Michelle Karvinen and Finland are back where they believe they belong as the best team in Europe beating Czechia for the bronze medal at the IIHF women's World Championships.
Michelle Karvinen and Finland are back where they believe they belong as the best team in Europe beating Czechia for the bronze medal at the IIHF women's World Championships.
In the all-time IIHF medal standings, Finland sits in the bronze medal position. There is Canada and USA, and then Finland. They own 15 medals at the IIHF World Championships, 14 of those being bronze, including this year in Utica, New York.
With Canada and USA holding top spot, Finland is back on the podium, and back as the top team in Europe knocking off Czechia 3-2 in a shootout. Czechia had won bronze in 2022 and 2023.
"We are right now the best team in Europe and that's something we need to keep with us moving forward that we want to keep pushing because they're coming other teams that are right behind us," said Michelle Karvinen.
"The Czechs, what they have proven the last couple years, they're a super skilled team, it was not an easy medal to win."
Even Carla MacLeod, head coach for Czechia acknowledged Finland's hold on the bronze medal, which her team disrupted the past two seasons winning their first and second medals in history at the top division of the IIHF World Championships.
"You play Finland, they own the bronze medal spot on the podium and good on them for earning it back today, and it was hard fought on their part too," said MacLeod.