The Finnish women’s national ice hockey team did what was expected of them in the first series: won the first group at the end of the clean series with a goal difference of 26–3.
Successes were seen on a wide front, as no fewer than sixteen players scored points in the first four matches.
One of the most positive performances in the first group was the responsibility of Finland’s triple court, which has kept up the pace from match to match. After four matches Jenniina Nylund has power 4+1, Emilia Vesa 4+0 and With Sofiana Sundelin 0+4.
– They are able to come a little behind the first and second court. We have talked about the role and they know that goals are expected of them. They are all quite the same style of players: hard skaters, able to dribble the puck, but they also have skill, the assistant coach of the Women’s Lions Saara Niemi described.
The trio has also played a big role in their club teams during the season: Jenniina Nylund, enjoying her fifth season in North America, in the ranks of St. Cloud State University, Sofiana Sundelin in Kuortane, and Vesa in HIFK.
– They are used to making results. Really versatile and rhythmic players, Niemi continued.
Out of the trio, Vesa continued his goal-scoring also in the final match against Hungary, although there seemed to be a bit of luck along the way. Finland eventually won 5–0.
– Works really well on the field, is easy to play. It helps. We all have a really similar style of play and good movement. It’s really fun to play in it. We talk to each other a lot, Vesa revealed the keys to success after the match.
Niemi, who works as Finland’s assistant coach at the Games, knows Vesa particularly well, as he is the head coach of the 22-year-old Finnish striker’s club team HIFK.
Vesa forged 22+31=53 performances in the regular season, which entitled him to fifth place. In the playoffs, he was the third most effective (7+12) immediately among his teammates, the Czech striker Michaela Pejzlovan and Sanni Vanhanen after.
The season ended with Helsinki IFK’s first golden celebration.
– Emilia has a good season ahead, she definitely went to the games with good confidence. He has played a big role in his club team. What is important for him, he has been able to improve his game during the season, also here at the games, Niemi began.
– Of course, Emilia has previous experience in value competitions, but the game has been a bit fluctuating. In these four matches, he has managed to maintain his level. He has been really hungry in front of the goal. It’s been great to see him take steps forward.
Return to HIFK’s ranks
Born in Helsinki, Vesa moved to Kuortane for the 2016–2017 season to the youth national team incubator. The return to the capital region came for the 2020–21 season, when Kiekko-Espoo was still chosen as the address.
– We talked for the first time when he came back from Kuortane, but then Emilia ended up in Espoo. Last year, he made contact at the end of the season. He is originally from Helsinki and played in HIFK’s boys’ juniors, so this was a bit like a homecoming, Niemi laughed.
At HIFK, Vesa has often attended the club’s morning practices. Skill coach by Martin Andler shot and puck handling have been honed with.
– I see that progress has been made in them. In addition, he has played with HIFK’s under-16 boys regularly, Niemi listed.
As a trainee, Niemi describes Vesa as enthusiastic.
– He listens a lot and analyzes the game. He has a real passion for playing. He is a hard trainee.
So far, Vesa has scored four goals in the World Cup tournament. But where does Niemi see that Vesa can reach in the future?
– He is a young player and he has the opportunity to further develop his individual skills. I’m not going to set limits for him. For sure, Foreign countries are calling somewhere and it is possible to reach the top chains in the national team. Skating is at such a hard level and other sports skills have also progressed, that there’s nothing you can do about it.
Finland’s games in the World Cup tournament continue on Thursday in the quarterfinals. The opponent will find out the morning before Wednesday at the latest.