After dropping their first two games at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship to the USA and Canada, the Finns were looking to put a more complete game together against host Czechia and they did it, winning 4-2. The win was a big bounce-back game for goaltender Sanni Ahola, who could hardly be blamed for the 7-1 defeat against the USA but, always self-critical, the Finnish netminder wasn’t pleased with her performance in the opener. “It was big, for sure,” Ahola said about the win over the Czechs. “I don’t think I played my best in the first game, so it was a good improvement for myself as well. Our D-zone (play) got a bit better, I would say, so I got more help in the D-zone too, so a big thanks to our teammates as well.” Indeed, Ahola’s stats didn’t look the best against the USA when she allowed seven goals on 24 shots, but she was left hung out to dry on a few occasions. Against the Czechs, she again faced 24 shots but this time allowed only two goals. “She was amazing,” Finnish defender Rojna Savolainen raved after the Czech win [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/ronja-savolainen-on-finn-czech-rivalry-i-loved-to-make-the-fans-quiet]. “I know she had a really rough start (against the USA) but we didn’t help her. I knew she could just put the first game behind her because she’s an amazing goalie, she has a lot of experience too, and she showed it today.” An in-form Ahola is good news for the Finns moving forward. Last season, she took over the starting job in goal, playing six of Finland’s seven games in Utica, including the pressure-cooker of a bronze-medal game against Czechia, when she stopped four of five shootout attempts to secure the victory. Finland goalie Sanni Ahola stops Czechia's Klara Hymlarova (12) to end the shootout in the bronze-medal game of last year's Women's World Championship in Utica, NY. © JON RATHBUN / Herkimer Times Telegram / USA TODAY NETWORK [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/33a38c95-42f5-46a3-9edf-0d6b79be702f.jpeg] Finland goalie Sanni Ahola stops Czechia's Klara Hymlarova (12) to end the shootout in the bronze-medal game of last year's Women's World Championship in Utica, NY. © JON RATHBUN / Herkimer Times Telegram / USA TODAY NETWORK Facing the Czechs again, this time on Czech ice, Ahola enjoys the intensity that comes with the rivalry between the two top teams in European women’s hockey. “It’s always fun to play against them,” Ahola said about playing the Czechs. “You never know what’s going to happen – either team can win. “Obviously, a win is always good, and to win against Czechia in their home makes it even more special and silence that big crowd,” she smiled. Abbey Murphy After 2-Goal Game Vs Czechia: ‘We’re Here For One Thing’ [https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/2881dc5a-000a-4cba-9de5-a8341c005dc2/thumbnail] Abbey Murphy After 2-Goal Game Vs Czechia: ‘We’re Here For One Thing’ Abbey Murphy from the University of Minnesota is the consensus first-overall pick in the 2025 PWHL draft and she showed why against tournament host Czechia on Friday night. Before a sell-out crowd of 5,859 at Budvar Arena, Murphy scored the USA’s first two goals in a 4-0 win. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/abbey-murphy-after-2-goal-game-vs-czechia-were-here-for-one-thing] As loud as it was, she did mention the České Budějovice sell-out crowd of 5,859 is not the biggest she’s ever played in front of, however. She recalls a game playing for the St. Cloud State Huskies in Madison, Wisc. against the Badgers that drew around 14,000. After beating the Czechs, Finland will now probably be in a position to secure the No. 3 seed with a win over Switzerland on Monday. Beyond this tournament, Ahola, who turns 25 in June, has completed her NCAA career at St. Cloud State and has options when thinking about where to continue her career. “I’m not sure yet,” she said. “There are two options for me right now – it’s either the PWHL or Sweden. I haven’t decided yet which one it’s gonna be.” Ronja Savolainen On Finn-Czech Rivalry: 'I Loved To Make (The Fans) Quiet' [https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/6152f435-2dc0-4008-a110-727a9485323e/thumbnail] Ronja Savolainen On Finn-Czech Rivalry: 'I Loved To Make (The Fans) Quiet' It’s become <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/natalie-mlynkova-on-usa-were-coming-for-them-on-finland-we-want-to-prove-that-were-the-best-team-in-europe">the big rivalry in European women’s hockey</a> over the past few years, and so it felt good for the Finns to beat Czechia 4-2 on Czech ice in the third game for each team at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/ronja-savolainen-on-finn-czech-rivalry-i-loved-to-make-the-fans-quiet]
