For the first time this year tackles are allowed, apart from the so-called open ice tackles, in the SDHL and the second division NDHL.
Morgan Johansson, former referee and responsible for evaluating the rule change, has made an anonymous survey among the players in the league.
SVT Sport has received a couple of questions that show that the tackles were well received.
49.3 percent of the players are very positive that tackles are now allowed in the leagues, while 37.1 percent are positive.
8.7 percent answer neither or while 4.6 percent are negative.
- We knew that there was a high number who were positive.
But I actually didn't think there were so many, says Johansson.
He thinks he will see a more physical game this year.
- It's a tougher game, but I certainly don't think it's uglier, the expulsion statistics also show that.
We don't have very many more expulsions and we have a great many fewer reports to the disciplinary board, so there are fewer of the uglier offences.
It is positive in all directions.
More concussions
Morgan Johansson is the project manager for Projekt Nollvision, which is about improving the players' safety, not least when it comes to concussions.
Concussions have certainly increased this year, but Johansson thinks it is too early to draw any conclusions after only half a season.
- Numerically at the moment during league matches, there are eight and that is what we had last year for the whole season.
If you look at the situations, many have nothing to do with the tackles.
It's hard to say, we'll have to sum up when the season is over and see what happened.
"More countries interested"
Johansson believes that from the Swedish side it is hoped that the rules will spread internationally.
- We are influencing the International Ice Hockey Federation and also other countries to look at this.
There are more countries that are interested in introducing this as well.
Even among the judges, the new rules are being cheered.
92.5 percent respond that they have become easier with the assessments since the tackles were introduced.
4.5 percent answer neither or and 3 percent answer no.