According to Juuso Toivola, Naisleijonat will go to the World Cup with the best possible lineup.
On Wednesday, Finland, nominated for the Women’s Ice Hockey World Championships to be held in August-September, will play in Group A of the tournament to be played in Denmark, along with Canada, the USA, Switzerland and Japan. The female lions played two training games against the Czech Republic last week. The latter of them ended with Finland’s victory.
– The Czech games were important for the new management team. They gave good experiences for the World Cup, head coach Juuso Toivola states.
Injuries or other health problems did not affect the composition of the team.
– We got the players we wanted. A lot of good players were also left out. Considering the World Cup, the situation seems good.
The team will gather next time in mid-August in Vierumäki, where they will face Japan in two practice games.
Star goalkeeper Nora Räty is not in the World Cup team. In the winter, the then head coach of the national team Pasi Mustonen didn’t select a player for Beijing’s goalkeeper trio.
– Now in August he is not available. Let’s see the continuation separately, Toivola commented at the time.
Räty was winning the championship of the Russian ZhHl series in the club season that ended in April. This is the so-called women’s KHL series. Räty played in the Chinese Shenzen KRS Vanke Rays team, which is part of the series.
Rag, Minttu Tuominen, Susanna Tapani, Michelle Karvinen mixed Anna Kilponen continued their games until the end of the season in Russia despite the fact that Russia started a war of aggression against Ukraine at the end of February.
Among them, Tapani and Karvinen are in the team. Tuominen, on the other hand, is taking a break from the national team.
On Wednesday, Toivola commented on Rädy’s situation in few words.
– Noora and I had good discussions after the season. That’s when we both stated that he would miss the games. Let’s see what the future brings, Toivola told Urheilu.
The Women’s Ice Hockey World Cup tournament will be played in Denmark from August 26 to September 4, 2022.
Goalkeepers: Keisala Anni (HV71) Räisänen Meeri Silvonen Jenna (Kiekko-Espoo)
Defenders: Hiirikoski Jenni (Luleå HF) Karjalainen Sini (Univ. of Vermont) Laitinen Nelli (Univ. of Minnesota) Parkkonen Krista (Univ. of Vermont) Rantala Sanni (KalPa) Savolainen Ronja (Luleå HF) Viitasuo Ella (HV71)
Attackers: Holopainen Elisa (KalPa) Karvinen Michelle (Frölunda HC) Liikala Julia (HIFK) Nieminen Petra (Luleå HF) Nylund Jenniina (St. Cloud State Univ.) Rakkolainen Emmi (Kiekko-Espoo) Sundelin Sofiaanna (Team Kuortane) Tapani Susanna Tulus Noora ( Luleå HF) Vainikka Viivi (Luleå HF) Vanhanen Sanni (HIFK) Vesa Emilia (HIFK) Yrjänen Kiira (HV71)