Elitehockeyligaen 2026 begins with a major change to the competition. Elitehockeyligaen, commonly known as the EHL, is Norway’s top men’s ice hockey league, and this season will feature nine teams after Sparta Sarpsborg’s bankruptcy. That changes the schedule, removes relegation and forces bettors to discard several assumptions published earlier in the summer.
Storhamar remains the team to beat, but Frisk Asker, Stavanger Oilers and Vålerenga form a serious chasing group. This EHL betting guide covers the title contenders, major transfers, new goalie situations and the information that matters when assessing Norwegian ice hockey markets.
EHL Betting at ibet
Before the 2026-27 season gets moving, use the ibet sportsbook to compare Elitehockeyligaen outrights, regular-season markets, match winner prices, regulation betting, totals, player props and live betting. If you are building a futures position or waiting for confirmed goalies before a matchday pick, the latest EHL markets at ibet should be checked close to puck drop.
You can also visit the ibet promotions page before placing your bet to see whether any sportsbook offers can add extra value to your Norwegian ice hockey selections.
Elitehockeyligaen 2026 at a Glance
- Teams: 9
- Regular-season games per club: 40
- Home and away split: 20 home and 20 away
- Defending champion: Storhamar
- Promoted club: Ringerike Panthers
- Playoff places: 8
- Relegation: None in 2026-27
Elitehockeyligaen 2026: What Changed in Norway’s EHL?
Sparta’s withdrawal is the defining change. The Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation confirmed that Sparta’s fixtures would be removed, leaving every active club with 40 regular-season games instead of 45. The federation also confirmed that there will be no relegation this season. The ninth-place club will remain in the EHL, while the winner of the HockeyLiga1 promotion playoffs will move up.
That has betting consequences. Season markets must be calculated over 40 games. Any fixture list that still includes Sparta is outdated, and rest or travel calculations should only use the revised schedule. With no relegation, late-season motivation should be assessed through the playoff race rather than survival.
The regular-season scoring system awards 3 points for a regulation win, 2 for an overtime or shootout win and 1 for an overtime or shootout defeat. The top eight enter the playoffs.
Check the latest EHL markets at ibet before making your selections.
Norwegian EHL Title Contenders for 2026-27
Storhamar
Storhamar deserves to begin at the top after winning the regular season and national championship in 2025-26. Jacob Berglund, Austin Cangelosi and Andreas Martinsen remain, while Simon Hjalmarsson, Eirik Salsten, Stian Kaltrud Nystuen, Liam Sætre and Jesper Martinsen Lilleberg add depth.
There has still been meaningful turnover. Zach O’Brien, Olle Liss, Colin Campbell and Markus Stensrud are among the departures. Tyler Parks and Theo Rooseboom de Vries form a completely new senior goalie pairing.
The main betting question is not whether Storhamar remains strong. It is whether short EHL odds properly reflect the uncertainty in goal, the departing production and the additional European workload. Confirm the starter before taking a large handicap.
Frisk Asker
Frisk offers more continuity than most challengers. Michael Haga remains one of the league’s best creators, Mitch Gillam and Aron Breivold return in goal, and Sjur Robert Nilsen is back behind the bench.
Sebastian Dyk strengthens the attack, and Alexander Anderberg, Charlie Callaghan and Nils Sunde join a reconstructed defense. The losses matter, however. Tobias Lindström produced 24 goals and 44 points last season, while several established defensemen have moved on.
Frisk’s case depends on keeping its defensive identity while replacing Lindström’s scoring. Gillam provides a reliable starting point, but last season’s goals-against record cannot simply be copied into a new model when the defense in front of him has changed.
Stavanger Oilers
Stavanger made the headline signing of the summer by taking Linus Pettersson from Narvik. Pettersson led the 2025-26 EHL with 53 points in 41 games. He now joins an attack featuring Mathias Trettenes and other established contributors, with Ludwig Blomstrand and Ludvig Rensfeldt adding further options.
Case McCarthy arrives on defense, Zachary Émond joins Henrik Holm in goal, and Daniil Kovalenko became a late addition following Sparta’s collapse. Stavanger also lost a substantial group that included Trenton Bliss, Andrew Yogan, Cam Morrison, Zack Andrusiak and Zane McIntyre.
The upside is clear, but integration matters. Pettersson could become more efficient while receiving a smaller share of the puck. Confirm his line, shot volume and power-play role before using last season’s numbers in player props.
Vålerenga
Vålerenga has rebuilt its import group around an experienced Norwegian core. Ponthus and Pathrik Westerholm arrive from Lukko, Juuso Vainio strengthens the defence, and Lars Volden joins Mathias Schjerpen Arnkværn in goal. Fredrik Glader has also moved from Narvik to join Roy Johansen’s staff.
Ryan Lasch, Blake McLaughlin, Nick Caamano and Joona Voutilainen are significant departures. That creates questions around chance creation, power-play roles and the goalie hierarchy.
Vålerenga remains capable of winning the title, but its reputation can influence the price. The opening weeks should show whether the new imports replace the outgoing production and whether Volden or Arnkværn earns the larger workload.
Other Elitehockeyligaen 2026 Teams to Watch
| Team | Most important change | Main EHL betting question |
| Narvik | Pettersson and Glader left; Albin Eriksson and several defenders arrived | Who replaces the lost creation and first power-play role? |
| Stjernen | Kristian Jakobsson, Oscar Öhman and several proven EHL players joined | Can the goalies support an improved attack? |
| Lillehammer | New coaches, Niilo Halonen and a rebuilt defense | Will the defensive improvement hold against the leading attacks? |
| Nidaros | Daniel Lebedeff, Jack York and multiple young players arrived | Has the defensive structure improved along with the goaltending? |
| Ringerike | The promoted club added Trym Gran, Jens Auke Hoekstra and Samuel Salonen | How quickly will lower-division success translate to the EHL? |
Narvik carries the clearest regression risk after losing the league’s leading scorer and its coach. That does not mean automatically betting against the team at home. It means the market needs evidence that somebody can replace Pettersson’s entries, passing and shooting before preserving last season’s rating.
Stjernen has enough new attacking quality to improve, but its goalie pairing remains uncertain. Contract length also matters: Jakobsson is listed only through December 31, while Christopher Lynch’s agreement was reported through October.
Lillehammer has rebuilt its defence and added Halonen in goal. Nidaros conceded 194 goals last season, and one strong goalie performance will not prove that its defensive problems have disappeared. Ringerike dominated the second tier, but its scoring must now translate against stronger opponents.
How to Approach EHL Betting and Odds in Norwegian Ice Hockey
EHL betting in the Elitehockeyligaen requires more than ranking the nine clubs. The market, settlement rules and available price determine whether a reasonable prediction becomes a worthwhile bet.
Outright markets: Check whether the bet settles on the regular-season winner or the playoff champion. These are different achievements. Storhamar can be the most likely winner without offering value at every price. The shortened schedule also increases the effect of individual injuries, goalie form and short losing runs.
Regulation versus match winner: A regulation bet is settled after 60 minutes. A two-way match winner usually includes overtime and shootouts, although the exact rules must be checked. Frisk or Storhamar might be attractive to win eventually without offering the same value in the regulation market.
Goal totals: Separate five-on-five performance, special teams and empty-net goals. A 5-3 result can describe an open game, a special-teams contest or a close game with two late empty-net goals. Those situations should not produce the same adjustment. Roster age by itself is not evidence for an over or under.
Player props: Confirm the lines, power-play units and expected goalie before betting. Pettersson’s move to Stavanger, Lindström’s departure from Frisk and the rebuilt Vålerenga units can change individual opportunity. Season-long props also need to reflect the reduction from 45 to 40 games.
Live betting: Watch the pace, penalties and quality of chances. One early goal does not automatically make the over attractive. Travel and fatigue can matter, particularly for Narvik and Storhamar, but assess them from the real calendar rather than treating them as permanent team labels.
Elitehockeyligaen 2026 Betting FAQ
Who is the favourite to win Elitehockeyligaen 2026-27?
Storhamar begins as the leading contender after winning last season’s league and playoffs. Frisk Asker, Stavanger Oilers and Vålerenga form the main chasing group. The best betting option still depends on the available decimal odds.
How many teams are playing in the Norwegian EHL this season?
Nine clubs will compete after Sparta Sarpsborg’s bankruptcy. Each team is scheduled to play 40 regular-season games, divided into 20 home and 20 away fixtures.
Is there relegation from the EHL in 2026-27?
No. The ninth-place team will remain in the league. The winner of the HockeyLiga1 promotion playoffs will be promoted for the following season.
What should bettors check before placing an EHL bet?
Check the confirmed starting goalies, current lineups, injuries, power-play units, rest and travel schedule. Bettors should also verify whether a market is settled after regulation or includes overtime and shootouts.
Elitehockeyligaen 2026 starts with Storhamar in front, a credible group of challengers and unusual uncertainty across the league’s goalie situations. The strongest approach to EHL betting on Norwegian ice hockey is to begin with the roster changes, then wait for confirmed roles and compare that information with the available price.
ibet Sportsbook Promotions for Elitehockeyligaen 2026
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EHL bettors can use ibet’s weekly sportsbook cashback as an extra layer of value throughout the season. The offer returns 5% on qualifying sports betting losses, up to €200 every Monday, and the cashback is credited as real money with no wagering requirements or hidden restrictions.
That makes it especially useful during a long hockey campaign where form, injuries, goalie rotations and overtime results can all swing a betting week. Whether you follow Norwegian ice hockey, football, tennis or basketball, the promotion is available across sports.
Boost Hockey Accas with ComboBoost
ComboBoost can also fit an EHL betting card when several matchday angles line up. Build an accumulator with at least 3 sports events, make sure each selection has minimum odds of 1.30, and your potential winnings can receive a boost.
The boost increases with the number of selections: 4 selections get 5%, 5 selections get 10%, 6 to 7 selections get 15%, 8 to 9 selections get 20%, and 10 or more selections can unlock a 30% boost. ComboBoost is available three times per week, so it can work well for packed hockey and football weekends.
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Explore More Nordic Sports Betting Content
The ibet betting news blog covers more than one hockey league. Football readers can explore our Eliteserien betting guide and Veikkausliiga betting guide for more Nordic football insight across Norway and Finland.
For hockey bettors, this Elitehockeyligaen preview sits alongside other seasonal content from across the region. You can also check out our content for Swedish hockey and Finnish hockey with our SHL betting guide and Liiga betting guide.
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All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and may have moved since the content was published. Betting markets shift constantly based on action and betting news. For the latest odds and current lines, visit the ibet sportsbook.
