Meeri Räisänen, the goalkeeper of the Norwegian Lions, published a tweet shortly after the match against the United States, in which she congratulated her father. Räisänen says that he chose the team, even though his role was clear from the beginning.
The star forward of the Finnish women’s national ice hockey team Susanna Tapani has been buzzing around since he missed the USA match because of his friends’ wedding.
In his comeback game against Japan, Tapani succeeded in finishing, as he already scored a 2-1 goal for Naisleijoni in the opening set. Finland won the match 9–3.
– I think I managed to keep my thoughts in the game quite well. Maybe the night’s sleep was a little short, but otherwise normal preparation, Tapani tells Urheilu.
Goalkeeper for the Women’s Lions Meeri Räisänen previously threw his own spoon into the commotion after the USA match. Räisänen posted a picture on Twitter where he is sitting at the end of the bench. The goalkeeper congratulated his 60-year-old father in connection with the photo and regretted that he was not there to celebrate the anniversary with his loved ones.
How did it feel to sit on the bench on your father’s birthday while your friend attended his friend’s wedding?
– They are two completely different things. My father had a birthday and the other person had another thing. Yes, I sincerely and honestly congratulated my father, Räisänen tells Urheilu.
Would you have liked to be on the spot when you knew your own role as a backup goalkeeper?
– Oh, on my father’s birthday? Of course I would have liked to have been there. Yes, there were discussions about it as far as I was concerned, but it was clear to me from the beginning that I would be at the games all the time or I wouldn’t go at all, says Räisänen.
He doesn’t comment on Tapani’s decision to go to his friend’s wedding.
– I made my own decisions and others make their own decisions. It was clear to me from the beginning that the role is probably to sit on the bench, but I still chose the team.
According to Räisänen, the team will not let the commotion disturb the team’s atmosphere.
– We have always been in the crossfire regarding everything, but yes, we try our best on that field, says Räisänen.
The fight against Japan was by no means easy for Räisänen, as Finland allowed its opponent to counterattack several times. After the game Vice-captain Petra Nieminen brought up in the booth that against Switzerland, the team must tighten up its defensive game.
When talking about the game, Räisänen was more sparing.
– It was nice that the other players noticed that it could be nice to defend on their own sometimes, Räisänen commented on the team’s defense.
– It is said that it was the first series match between Finland and Japan.
The head coach Juuso Toivola did not reveal after the game if the No. 1 point guard would return Anni Keisala Between the posts in the Switzerland match. Räisänen says that he is not prepared to get playing time in the future.
– I went into the games with a reserve seat. Glad I got at least one game.