Tuominen Playing Key Role In Finland As She Preps For PWHL

Tuominen Playing Key Role In Finland As She Preps For PWHL

Minttu Tuominen signed a short term contract in Finland's Naisten Liiga with Kiekko-Espoo as she waits for training camps to open for the PWHL in November. Tuominen was selected in the PWHL Draft by Minnesota.

Tuominen is off to a hot start in Finland and looks like she'll be in midseason form by the time training camp arrives. Tuominen first joined the Espoo Blues in 2006 as a 16-year-old, and while training for her own season, is also looking to make positive contribution to the organization.

"Words cannot even describe what Espoo means to me. In the ranks of Espoo, I have been able to grow as a player and as a person and learn from extremely successful players since the age of 16, as well as strive for the world from here, like so many others before and after me," said Tuominen in a team news release.

Through the first six games of the Naisten Liiga season, Tuominen, who was picked 86th overall in the PWHL Draft by Minnesota, has nine points.

The defender has always been one of the top offensive defenders globally leading Naisten Liiga multiple times in goals and points by a defender, and last season leading the PHF in goals by a defender with nine as a member of the Metropolitan Riveters. She also represented Team World at the PHF All-Star weekend.

Tuominen will be one of five defenders whose rights are owned by Minnesota coming to training camp alongside Lee Stecklein, Maggie Flaherty, Natalie Buchbinder, and Sydney Morin. Minnesota will also bring at least a trio of defenders to camp as free agents to help fill out their roster in Dominique Kremer, Abby Cook, and Emma Greco.