On Sunday evening, Finland secured its place in the A group of the Women’s Ice Hockey World Cup, when it defeated Sweden 3–1 in the ranking match.
Finland went to the World Championships in Brampton, Canada, from Group B after last fall’s fiasco. In Denmark, the Women’s Lions were left out of the medal games for the first time, and the loss to Japan dropped the team to the B group.
Now the visit was short-lived.
– This is really easy. Returning to the A group was one of our goals and we succeeded. We belong there. This has been a great tournament, I am really satisfied, Finland’s credit defender Ronja Savolainen comment.
Savolainen was chosen as one of the three best players in Finland together Petra Nieminen and Noora Tulusen with. He gave praise to his teammates.
– We laughed that one loss and fifth place. It’s pretty cool how these blocks go. Of course, there was a disappointing loss against the Czech Republic, I think we were the better team, but now was not our time. Everyone says it was a farce, but I don’t think so. You can call the last Games a farce, but this one is completely different. We were in the B group, Savolainen started.
– We knew how important each game is. We won every game and I think we are on a great path. I believe in what we are doing and that we will come home with medals in the next games, Savolainen emphasized.
Nieminen, who finished second in the tournament’s point exchange, was also on the same lines.
– Even though there was no medal, you have to be proud. I’m proud of how we handled this and got to the group where we belong. I give it four out of five. I am really satisfied that so many new young players were involved and we only lost one game.
They left out of last fall’s World Championships Minttu Tuominen and Sanni Hakala. In addition, those who cooled off in the first chain at the last games did not say thank you for this spring’s World Championships Michelle Karvinen and Susanna Tapani. Denmark’s best scorer at the World Championships Elisa Holopainen is, on the other hand, injured.
Goalkeepers were seen for the first time in Canada Sanni Ahola and left without control responsibility Emilia Kyrkko and attackers Anna-Kaisa Antti-Roiko, I’m Havana and Anni Montonen.
There has been a stir around female lions in recent years. At the World Cup tournament in Canada, Finland did not have perhaps its brightest stars, but Savolainen and Nieminen describe the team spirit as excellent.
– We’ve had a lot of fun here at the tournament, I don’t remember the last time there was such a good spirit. As long as we keep it up, good things will come in the future, Savolainen assured.
– We have gotten to know each other really well as individuals. No one has to think, everyone can be what they want and everyone is needed as they are, Nieminen says.
“Canada and the Yankees are already afraid”
Canada and the United States once again decided the fate of the World Cup gold between themselves. Finland is the only country that has managed to break through between these two, when it was even marching to become the world champion in front of the home crowd in 2019. In the end, the victory was taken by the USA after a shootout.
According to Petra Nieminen, the gap with the top countries has narrowed.
– Our game has sped up tremendously. We have four fields of skilled players, we have caught the difference. Canada and the Yankees are already afraid that the Europeans will come. I think it (challenging the USA and Canada) is possible in the next Games as well.
In her club team, in Swedish Lulea, Nieminen has gotten used to equal treatment, which Finnish women’s league clubs can only dream of. In Sweden, the players of the women’s national team sharply criticized the resources after the 2019 World Cup disaster, when the team was relegated from the main competition to the I division, and even boycotted the national team. Today, women’s resources are better.
But is Nieminen satisfied with the resources of the Women’s Lions?
– I guess you can’t blame it, if the result of the last World Cup was what it was and now we made it to the night. I am really satisfied with their contributions as well, we have competent coaches and a management team, Nieminen assures.
Nieminen can’t answer whether we will return to the medal base with the same people.
– The decisions come from somewhere else. I think we played well.
A great climax to Nieminen’s season
Petra Nieminen’s great season culminated in a good World Cup.
The Finnish striker already won SDHL’s goal exchange and was also third in the points exchange, right behind Switzerland’s Lara Stalder and her teammates Noora Tulusen after. He was able to go to the World Championships as the Swedish champion, when Luulaja beat Brynäs directly with match wins 3–0.
Nieminen was the second most efficient player in the points exchange with 6+7=13 and at the same time broke the record of the most efficient player of the women’s national team during one World Cup tournament. Also Riikka Sallinen reached 13 points in the 1994 World Cup tournament.
Nieminen was originally marked as a feeder as well Jenni Hiirikoski to the overpowering equalizer against Sweden in the last match of the tournament, but from him and From Rosa Lindstedt the service point was taken away.
The situation was not opened up to Niemi any further.
– Yes… I don’t know (what happened in that), Nieminen commented.
The Finnish striker was naturally satisfied with his outstanding performances.
– You have to be satisfied with your season, Sweden has had a good season and then you can do this well in the Games. The support has been really good, it’s not just up to you, it’s the result of your own performance, Nieminen said and thanked Naisleijon and the club team Luulaja for the support.
France and Hungary were eliminated, next year’s games in Utica
The International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF announced on Sunday that the 2024 World Cup will be played in the USA in Utica, New York from the 4th to the 14th. April.
France and Hungary are eliminated from the main tournament. Hungary lost its final match in Group B to Germany 1–2, and its only victory was a 4–2 victory over France. France was at the bottom of Group B with zero points.