For any women's league to ultimately hold dominance like the NHL does in men's hockey, these Europeans must join.
For any women's league to ultimately hold dominance like the NHL does in men's hockey, these Europeans must join.
Jennifer Wakefield - Photo by Patric Gill - To Make Any League 'The Best In The World,' These Players Must Be PresentWe hear it thrown around a lot, "the best players in the world." It's in the PWHPA's marketing materials, and the PHF continues to improve as the current best professional league in the world, while the SDHL has teams that compete on that level.
For a singular, or two leagues even, to be the best in the world however, it can't be a league of only North American players. Many of the best players in the world spent last season in the NCAA. Players like Taylor Heise, Caroline Harvey, Sarah Fillier, and Nelli Laitinen would all crack a top 25 on the planet list. Recently we saw Alina Müller, Chloe Aurard, and Theresa Schafzahl sign in the PHF, a major step forward for the league.
But as the global game continues to improve, North America's claim to being the only spot where the world's elite live and play, will require the recruitment of top European talent. While most of these players are currently under contract with their European clubs and can't move now, enticing these players to North America will be an important step.
Here's a look at 15 players, not currently in the PHF or PWHPA, that any league claiming to be the best in the world needs to be targeting:
- Petra Nieminen, Finland - One of the top scorers in the world in every recent international competition, Nieminen is only 24, and already has two Olympic medals and three World Championship medals. She's annually one of the top scorers in Sweden's SDHL, helping Luleå win four consecutive championships.
- Jenni Hiirokoski, Finland - As certain of a first-ballot Hockey Hall of Famer as their is currently playing on the planet, Hiirokoski, 35, has been Luleå's leader, and the captain of Finland's national team for years. Two-time Olympic Games top defender, seven time World Championship best defender, there is no questioning Hiirokoski's position among the top handful of players on the planet.
- Jennifer Wakefield, Canada - Wakefield, 33, has eight Olympic and World Championship medals, including gold in both events representing Canada. After her NCAA career and one year in the CWHL, Wakefield left for Sweden and never looked back. She remained a member of Canada's national team for years, but has not been called upon by the senior national team, nor invited to camps in recent years. That does not remove her from the discussion of the best players in the world. The six-foot power forward is one of the most potent scorers in the SDHL, and belongs in whatever league claims to be the top in the world.
- Lara Stalder, Switzerland - Stalder, 28, has been the cornerstone of Switzerland's international roster for more than a decade, playing in three Olympic Games and seven World Championships, including Switzerland's historic bronze medal at the 2014 Olympics. Stalder has topped the SDHL scoring charts in four straight seasons earning two league MVP honors in that time. She's returning to a lower level in her home Swiss league next year, but remains one of the best in the world.
- Daniela Pejsova, Czechia - The best Czechian player not currently in the PHF or NCAA, Pejsova is a difference maker. The mobile defender is only 20, and won her first Best Defender award at the 2022 World Championships. Playing in Luleå, she's on one of the best teams in the world, but to play against the best competition in the world, a move to North American next season would be a boost for Pejsova and the sport.
- Elisa Holopainen, Finland - Holopainen has been Finland's top forward aside from Petra Nieminen, and unfortunately missed playing for Finland at the recent World Championships. The 21-year-old has a career ahead of her to earn top dollar in the women's game, and if a North American team or league can lure her across the Atlantic, she'd be a top six player on any pro league team. She's too good to stay in Finland where she blew away the competition this season with 41 goals and 75 points in only 28 games.
- Viivi Vainikka, Finland - Few in the game see the ice and are as fluid in motion as Viivi Vainikka. One of Finland's top players in international competition, Vainikka is another member of the powerhouse SDHL program in Luleå where she had 41 points in 32 games this season. At 21, the best years of Vainikka's career are still ahead. She's fantastic in the face-off circle, and a player that any club looking to build a winner should target.
- Michaela Pejzlova, Czechia - Pejzlova is the best Czech forward not in North America. She edged Holopainen for the scoring title in Naisten Liiga this season with 82 points in 31 games and was one of Czechia's top threats at the World Championships. Those totals in Finland are evidence Pejzlova needs to find stiffer competition. She's among a group of Czech players, that also includes Pejsova, Alena Mills and Sara Cajanova who if they all moved to North America, would be a major boost for whatever group they sign with.
- Anna Meixner, Austria - Meixner is a rare Austrian among the world's elite players. Playing for Brynäs in the SDHL, Meixner was named league MVP following her campaign where she totalled 53 points in 30 games before adding 11 in eight postseason contests. The 28-year-old has shown rapid growth in her three seasons in the SDHL since moving over from the EWHL. She's Austria's national team captain.
- Noora Tulus, Finland - Heading into her ninth season with Luleå, Tulus, 27, is coming off one of the best offensive campaigns of her career. In the SDHL she compiled 56 points in 32 games, followed by ten in seven games for Finland at the World Championships.
- Maja Nylén Persson, Sweden - Each nation has their 'best,' and Nylén Persson is the best defender in Sweden, period. She's been one of the top scorers for Sweden internationally, and is the reigning back-to-back SDHL Defender of the Year, and in 2022 was named the Swedish Player of the Year, and Sweden's Defender of the Year. At 22, Nylén Persson needs to be part of any "best league" moving forward.
- Hanna Olsson, Sweden - Staying in Sweden, Hanna Olsson would likely fall higher on this list were it not for the fact she spent her season in Sweden's second tier league helping Frolunda earn promotion. She scored over 100 points and then hit double digits at the World Championships proving the year did nothing to hurt her ability. The 24-year-old will step back into the SDHL next season where she'll be one of the top scorers.
- Michelle Karvinen, Finland - She's one of the best to ever play the game from Finland, and a likely future Hockey Hall of Famer. Three Olympic medals, five World Championship medals, three titles in Sweden, one in Russia and one in Switzerland...Karvinen is a winner. Alongside Olsson, she scored over 100 points as well to drive the new Frolunda club into the SDHL. Karvinen, 33, played NCAA hockey at North Dakota, but a championship in the continent is the only thing left for her to achieve.
- Ronja Savolainen, Finland - At 25, Savolainen already has four World Championship medals, two Olympic medals, and five SDHL titles with Luleå to her name. Consistently one of the top offensive defenders on the World stage and in the SDHL, Savolainen can jump into the rush and score, and she uses her five-foot-ten frame to her advantage. A must have defender for any top league.
- Lara Christen, Switzerland - Christen still has room to grow, but she remains one of the top young defenders in the game. On a Swiss team that had the play taken to them regularly at the World Championships, Christen was one of few players who could keep pace with the best from Canada and USA. Whether it's to the SDHL, PHF, or a future iteration of the PWHPA, Christen needs to find better competition.