Unnecessary observers got expected Raty to get a final Winter months Games hurrah

Finland comes into the fresh new 2022 Olympic ladies’ hockey event because shielding bronze medalists from both the 2018 Winter months Game for the South Korea additionally the 2021 IIHF Frost Hockey Ladies’ Globe Title inside the Canada. Sounds very quick, right? But there is however so much more right here than suits the interest with the Nordic country you to definitely consist 3rd on the IIHF Ladies’ Community Ranks.

This might be a group in change significantly less than Pasi Mustonen, that will act as direct mentor in the his next and you may history Olympics. Youth are side and you may center. The Beijing lineup, established for the 20 January, have an astonishing thirteen Olympic first-timers, and additionally seven skaters produced pursuing the 12 months 2000.

It is very just like the team one to strike the ice in the Calgary inside August, however the exception out-of goalie Noora Raty – a several-day Olympian exactly who backstopped Finland so you can bronze in both 2010 and 2018 and a likely future IIHF Hall-of-famer – qualifies since a great shocker.

Raty, 32, clashed which have Mustonen in public this past year whenever she elected to perform this lady hockey school into the Minnesota unlike join the Ladies Planets class. However, this new tenacious and competent seasoned starred to own HPK Hameenlinna this year, is actually desired towards Olympic knowledge go camping, and had already accessible to rejoin the Russian Ladies’ Hockey League’s KRS Vanke Rays immediately following Beijing.

Mustonen, though, can validate their questionable decision because of the leading to help you Anni Keisala’s higher results within the Calgary. New twenty four-year-dated Ilves netminder – good positionally voice, chill battler – was called Best Goalie and you can a competition most of the-star during the Ladies Planets (step 1.43 GAA, 94.8 save your self percentage, one or two shutouts). Meeri Raisanen, thirty two, brings a capable choice, although the veteran of five Women’s Planets failed to gamble on the lady a few early in the day Olympics (2014, 2018).

The newest billion-dollars question is if or not sometimes Keisala otherwise Raisanen can perform duplicating brand new magic Raty exhibited on record-and work out cost the latest silver medal on 2019 Women’s Worlds from inside the Espoo. Around, Raty produced 43 saves from inside the good 4-dos partial-finally distressed more Canada plus one fifty saves in the questionable 2-1 silver-medal shootout losses into People in the us.

In Beijing, 26-year-old Eveliina Makinen (nee Suonpaa), exactly who, including Raisanen, seated on sidelines at the 2014 and you can 2018 Games, nabs the 3rd goalie spot. She substitute Jenna Silvonen, this new 23-year-dated Mercyhurst College netminder exactly who saw when you look at the Calgary.

Head Jenni Hiirikoski statements brand new Finnish blueline. Titled Top Defender in the past a couple of Olympics and you may eight Ladies’ Worlds, new swift-skating 34-year-dated movie star performs in almost any situation. Hiirikoski averaged a tournament-most of freeze amount of time in Calgary. Almost every other trick the-as much as blueliners are Hiirikoski’s strong Lulea HF teammate Ronja Savolainen and Minttu Tuominen, that will signup Raty and submit Susanna Tapani for the Vanke Rays once Beijing.

Gorgeous finnish women

A notable blueline omission is actually 33-year-dated Rosa Lindstedt, a good three-date Olympian exactly who captains Brynas Gavle but is slowed because of the injuries this current year. One to puts brand new onus on three younger Kiekko-Espoo defenders to transmit second-level two-means activities.

Nelli Laitinen (12+34=46) and you will Sanni Rantala (14+30=44), each other 19, rating step one-dos within the rating certainly Naisten Liiga defenders, when you’re Ella Viitasuo, 25, (16+24=40) are third. Which Olympics marks Rantala’s older-level IIHF first. That it trio’s capacity to withstand the fresh forechecking of your own United states superpowers might be pivotal.

Offensively, there isn’t any question the top submit collection of Petra Nieminen, Susanna Tapani, and you can Michelle Karvinen will direct the way in which.

The latest explosive Nieminen, 22, contributed new Ladies’ Globes with six needs en route to a keen all-celebrity party berth. The latest Lulea winger is actually next during the SDHL scoring (24+28=52) trailing Brynas Gavle’s Swiss celebrity Lara Stalder. Tapani – a skilled runner whom also reigns over worldwide in inline hockey and you will ringette – tend to aim together playmaking knowledge to get more requires away regarding Karvinen, a fellow experienced whom cracked within the half a dozen facilitate however, didn’t white the brand new red-light at 2021 Ladies Planets.

Karvinen, 29, was entering their next Olympics and provided the new 2014 event in the Sochi that have four wants. The latest Danish-Finnish stamina give keeps filled the web during the 10 game with Malmo Redhawks (26+21=47) regarding the Swedish very first division this season.

After that, the latest margin ranging from profit and you may overcome up against Canada and also the You.S. might count regarding how much second rating Mustonen becomes. For the Calgary, brand new Canadians rallied to beat Finland 5-step 3 regarding the opener, since the You.S. blanked Finland step three-0 in both the team stage together with partial-finals.

Kiekko-Espoo’s Elisa Holopainen (38+46=84), bidding to profit the lady third straight Naisten Liiga rating identity, had the woman lone Women’s Planets objective against Canada. Gritty Lulea french women who wants to get married give Viivi Vainikka’s just goal was the final one to within the a 6-0 romp over Switzerland. Lulea experienced Noora Tulus, a several-time Swedish champion, possess place a separate individual industry SDHL stuffed with needs so it season (18), however, has not yet scored in the IIHF competition because 2017 Women’s Worlds. All of these forward need certainly to write far more for the Beijing.

Scoring from precocious 16-year-dated Sanni Vanhanen, exactly who potted new step one-0 one-fourth-final champ against Czechia for the Calgary, would-be a pleasant added bonus. New Finns may assume rate and you may a great checking regarding the loves regarding Olympic debutante Sofianna Sundelin and you can second-timer Sanni Hakala.

This new Finns enjoys certainly separated by themselves out of Classification A rivals particularly the fresh ROC team and you may Switzerland. The Russians last made a keen IIHF podium to your 2016 Women’s Globes tan medal, due to the fact Swiss have not acquired one metal given that alarming 2014 Olympic tan medal into the Sochi. You are able one Czechia, that has pressed Finland tough in 2 consecutive Ladies’ Worlds quarter-finals now, may angle the greatest counterthreat for third place.

To possess Mustonen’s team, anything lower than successful their state’s next Olympic tan medal of all time during the Beijing could be a primary dissatisfaction. Yet putting some Olympic final the very first time of all time appears to be a lengthy test. Either way, it will likely be another important step-in new Finnish national team’s growth process.

Roster

Defenders Jenni Hiirikoski, Lulea HF (SWE) Sini Karjalainen, School of New york (NCAA) Nelli Laitinen, Kiekko-Espoo Sanni Rantala, Kiekko-Espoo Ronja Savolainen, Lulea Gavle (SWE) Minnamari Tuominen, Kiekko-Espoo Ella Viitasuo, Kiekko-Espoo

Ahead Sanni Hakala, HV71 Jonkoping (SWE) Elisa Holopainen, Kiekko-Espoo Michelle Karvinen, Malmo Redhawks (SWE) Julia Liikala, HIFK Helsinki Petra Nieminen, Lulea HF (SWE) Tanja Niskanen, KalPa Kuopio Jenniina Nylund, St. Affect Condition (NCAA) Sofianna Sundelin, Class Kuortane Susanna Tapani, KRS Vanke Rays (CHN/RUS) Noora Tulus, Lulea HF (SWE) Viivi Vainikka, Lulea HF (SWE) Sanni Vanhanen, Tappara Tampere Emilia Vesa, Kiekko-Espoo