Two champions. Two leagues. One historic matchup.

As The Ice Garden previously reported, the NWHL’s Metropolitan Riveters will face the SDHL’s Luleå Hockey/MSSK in a three-game Champions Cup matchup to be held in Luleå, Sweden from Sept. 26-30 at Coop Norrbotten Arena. All three games will be played, even if one team wins the first two.

BREAKING: In First-Ever Champions Cup, NWHL’s Riveters to Play Luleå Hockey of the SDHL in 3-Game Series



:https://t.co/XjI5kpgwYi pic.twitter.com/DcC0bqzfvd — NWHL (@NWHL) June 5, 2018

In addition, a clinic for Norrbotten’s youth hockey players will be held in collaboration with players and coaches from both teams.

“The inaugural Champions Cup, in partnership with our friends at the SDHL, launches the first series between champions in professional women’s hockey leagues in North America and Europe,” said NWHL Commissioner and founder Dani Rylan in the league’s press release.

Her sentiments were echoed by SDHL Commercial Director Angelica Lindeberg: “Like our colleagues at the NWHL, the SDHL believes strongly in collaboration across all leagues to help push women’s hockey forward. We are proud to host the Champions Cup in Sweden and expect it will be a great success on many levels. We’re looking forward to this groundbreaking event, and we welcome the Riveters to Luleå.”

With two clubs at the top of their game and an incredible atmosphere at Delfinen, this looks to be some incredible hockey. Hopefully it’s only the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership that sees the game grow on both sides of the Atlantic.