Finland comes into the new 2022 Olympic women’s hockey contest given that safeguarding tan medalists from both 2018 Cold weather Online game from inside the Southern area Korea as well as the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey Ladies Business Championship from inside the Canada. Sounds pretty quick, right? But there is a lot more right here than just suits the eye on the Nordic nation you to definitely consist third in the IIHF Ladies’ Business Ranking.
This can be a group inside changeover not as much as Pasi Mustonen, who’ll serve as lead mentor within his 2nd and you may history Olympics. Teens are front and hub. The new Beijing roster, established for the 20 January, has actually a massive 13 Olympic basic-timers, as well as 7 skaters created following the 12 months 2000.
It is extremely just as the group that hit the frost within the Calgary in August, nevertheless exception of goalie Noora Raty – a four-go out Olympian which backstopped Finland to help you tan both in 2010 and you may 2018 and you will a probably coming IIHF Hall-of-famer – qualifies because the a shocker.
Raty, thirty-two, clashed which have Mustonen in public areas this past year whenever she decided to go with to operate her hockey school into the Minnesota as opposed to join the Ladies’ Globes party. Nevertheless, this new tenacious and you will skilled veteran played to own HPK Hameenlinna in 2010, is desired into Olympic degree camp, along with currently provided to rejoin new Russian Ladies Hockey League’s KRS Vanke Rays after Beijing.
Mustonen, no matter if, can also be validate their controversial decision from the leading in order to Anni Keisala’s higher overall performance within the Calgary. The fresh new twenty four-year-old Ilves netminder – good positionally voice, chill battler – is titled Better Goalie and a competition every-celebrity at Ladies Worlds (step 1.43 GAA, 94.8 conserve fee, one or two shutouts). Meeri Raisanen, 32, provides a competent alternative, while the seasoned of five Ladies’ Globes don’t gamble from the their a couple of previous Olympics (2014, 2018).
New million-dollars question is whether possibly Keisala or Raisanen can perform replicating the latest wonders Raty displayed at record-and then make cost the latest gold medal at 2019 Ladies Planets from inside the Espoo. There, Raty generated 43 saves inside the an excellent cuatro-dos semi-final distressed more than Canada and something 50 conserves on the controversial 2-step 1 gold-medal shootout losings on Us citizens.
From inside the Beijing, 26-year-dated Eveliina Makinen (nee Suonpaa), whom, particularly Raisanen, sat to your sidelines at the both the 2014 and you can 2018 Video game, nabs the next goalie spot. She changes Jenna Silvonen, the brand new 23-year-dated Mercyhurst College netminder who saw in Calgary.
Head Jenni Hiirikoski statements the brand new Finnish blueline. Titled Ideal Defender in the history a couple of Olympics and you may 7 Women’s Worlds, the new quick-skating 34-year-dated movie star performs in just about any problem. Hiirikoski averaged a contest-high of frost time in Calgary. Most other key the-to blueliners are Hiirikoski’s powerful Lulea HF teammate Ronja Savolainen and you may Minttu Tuominen, who will sign up Raty and you will pass Susanna Tapani for the Vanke Radiation shortly after Beijing.
Breathtaking finnish lady
A noteworthy blueline omission is actually 33-year-old Rosa Lindstedt, an excellent around three-big date Olympian whom captains Brynas Gavle but was slowed of the injuries this season. You to definitely leaves the latest onus into the around three more youthful Kiekko-Espoo defenders to send second-peak one or two-way activities.
Nelli Laitinen (12+34=46) and you will Sanni Rantala (14+30=44), each other 19, rank step 1-2 in scoring certainly one of Naisten Liiga defenders, when you are Ella Viitasuo, twenty five, (16+24=40) is 3rd. This Olympics marks Rantala’s elder-level IIHF introduction. This trio’s power to resist brand new forechecking of your own United states superpowers could be pivotal.
Offensively, there is absolutely no concern the major pass distinct Petra Nieminen, Susanna Tapani, and Michelle kissbrides.com visit their site Karvinen usually direct the way in which.
The newest volatile Nieminen, twenty-two, provided the newest Ladies’ Planets which have half a dozen needs on the way so you can an enthusiastic all-celebrity party berth. The fresh Lulea winger are 2nd within the SDHL scoring (24+28=52) behind Brynas Gavle’s Swiss superstar Lara Stalder. Tapani – a gifted runner which and additionally dominates globally in inline hockey and you may ringette – usually aim along with her playmaking experiences to get more specifications out of Karvinen, an other experienced whom broken for the six support however, did not light the latest red light within 2021 Ladies Worlds.
Karvinen, 29, is actually entering her last Olympics and you can led the latest 2014 competition in Sochi with four needs. The fresh new Danish-Finnish stamina submit possess filled the online from inside the ten games which have Malmo Redhawks (26+21=47) on the Swedish basic division in 2010.
Then, the fresh new margin ranging from victory and overcome facing Canada as well as the U.S. will likely hinge regarding how far supplementary scoring Mustonen becomes. When you look at the Calgary, the Canadians rallied to conquer Finland 5-3 throughout the opener, as You.S. blanked Finland 3-0 both in the group stage in addition to partial-finals.
Kiekko-Espoo’s Elisa Holopainen (38+46=84), putting in a bid in order to win the girl third straight Naisten Liiga scoring title, had the lady solitary Ladies’ Worlds objective facing Canada. Gritty Lulea send Viivi Vainikka’s simply goal try the last you to definitely for the a great 6-0 romp more Switzerland. Lulea experienced Noora Tulus, a several-big date Swedish winner, keeps lay a new individual industry SDHL filled up with needs so it seasons (18), but hasn’t scored for the IIHF competition once the 2017 Women’s Worlds. All these forward need certainly to write significantly more from inside the Beijing.
Scoring off precocious 16-year-dated Sanni Vanhanen, just who potted the brand new 1-0 one-fourth-last winner against Czechia for the Calgary, could well be a pleasant bonus. The latest Finns also can expect price and you may a beneficial checking on the enjoys out of Olympic debutante Sofianna Sundelin and you will next-timekeeper Sanni Hakala.
The brand new Finns have demonstrably broke up on their own away from Category A competitors like the fresh new ROC people and you will Switzerland. The newest Russians last-made a keen IIHF podium on 2016 Ladies’ Globes tan medal, as Swiss haven’t won any steel while the surprising 2014 Olympic tan medal from inside the Sochi. It will be easy one to Czechia, which has pushed Finland hard in two successive Ladies’ Worlds one-fourth-finals today, could possibly get perspective the biggest counterthreat to have 3rd set.
For Mustonen’s team, things lower than successful its country’s fourth Olympic tan medal off all time when you look at the Beijing was a major dissatisfaction. But really making the Olympic final for the first time ever appears like a long attempt. In either case, it’ll be another essential step-in the fresh Finnish national team’s maturation processes.
Lineup
Defenders Jenni Hiirikoski, Lulea HF (SWE) Sini Karjalainen, College off Vermont (NCAA) Nelli Laitinen, Kiekko-Espoo Sanni Rantala, Kiekko-Espoo Ronja Savolainen, Lulea Gavle (SWE) Minnamari Tuominen, Kiekko-Espoo Ella Viitasuo, Kiekko-Espoo
Ahead Sanni Hakala, HV71 Jonkoping (SWE) Elisa Holopainen, Kiekko-Espoo Michelle Karvinen, Malmo Redhawks (SWE) Julia Liikala, HIFK Helsinki Petra Nieminen, Lulea HF (SWE) Tanja Niskanen, KalPa Kuopio Jenniina Nylund, St. Cloud Condition (NCAA) Sofianna Sundelin, Party Kuortane Susanna Tapani, KRS Vanke Rays (CHN/RUS) Noora Tulus, Lulea HF (SWE) Viivi Vainikka, Lulea HF (SWE) Sanni Vanhanen, Tappara Tampere Emilia Vesa, Kiekko-Espoo