A pair of siblings shines in the Kärppie league teams – Anna-Kaisa, 19, tells about the significant influence of her brothers | Sport

When Anna-Kaisa Antti-Roiko was younger, she struggled with her older brothers in yard games and received valuable help from them in her hockey career.

The Women’s Ice Hockey World Cup will be played in Utica, USA. follows the events of the Games in the service, Urheilurutu and Urheiluradio.

Two Antti-Roikos have played in Oulu’s Kärppie league teams this season. The younger of the siblings Anna-Kaisa cool in the Women’s League and big brother Alex in the men’s SM league.

The third of the sibling trio, Aleksi’s twin brother Aki-Petteri missed last season, but played eight matches for Mest this season.

– We are players who work hard. Really skaters and we all have a pretty similar playing style, Anna-Kaisa Antti-Roiko tells Urheilu.

According to Anna-Kaisa, her older brothers played a big role in her becoming a hockey player. For example, the trio played together in yard games when they were younger.

They still go out on the ice together from time to time, but of course less often. Everyone has their own life situation and their own needs.

– I still talk to them a lot. We talk about games, I watch their games and we talk about them. I get a lot of tips, they mean a lot.

League games and NHL

Anna-Kaisa also gets tips from the Kärppie matches, which she goes to watch diligently. Only a few matches have been missed due to my own game trips.

– As a winger, I watch how the wings work on the field. I also watch a lot of matches other than league games, such as junior matches and the NHL. I think they are a big strength.

At the moment, Anna-Kaisa is preparing for the Women’s Lions World Cup tournament, which will be played from the 4th to the 14th. April in Utica, USA. Aleksi, on the other hand, is aiming for the semi-finals in the Kärppie SM league team.

– I’m leaving with really good feelings. Excited, but looking forward to the trip and the matches.

The World Championships are the second in Antti-Roiko’s career. He was also part of last year’s team and played seven games without any power points. This season in Kärpi, after his early season injury, he scored 10+14=24 points in 23 matches. In the playoffs, he also played at a point per game (1+2=3) rate.

Coexistence plays an important role

He aims to utilize his strengths in the World Championships, i.e. skating and game intelligence. He believes that work and skating are Finland’s strengths in general.

– Of course, we still need to improve our teamwork, although it is good. Especially now, when we’re going on a long trip, it’s really important to be close together and get to do things outside of hockey, but especially in the rink.

Finland gets to play in the World Cup again in the rock-hard A group, where the United States and Canada offer the biggest challenges. In recent years, the Czech Republic has also raised its head and been a tough opponent for Finland.

Last year, it was the Czech Republic that knocked the Women’s Lions out of the medal games in the quarter-final match with a score of 2–1. In this season, Finland has won three matches in mutual EHT games and lost twice.

– Sometimes we have lost and sometimes we have won, but we have been able to challenge well. We are going to challenge the Czech Republic as hard as possible. A bit of a bitter loss from last year’s games, so we’re going to win that game.

“We’re going for medals”

Antti-Roiko has not yet succeeded in scoring in adult national team games. The hard-working winger plans to give his all on the ice again, but hopes to finish a few goals as well.

– I would be really satisfied with the general basic game that I have.

Until when are Finnish games enough?

– Yes, we will go for medals.