There are four first-timers in Finland’s World Cup team.
Head coach of the Finnish women’s national ice hockey team Juuso Toivola has named a team for the World Cup in the United States to be played in a month. The team has been renewed, but there are familiar players at the spearhead.
Among other things, a star player who was absent from the previous World Cups is included Susanna Tapani. She has played in the women’s professional league PWHL this winter.
Other familiar Konkar players are the defender Jenni Hiirikoskireturning to the World Championships Michelle Karvinendefender Ronja Savolainen as well as the attacker Petra Nieminen.
Kiekko-Espoo’s goalkeeper makes his World Cup debut Tiia Pajarinen and the attacker Julia Schalin and defender of HPK Oona Koukula and defender of HIFK Siiri Yrjölä.
The World Cup will be played from the 3rd to the 14th. April. Finland will face the Czech Republic, Canada, the USA and Switzerland in its preliminary series. Japan, China, Sweden, Germany and Denmark play in group B.
Women’s Lions World Cup team
Goalkeepers:
1 Ahola Sanni (St. Cloud State Univ.)
31 Pajarinen Tiia (Kiekko-Espoo)
36 Keisala Anni (HV71)
Defenders:
5 Yrjölä Siiri (HIFK)
6 Hiirokoski Jenni (Luleå HF)
7 Rantala Sanni (KalPa)
8 Savander Eve (MoDo Hockey)
9 Laitinen Nelli (Univ. of Minnesota)
14 Parkkonen Krista (Univ. of Vermont)
15 Koukkula Oona (HPK)
88 Savolainen Ronja (Luleå HF)
Attackers:
10 Holopainen Elisa (KalPa)
12 Vanhanen Sanni (HIFK)
16 Nieminen Petra (Luleå HF)
20 Antti-Roiko Anna-Kaisa (Kärpät)
22 Schalin Julia (Kiekko-Espoo)
24 Vainikka Viivi (Luleå HF)
28 Nylund Jenniina (Brynäs IF)
32 Vesa Emilia (Frölunda HC)
33 Karvinen Michelle (Frölunda HC)
34 Sofiana Sundel (St. Cloud State Univ.)
40 Tulus Noora (Luleå HF)
77 I met Susanna (Boston)
91 Liikala Julia (HIFK)