Finland’s under-18 women’s national ice hockey team will face the world champion, the United States, in the World Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
Emma Ecocreature has been the brightest star of the Finnish under-18 women’s national ice hockey team at the World Championships in Switzerland. The prize competitions are Ekoluoma’s first.
The Oulu Kärppie striker has already scored two hat tricks in the tournament and is second in the points market of the World Cup with 7+2=9. Ekoluoma also managed to score on Thursday in the Tyttöleijoni’s quarter-final match, where Slovakia fell 2–0.
With the goal of the match in Slovakia, Ekoluoma became the single Finnish player with the most points in a single girls’ WC tournament.
– It feels really good. I wouldn’t have believed myself that I could do it, but here we are now, Ekoluoma commented on his record.
– In the next few years, I have developed really well and I must have done the right things.
Ekuluoma is playing its second season in the Women’s League. In the opening season, 12+12=24 points were accumulated in 36 matches. This season there are already 22 surfaces, even though there are only 23 league games below.
Ekoluoma, 17, who started his puck career in Raahe, has been playing with his chain friends Julia Kuusiston and Abigail Byskatan with in the World Cup tournament in a model way. Byskata has a total of 2+5=7 points and Kuusisto has 1+3=4.
Ekoluoma praises the national team joker’s internal chemistry.
– When we get to play together, the game has improved day by day and we find each other better. It’s really fun to play with them.
On Saturday, in the semifinals of the tournament, Finland will face the second power of the sport, the United States, which together with Canada has won all the under-18 women’s world championships.
The USA has won its previous four matches in the tournament by a goal difference of 23–2. Finland’s goal difference is 11–12 after three wins and a 0–10 opening group loss to Canada.
Finland’s catch at the World Cup level is three bronze medals. Ekoluoma believes in Finland’s chances of historically advancing to the finals.
– When we do the right things that we have practiced. A good team spirit is a big asset for us. I believe that this is the way to win, as long as you just manage to work hard.