Ronja Savolainen is a big defender for Finland and in Europe, with big plans to take the PWHL by storm next season.
Ronja Savolainen is a big defender for Finland and in Europe, with big plans to take the PWHL by storm next season.
Ronja Savolainen has long been considered one of the best defenders on the planet. She's big, she's snarly, and she can take over a game at both ends of the ice.
Canadian and American stars are more than familiar with Savolainen, and they can't be too enthused with the idea of facing her every week, rather than once a year, but it's all part of building a truly best-on-best league.
"That's something I've been dreaming about...this year," Savolainen said of joining the PWHL.
The 5-foot-10, 26-year-old defender has spent the past several seasons winning championship after championship with Lulea in the SDHL. As a member of Team Finland she owns a World Championship silver medal and three bronze, along with two Olympic bronze medals.
While her place as a desired blueliner by the PWHL has already been entrenched for years, Savolainen still saw the 2024 IIHF World Championships as an opportunity to impress on North American soil.
"I will do all the best I can do this tournament and let's see how it goes, so I hope people want me in some team," she said.
Last year at the PWHL Draft, defenders earned priority selection as the weakest position in the draft. This year will likely be no different. Savolainen won't be alone in the PWHL among Finns either as Susanna Tapani has another year on her contract, and fellow Finnish national team members like Noora Tulus and Jenniina Nylund set to declare for the draft, and others like Viivi Vainikka waiting until their contracts in Europe end to join the league.
She could also end up playing alongside familiar faces on a blueline in the PWHL as fellow Lulea defenders Daniela Pejsova, and Anna Kjellbin are slated to declare for the draft, and PWHL Montreal's Dominika Laskova also spent 13 games in Lulea prior to the start of the PWHL season this year.
Whoever selects Ronja Savolainen is getting an all-world defender capable of making an impact on PWHL ice night in and night out.