Minnesota chose Susanna Tapani as the fourth European player in the booking event. In addition to him, the club also reserved the opportunity for another Finnish player, defender Minttu Tuominen.
The booking ceremony of the new North American women’s hockey league PWHL was held on Monday in Toronto. In a hockey crazy city Susanna from Tapani became the first Finnish PWHL reservation. Minnesota booked the opportunity for the 30-year-old Finnish forward as a 25th player.
Besides Tapani, only nine European players were selected in the first ten rounds.
At the time of Tapani’s booking, there was a lot of Finnish hockey history going on. On the stage, Tapani’s name was announced on stage, having played 193 national matches in the Naisleijonien shirt Mira Jalosuo. The former top defender serves as an assistant coach for the Minnesota team.
Jalosuo first told in English how great and exciting the day is for women’s ice hockey and how excited he is about the situation. After this, he said he would change the language and told in Finnish that the team is booking Tapani from Laitila.
Jalosuo came on stage for the second time, when he announced the second last booking round as the last name Minttu Tuominen. Minnesota booked the 33-year-old defender’s opportunity as the 84th player.
Minnesota was also able to book the entire event as the first team. As expected, the club chose a 23-year-old power forward Taylor Heisen. The dynamic center forged 29+36=65 power points in 38 games in the WCHA college series last season and played a key role in the US team that won the world championship in April.
Heise represented the University of Minnesota team throughout his college career.
– I’m from Minnesota, it’s my home. I’m really excited that I get to represent Minnesota, a happy Heise expressed in an interview after his booking.
Before Tapan, only Switzerland was booked among the European players available at the event Alina Müller (3rd reservation), Czech Republic Dominika Laskova (19.) and France Chloe Aurard (21st).
A new era in women’s ice hockey
The PWHL league, which starts in January, has been widely hyped in North America. Six teams play in the series – three from Canada, three from the United States: Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and New York. The new professional series enables a tough and professional environment for female players.
The NHL-supported series is backed by influential people on the ownership ladder About Mark Walters from Billie Jean Kingone of the first women’s professional tennis players in history, is a prominent figure in the development of the series.
King had the honor of unveiling Minnesota’s No. 1 pick Heise’s name at the beginning of the event. First, the 79-year-old sports legend gave a touching speech about the significance of the series.
– We are finally giving female players the conditions, support and environment they deserve, King emphasized.
Six-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion in the studio of the Canadian television company CBC Cheryl Pounder was, like King, emotional on the historic day.
– I almost have to pinch myself. I didn’t think I would see the day when everyone together would establish such a league, the 47-year-old defender was moved.
In addition to Tapani and Tuominen, Finnish players could be booked at the booking event Nora Räty, Meeri Räisänen, Matilda Nilsson mixed Emma Nuutinen. They didn’t come booked.