Every year Karlskrona hockey gymnasium receives between 250 to 400 applications.

- It's tough to get in, so it is and we only have 14 places. We have a very good reputation in hockey Sweden, says Eric Karlsson, instructor at Karlskrona Hockey Gymnasium.

NIU status

Three years ago Karlskrona hockey gymnasium received NIU status, which is an elite certification at the upper secondary level. It is the Swedish-Swedish Ice Hockey Association that determines which schools receive that status.

Thanks to the elite class, young players from all over Sweden are attracted to apply to Karlskrona. One of the students at the school there is Ludvig Markman from Linköping.

- I saw very good development opportunities here, it's a good organization with very good coaches, he says.

Debut in Hockeyallsvenskan

The shooting star Filip Wiberg, who also attends the hockey gymnasium, has entered the All-Swedish Karlskrona HK's A-team this season.

- I went to hockey gymnasium up in Umeå but their junior team did not play in the highest series. That's why I applied to Karlskrona to play in "Superelit" which is the highest series among juniors, he says.

Filip Wiberg has already played a handful of A-team matches and recently scored his first goal in Hockeyallsvenskan.

- The goal is to debut in SHL within three years, he says.