Anna Kjellbin Bio
Anna Linnea Christina Kjellbin, born on 16 March 1994, is a Swedish ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). A veteran of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL), she is recognized as the thirteenth longest-tenured player in league history and has won the SDHL championship twice. Kjellbin also represents Sweden’s women’s national ice hockey team and has competed at multiple IIHF Women’s World Championships and Olympic Games.
Early Life and Background
Anna Linnea Christina Kjellbin was born on 16 March 1994 in Gothenburg, Sweden. She grew up in Mölndal, a municipality in the greater Gothenburg area, and first stepped onto the ice at age four. As a child, Kjellbin played several sports and games, including golf, swimming, football, and chess, which helped develop her overall athleticism and competitive instincts.
Hockey became her central focus during her formative years. Her father, Magnus, played ice hockey professionally in the Swedish Hockeytvåan during the 1970s, giving Anna an early connection to the sport and an appreciation for its demands.
Path to Hockey
Kjellbin began her organized hockey career with Hanhals IF, splitting her time from 2008 to 2010 between the women’s team and the U16 boys’ team. In her rookie Riksserien season of 2009–10, she recorded five assists in 28 games while Hanhals finished near the bottom of the standings.
In 2010, she signed with Linköping HC Dam, choosing the club over an offer from HV71 Dam. That decision launched a long and productive run in the top Swedish league and set the foundation for the rest of her career.
Anna Kjellbin Career
Early Career (2008–2010)
Kjellbin’s earliest senior hockey came with Hanhals IF, where she played from 2008 to 2010. Competing in the Riksserien, Sweden’s top women’s league at the time, she gained experience against seasoned opponents while also developing against boys’ youth players.
Her rookie season in 2009–10 produced five assists in 28 games, modest numbers that reflected her growth phase rather than her eventual ceiling.
Linköping HC Era (2010–2019)
Kjellbin joined Linköping HC Dam in 2010 and remained with the club for nine seasons. She won the Riksserien championship twice with Linköping, in 2014 and 2015, establishing herself as one of the league’s reliable defencemen.
Her offensive output peaked during the 2015–16 season, when she scored a career-high 21 points in 36 games. In 2018–19, she registered 6 points in 36 games before announcing a break from hockey prior to the playoffs due to multiple concussions sustained in separate games. The decision to step away highlighted the physical toll the position can take.
HV71 Era (2019–2021)
Looking for a change in environment and proximity to her job, Kjellbin signed with HV71 in 2019. In her first season, she scored 11 points in 36 games as HV71 finished first in the regular season and reached the playoff finals against Luleå HF/MSSK. The championship was never awarded after the COVID-19 pandemic cut the season short in Sweden, a decision Kjellbin publicly questioned.
She returned for the 2020–21 SDHL season and ranked as HV71’s third-highest scoring defenceman during the regular season.
Luleå HF/MSSK Era (2021–2022)
In June 2021, Kjellbin signed with Luleå HF/MSSK for the 2021–22 SDHL season. Her move to one of Sweden’s flagship programs added another chapter to her already lengthy top-flight career.
Toronto Sceptres Era (2024–Present)
On 10 June 2024, Kjellbin was selected in the sixth round, 35th overall, by PWHL Montreal in the 2024 PWHL draft. After 18 games with Montreal, she was traded to the Toronto Sceptres on 13 March 2025 in exchange for Kaitlin Willoughby. On 23 July 2025, she signed a one-year contract extension with the Sceptres, confirming her place in the franchise’s plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Standing 1.70 m tall and weighing 63 kg, Kjellbin plays a poised, positionally sound defensive game. She is a right-shot defenceman known for her skating, composure under pressure, and ability to contribute offensively from the blue line, evidenced by her career-high 21-point season with Linköping.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Kjellbin’s career include two Riksserien championships with Linköping, six IIHF Women’s World Championship appearances for Sweden (2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), two Olympic Games appearances (2022, 2026), and selection as team captain for Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics women’s ice hockey tournament.
Anna Kjellbin Career Wins
Across her club career, Anna Linnea Christina Kjellbin has won two SDHL championships, both with Linköping HC Dam.
SDHL Highlights
Kjellbin captured her first Riksserien title with Linköping in 2014 and added a second in 2015. Her most recent verified championship came during her Linköping tenure, and she has continued as a steady contributor at the top Swedish level ever since.
Anna Kjellbin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs in Anna Linnea Christina Kjellbin’s family. Her father, Magnus, played professional ice hockey in the Swedish Hockeytvåan during the 1970s, giving Anna an early grounding in the sport.
Personal Life
Kjellbin works outside of hockey as Director of Customer Project Management for Senion, an indoor GPS technology company based in Linköping. In 2024, she became engaged to Finnish national team and Ottawa Charge defenceman Ronja Savolainen.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant transition for Anna Linnea Christina Kjellbin. After beginning the year with PWHL Montreal, she was traded to the Toronto Sceptres on 13 March 2025, then signed a one-year contract extension with the Sceptres on 23 July 2025, signalling her commitment to the franchise beyond the current campaign.
On the international stage, she continued her run with Sweden at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, her sixth appearance at the tournament. On 12 January 2026, she was named to Sweden’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she was also selected as team captain.
