Naisten Liiga has dropped the puck on their 2023-2024 season. Here's 10 players to watch this season in Finland's top league.
Naisten Liiga has dropped the puck on their 2023-2024 season. Here's 10 players to watch this season in Finland's top league.
Naisten Liiga in Finland has dropped the puck on their 2023-2024 season. The league features some of the top players in Europe, who will be watched closely this year as teams in the new PWHL begin to look toward the future.
Here's ten players to watch this season in Naisten Liiga.
Michaela Pejzlova, HIFK - In truth, Pejzlova is too good to play in Naisten Liiga. She scored 82 points in 31 regular season games last year, which she followed up with 24 points in nine playoff games. The 26-year-old Czechia national team member is under contract only through this season and will be a key target for the PWHL. Pejzlova is an elite player who is a must get for the best-on-best PWHL.
Emma Nuutinen, Kiekko-Espoo - Many fans were excited to see what Nuutinen, 26, would do this season with the PHF's Buffalo Beauts. The 5-foot-10 forward missed all of 2021-2022 and most of 2020-2021. Last season in Buffalo, she looked better each and every game, and the former Finnish national team member will certainly be able to re-find her scoring touch in Finland this season, potentially eying a return to North American in the not too distant future.
Blanka Skodova, HIFK - Skodova, 25, finished her NCAA career last season, but has seen only a handful of games over the past three seasons. Following a spectacular bronze medal performance at the World Championships in net with Team Czechia, Skodova will look to prove she's a starter with HIFK. Getting into regular games this season will be another developmental step for Skodova.
Eline Gabriele, HPK - Staying with goaltenders, Eline Gabriele nearly lifted Netherlands to promotion to the World Championships' top division this year. She was strong in net for her nation at the World D1 Championships. Last season, the 21-year-old played in Sweden's NDHL.
Tereza Pistekova, HPK - The 18-year-old forward enters her second season in Naisten Liiga after scoring 40 points in 34 games as a rookie with TPS last season. This year she'll switch teams and look to take a bigger step forward offensively. Pistekova made her senior national team debut this spring with Czechia.
Elisa Holopainen, KalPa - The 21-year-old will be a sought after playing following this season when her contract with KalPa expires. Holopainen has developed into one of the world's top offensive threats. She had six points in seven games for Finland at the World Championships, and scored 41 goals and 75 points in 28 games last season in Naisten Liiga.
Julia Liikila, HIFK - Only 22, Liikila is another player who will be a near future target of the PWHL. Last year Liikila scored 28 goals and 66 points in 30 games, and added six in seven at the World Championships for Finland. Finland is an excellent playmaker.
Sanni Vanhanen, HIFK - Named the Naisten Liiga Rookie of the Year and playoff MVP last season, Vanhanen had the offensive breakout campaign many in Finland have been waiting for. Now the 18-year-old will look to move from being labelled with potential to a full time star.
Sanni Rantala, KalPa - At only 21, Rantala is already entering her sixth full season in Naiten Liiga, and second with KalPa. Rantala has grown in her confidence each season adding to her offensive totals from the blueline where last season she accumulated 39 points in 30 games from the blueline, and added five assists in seven games representing Finland at the World Championships.
Siiri Yrjola, HIFK - For a teenage defender, Yrjola's totals of 16 goals and 42 points in 31 games were impressive last season in Naisten Liiga. St. Cloud State University, where Yrjola is committed to play next season will be watching the development of their commit closely, as she could step in as one of the top rookie blueliners in NCAA hockey next year.
Others to watch: Oona Havana, Clara Rozier, Minttu Tuominen, Pauliina Salonen