Oodles of talent will be on display at the six-team tournament in December. Here's a look at Finland's roster.
Oodles of talent will be on display at the six-team tournament in December. Here's a look at Finland's roster.
Finland’s roster for the upcoming Women’s Euro Hockey Tour is set and features few surprises. This round of the tournament features six teams: host Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Czechia, as well as development teams from Canada and the US.
Finland’s troupe is heavy on NCAA and SDHL talent. Indeed, only three of the players selected are currently playing in Finland’s top domestic league, Auroraliiga.
Veteran defender Jenni Hiirikoski is a noticable absence, as is current PWHL rookie Ronja Savolainen. Head coach Juuso Toivola and his staff have chosen to fill their roster spots with young players who need further evaluation at the international level before April’s World Championships. 22-year-old Elli Suoranta will have her second stint with the senior national team, as will 18-year-old Tuuli Tallinen, who is having a strong season for Team Kuortane.
Among the eight NCAA players selected to the December squad are four from St.Cloud State University, including both goalies, Sanni Ahola and Emilia Kyrkkö. Their goalie coach at St. Cloud is no stranger to the Finnish national team: Noora Räty has both of her charges putting up great numbers in college this season.
That 11 players currently plying their trade in Sweden’s SDHL were selected should come as no surprise. Indeed, four of the league’s top five scorers are Finnish and all will make the trip. Joining Elisa Holopainen, Petra Nieminen, Michelle Karvinen and Viivi Vainikka will be finesse scorer Jenniina Nylund and Frölunda’s young speedster Emilia Vesa.
The tournament runs December 11-15 in Tampere, Finland.
Goaltenders:
Ahola Sanni, St. Cloud State Univ.
Kyrkkö Emilia, St. Cloud State Univ.
Defenders:
Koukkula Oona, Brynäs IF
Laitinen Nelli, Univ. of Minnesota
Parkkonen Krista, Univ. of Minnesota
Rantala Sanni, Frölunda HC
Suoranta Elli, Ilves Tampere
Tallinen Tuuli, Team Kuortane
Yrjölä Siiri, St. Cloud State Univ.
Forwards:
Havana Oona, Univ. of Vermont
Holopainen Elisa, Frölunda HC
Karvinen Michelle, Frölunda HC
Nieminen Petra, Luleå HF
Nuutinen Sofia Mercyhurst Univ.
Nylund Jenniina, Brynäs IF
Pirttijärvi Jenna, Skellefteå AIK
Salonen Pauliina, HIFK Helsinki
Schalin Julia, Skellefteå AIK
Sundelin Sofianna, St. Cloud State Univ.
Vainikka Viivi, Luleå HF
Vanhanen Sanni, Brynäs IF
Vesa Emilia, Frölunda HC