIK 3–4 (SO) Hellberg Skellefteå Kraft Arena 5,251 11–6–7 43 25 November 28 Färjestad BK 1–4 Hellberg Scandinavium 12,044 11–7–7 43 December: 1–5–3 (Home: 0–2–2; Away: 1–3–1) Round Date Opponent Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Record Pts 26 December 1 Modo Hockey 2–3 (OT) Hellberg Fjällräven Center 5,372 11–7–8 44 27 December 3 Växjö Lakers HC 2–6 Hellberg Scandinavium 11,918 11–8–8 44 28 December 6 Linköpings HC 3–0 Hellberg Cloetta Center 6,027 12–8–8 47 29 December 8 HV71 3–4 (SO) Hellberg Scandinavium 11,862 12–8–9 48 30 December 10 Brynäs IF 3–4 Hellberg Läkerol Arena 8,079 12–9–9 48 31 December 11 Luleå HF 2–3 Hellberg Scandinavium 8,079 12–10–9 48 32 December 26 Timrå IK 2–1 (SO) Andersen Scandinavium 9,250 12–10–10 50 33 December 28 AIK IF 2–6 Andersen Hovet 6,469 12–11–10 50 34 December 30 HV71 0–4 Andersen Kinnarps Arena 7,000 12–12–10 50 January: 5–1–4 (Home: 4–0–1; Away: 1–1–3) Round Date Opponent Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Record Pts 35 January 3 Linköpings HC 3–2 Andersen Scandinavium 8,597 13–12–10 53 36 January 12 Djurgårdens IF 3–2 (OT) Andersen Hovet 6,024 13–12–11 55 37 January 14 Luleå HF 1–2 (SO) Andersen Coop Norrbotten Arena 4,914 13–12–12 56 38 January 16 AIK IF 1–2 (OT) Andersen Scandinavium 8,114 13–12–13 57 39 January 18 Brynäs IF 4–1 Andersen Scandinavium 11,225 14–12–13 60 40 January 20 Modo Hockey 2–1 Andersen Scandinavium 10,223 15–12–13 63 41 January 23 Luleå HF 1–2 Andersen Coop Norrbotten Arena 4,446 15–13–13 63 42 January 26 Växjö Lakers HC 3–2 (OT) Andersen Vida Arena 5,329 15–13–14 65 43 January 28 Skellefteå AIK 6–1 Andersen Scandinavium 10,789 16–13–14 68 44 January 31 Timrå IK 4–0 Andersen E.ON Arena 4,131 17–13–14 71 February: 4–2–2 (Home: 2–1–0; Away: 2–1–2) Round Date Opponent Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Record Pts 45 February 2 Färjestad BK 3–2 (SO) Andersen Löfbergs Lila Arena 6,412 17–13–15 73 46 February 4 Timrå IK 6–0 Andersen Scandinavium 9,899 18–13–15 76 47 February 14 Djurgårdens IF 2–1 Andersen Scandinavium 10,062 19–13–15 79 48 February 16 Skellefteå AIK 6–3 Andersen Skellefteå Kraft Arena 4,877 20–13–15 82 49 February 18 HV71 1–2 Andersen Scandinavium 12,044 20–14–15 82 50 February 21 AIK IF 1–0 (SO) Andersen Hovet 4,714 20–14–16 84 51 February 25 Linköpings HC 5–1 Andersen Cloetta Center 7,530 21–14–16 87 52 February 27 Modo Hockey 0–3 Hellberg Fjällräven Center 5,109 21–15–16 87 March: 1–2–0 (Home: 0–2–0; Away: 1–0–0) Round Date Opponent Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Record Pts 53 March 1 Växjö Lakers HC 1–3 Hellberg Scandinavium 10,053 21–16–16 87 54 March 3 Brynäs IF 3–2 Andersen Läkerol Arena 7,990 22–16–16 90 55 March 6 Färjestad BK 2–3 Andersen Scandinavium 11,839 22–17–16 90 Legend:

Playoffs Each playoff series is a best-of-seven, meaning that four wins are required to advance to the next round.

Game log 2011–12 Playoffs log; 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–2) Quarterfinals vs. (4) Brynäs IF: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Away: 1–2) Round Date Score Goaltender Venue Attendance Series 1 March 10 1–3 Andersen Läkerol Arena 6,224 0–1 2 March 12 2–1 Andersen Scandinavium 10,264 1–1 3 March 14 3–4 (OT) Andersen Läkerol Arena 7,693 1–2 4 March 16 0–5 Andersen Scandinavium 12,044 1–3 5 March 18 2–1 Andersen Läkerol Arena 8,283 2–3 6 March 20 3–4 (OT) Andersen Scandinavium 10,515 2–4 Legend:

Statistics

Skaters NamePosNationalityGPGAPPIMGPGAPPIMRegular seasonPlayoffsC5510314134613410LW532218401261232RW541624405861236C481119306360224D551116274860222D51519241260000RW2991120462132LW42812204561124D55416205061018C5489174250112D4459143661344LW52212142240002C496511860002LW4256111661120LW4545939601125RW355382860002D441782851012D521563860004D553252060000C350448 RW82130LW11101061014LW171016 G170110RW30000D30000D30000C90000RW130000LW16000030000D22000210000G39000260000RW410000

Transactions The off-season started with the decision from veterans Niklas Andersson and Andreas Karlsson to retire, and after a season of limited playing time Ville Mäntymaa decided to head back home to Finland. Early on Frölunda extended the contracts of Henrik Tömmernes and Nicklas Lasu, brought up Victor Backman from the junior team, and signed contracts with former Frölunda players Anton Axelsson and Jari Tolsa, and later on another returnee in Magnus Kahnberg. Despite offering to play at half his previous salary, and much to the dismay of the fans, Frölunda icon Tomi Kallio was not offered a new contract and eventually signed with Elitserien's newcomer Växjö Lakers. The goaltending was completely overhauled as goalie coach Michael Lehner, and goaltenders Johan Holmqvist and Joakim Lundström left the team and were replaced by goalie coach Micce Andréasson and his aspirant Magnus Hellberg, as well as Danish national Fredrik Andersen, and a local prospect Linus Fernström. The defence was also overhauled when Tobias Viklund, John Klingberg, and Oscar Hedman left the team, and Pierre Johnsson, Fredrik Eriksson, Christoffer Persson, and Swiss national Patrick von Gunten were brought in. After three seasons with Frölunda, assistant captain Riku Hahl left for Finland, and fellow Finn Mikko Mäenpää headed to the KHL, simultaneously Jesper Mattsson returned to Malmö after having settled the dispute which made him leave them and join Frölunda during the middle of the prior season. Finally junior defenceman Viktor Svedberg was signed to a pro-contract, and Frölunda's top duo from the 2009–10 season—Mathis Olimb and Fredrik Pettersson—returned home after their one-year sojourn in North America.

Acquired Player Former team Date Notes Anton Axelsson Timrå IK March 23 Jari Tolsa Linköpings HC March 24 Patrick von Gunten Kloten Flyers March 30 Magnus Hellberg Almtuna IS April 4 Magnus Kahnberg Brynäs IF April 4 Pierre Johnsson Luleå HF April 7 Fredrik Eriksson Nürnberg Ice Tigers April 7 Linus Fernström Enköpings SK April 11 Christoffer Persson Rögle BK April 12 Frederik Andersen Frederikshavn White Hawks April 14 Mathis Olimb Rockford IceHogs April 29 Fredrik Pettersson Chicago Wolves July 12 Fredrik Sjöström Färjestad BK November 14 Mats Rosseli Olsen Vålerenga Ishockey January 28 Leaving Player New team Date Notes Niklas Andersson Retired March 9 Andreas Karlsson Retired March 11 Ville Mäntymaa Oulun Kärpät March 21 John Klingberg Jokerit April 10 Tobias Viklund AIK April 12 Johan Holmqvist Brynäs IF April 15 Tomi Kallio Växjö Lakers April 18 Joakim Lundström Timrå IK April 20 Oscar Hedman Timrå IK April 27 Riku Hahl Jokerit May 19 Jesper Mattsson Malmö Redhawks May 23 Mikko Mäenpää Amur Khabarovsk May 27 Dragan Umicevic Malmö Redhawks October 10 Toni Koivisto Luleå HF October 31 Robin Lindqvist Timrå IK January 18

Drafted players

Frölunda HC players picked in the 2012 NHL entry draft at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.