Eight Takeaways From December's Women's Euro Hockey Tour

Stand out players, the importance of the WEHT on the international calendar, and possible adjustments for the future.

The 6-Nation Women's Euro Hockey Tour in Finland is in the books with USA's national development team winning gold, followed by Canada, Sweden, and Finland. The event had many takeaways. Here's eight:

1. Kristýna Kaltounková is Legit

Kaltounková might be the most PWHL-ready European available in the draft. Indeed, she has been lighting up the NCAA with Colgate for years, but her strengths go beyond points: she has world class separation speed and power; she can play and contribute in all situations; she wins pucks and makes plays along the boards, both on the breakout and in the offensive zone; she has a heavy shot and a nose for the net; she is competitive and plays with an edge. In addition, “Kalty” cuts an intimidating figure on the ice — tongues out, fishbowl visor, rolled sleeves, skate laces hanging off her pants— with a sneer that indicates her willingness, nay, her desire to go through you on her way to the net. She wears number 98 but her on-ice swagger and style bear an uncanny resemblance to those of a young Great 8. Run, don’t walk, to see her play. You will not be disappointed.

2. Finland May Have Found Its Goaltenders of the Future

Anni Keisala, who did a serviceable job as Finland’s 1A for a number of years, was simply not up to snuff in 2023-24. Playing for SDHL bottom feeders HV71, she did not win a game in 14 starts, and her GAA ballooned to 4.65. Poor too was her save percentage, at .843. Her numbers in international play were not any better, and she was relegated to being the backup behind Sanni Ahola at the World Championships. Ahola and St.Cloud State University teammate Emma Kyrkkö are both putting up excellent numbers in college this season, playing in the NCAA’s toughest conference, the WCHA. Their conference opponents, including powerhouses Wisconsin, Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth and Ohio State, feature some of the best young talent in the world, meaning the tandem is more than equipped to face down and perhaps even surprise tough international opponents. Strong goaltending had long been a hallmark of Finnish national teams, and Ahola and Kyrkkö just might be ready to usher in a new Golden Age.

3. Switzerland is going to Struggle to Maintain Their Spot in the World Rankings

Yes, the Swiss were missing star forwards Lara Stalder (injury) and Alina Müller in Tampere, but a team needs more than two producers to consistently win games. Goaltender Andrea Brändli’s stellar play in Sweden this season gives the team hope, but they will need emerging Swiss League forwards Sinja Leemann and Rahel Enzler to take the next step on the international stage. Defenders Lara Christen and Nicole Vallario displayed mobility and some offensive upside in Tampere, but both are undersized and will struggle against bigger and stronger opponents at the World Championships in April.

4. The SDHL’s Top Talents Can Drive Play at the International Level

Linköping’s Sara Hjalmarsson. Brynäs’ Hanna Thuvik and Jenniina Nylund. Luleå’s Viivi Vainikka. Frölunda’s Sofie Lundin, Elisa Holopainen and Sanni Rantala. HV71’s Elin Svensson. All showed that their skills, their speed, their vision are up to international standards. Hjalmarsson particularly stood out for her ability to do the dirty work in corners and in front of the net. She has innate understanding of how to screen a goalie, and the timing and vision to find and bury rebounds in traffic. She is fearless, hard to move, and relishes rough and tumble play. Thuvik and Hjalmarsson created countless chances for Sweden with their speed and vision. Magician Vainikka continued to drive offensive zone possession for Finland. The SDHL’s decision to adopt body checking two seasons ago has meant that these young players have developed the situational awareness and puck protection skills that can only come with the human instinct for self-preservation. These young women can hit, and perhaps more importantly, they have learned how to take a hit to make a play, or to keep their heads up to avoid hits altogether. Swedish innovation continues to lead the way towards better, tougher, faster, more entertaining women’s hockey.

5.  The NCAA’s WCHA is the Best ‘League’ in Women’s Hockey Outside of the PWHL

Yes, there are excellent college teams that do not play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Yes, there are excellent players up and down NCAA D1 rosters. But no other conference, and indeed, no other non-PWHL league in the world, has the concentration of ability found in the college conference comprised of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State, Minnesota-Duluth and St.Cloud, as well as improving Bemidji, St.Thomas and Mankato. No fewer than 19 of 24 rostered Americans ply their trade in the WCHA. 11 of 24 Canadians. 7 Finns, including both goalies. Czech Natalie Mlynková. A Swede or two. The league is recruiting and developing a boatload of the world’s top talent. With great power comes great responsibility: as NCAA D1 continues to add programs, how will the league continue to promote competition and parity? Perhaps fewer out of conference games, or only competitions between teams in similar tiers? Time will tell, as the architects of the WCHA and NCAA continue to look towards the long term health of the sport.

6. The WEHT is Valuable, Important, Necessary 

Canada and the US have the Rivalry Series where they can hone their respective tactics and strategies, evaluate bubble players, and experiment with lines and pairings. European teams deserve the same opportunity, especially when international women’s hockey is still working towards some semblence of parity. Imagine a world where fans cannot take it for granted that Canada and the US will battle for gold at every tournament. A world where international quarterfinal matchups are must-see games, because of the very real chance of drama and upsets. Parity increases intrigue, which increases viewership, which in turn creates marketing opportunities. More money into the sport, especially in Europe, could lead to a time when more players are true professionals and earn a good living playing hockey. Higher salaries will allow more high-end players to play longer, which will further improve the quality of international competitions. In men’s hockey, it is generally accepted that defenders take longer to mature, and tend to hit their stride at 27-30 years old. In international women’s hockey it is not uncommon to talk about a veteran defender, perhaps the oldest on her team, who is 23. It is also distressingly common that that Veteran D has quit the sport entirely before she hits 30. If the WEHT can contribute to achieving the goal of parity, it should be supported by all national federations and the PWHL.

7. WEHT as The Spengler Cup of Women's Hockey

Let the dozens of North Americans playing in Europe’s top leagues fill the rosters of the American and Canadian teams in the WEHT. The quality of North American-born European imports is set to improve massively in the coming years, as more skilled NCAA and USports athletes graduate than can possibly be absorbed into the PWHL. The WEHT could be the venue for those players to get a foot (back) in the door with Team Canada or Team USA, a chance to show their stuff to PWHL scouts, and would raise the tournament’s overall age and experience level. The PWHL should show good faith and continue to pause for the December international break, allowing Europe’s national teams to theoretically assemble their PWHL players, while Canada and the US can use the pause to organize another Rivalry Series event.

8. Playing International Hockey is Different, and Improves With Experience  

The skill level of young players the world over is better than ever before. Top-tier girls and women can all skate, dangle, pass and shoot. But can they do so when it matters most, in do-or-die moments? There is nothing quite like the rush of adrenaline and emotion that comes with competing for one’s country. Being able to channel and use that adrenaline and emotion as fuel is a skill that is born of experience. The WEHT gives talented players the opportunity to compete under pressure, for their country, outside of a World Championship or Olympic Games setting. The WEHT is an invaluable venue for developing the skill of performing on the international stage. Skilled players, performing at their best when the world’s eyes are on them will grow the game — and isn’t that what we all want?