Ronja Savolainen Headed To Ottawa With The 8th Overall Pick

PWHL Ottawa selected big Finnish defender Ronja Savolainen with their second pick, 8th overall in the PWHL Draft.

Finland's Ronja Savolainen is one of the top defenders in the world, and next season she plans to bring her talents to the PWHL, calling the league "something I've been dreaming about."

Ronja Savolainen is headed to PWHL Ottawa after being selected 8th overall in the second round of the draft.

Playing for Lulea this season in the SDHL, the 26-year-old Savolainen scored 11 goals and 29 points in 35 games. With five World Championship and two Olympic medals, Savolainen is a seasoned veteran.

The Helsinki product has won six and is a six-time champion with Luleå. She recorded 29 points in 35 games this season, including 11 goals which tied for the league-lead at her position. She’s a two-time Olympic bronze medalist and five-time IIHF Women’s World Championship medalist, adding a fourth bronze to her collection at the 2024 tournament.

According to the PWHL hockey operations department “She brings a meanness to her game and is one of the toughest defenders to play against. Transitions with consistent decision making and not afraid to jump into the play with strong mobility that is an asset on the offensive blue line and in defensive battles.”

The 5-foot-10 defender is physical, mobile, and can contribute offensively both jumping into the rush and by distributing from the back.

She'll be an immediate impact in the lineup next season.

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anonymous·1d

The Avs should just be happy with getting into the playoffs this year. Get the golf clubs ready to hit the course by early May. Very early.

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AdamProteau·1d

Can't agree with you here. I think the Avs are for real. Any team with MacKinnon and Makar has a good chance to go far.

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SDBeerLeaguer32·1d

I'm curious, what makes you so sure they'll be hitting the links that early in May? Sure, the Avs started the season rough and their overall record for the season doesn't scream postseason juggernaut, but they've improved the team a ton since the beginning of the season and have been super hot lately. They got rid of both struggling goalies in return for two very solid goalies, and Blackwood has potential to steal games for them on occasion. They traded away Rantanen, but they got back Necas who's been above point-per-game since the trade and arguably fits the team better with his speed, as well as a solid depth piece in Drury. The Rantanen trade also gave the Avs the cap space to beef up their depth by adding Nelson and Coyle. They now have good goaltending, and both star power and depth in the forward group and defense. They're hot right now too, 12-4-1 since the 4 Nations break. I'd argue they're poised for a deep run this postseason.

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AdamProteau·14h

SDBeerLeaguer32 Agreed. Avs are rightly going to be one of the favorites this spring.

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