Swedish Goalie Hugo Alnefelt Suffers Serious Head Injury in Finnish League Match

During a Finnish league hockey match on January 10, 2026, Swedish goalkeeper Hugo Alnefelt, on loan from HV71 to HIFK, sustained a serious head injury when he was struck by an opponent's skate. The incident occurred early in the first period of the game between HIFK and Ilves Tampere. Alnefelt was left motionless on the ice for an extended period while receiving immediate medical assistance. He was then carried off the ice on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to the hospital.

The injury was caused by a skate belonging to Ilves player Teemu Engberg. HIFK's head coach, Olli Jokinen, expressed strong disapproval over the lack of a penalty call on the play. Jokinen said, "You think that's not a penalty? He goes straight into the blue zone, he's not outside the goalie area. Isn't the goalie supposed to be protected in the blue zone?"

Despite the severity of the injury, reports confirmed that Alnefelt was in a stable condition and undergoing further tests at the hospital. The injury has raised concerns about player safety and officiating standards in the league.

Alnefelt’s well-being remains a priority for both his temporary team HIFK and his parent club HV71, while the incident has sparked discussions about the protection of goalkeepers in similar situations.