Ronja Savolainen’s partner Anna Kjellbin captained Sweden in the World Cup tournament. Kjellbin was responsible for Sweden’s 1-0 lead.
The Finnish women’s national ice hockey team defeated Sweden in Sunday’s ranking match and returned to the A group after one year spent in the B group.
Finland’s credit defender Ronja Savolainen was awarded Noora Tulusen and Petra Nieminen as well as the best players of the Women’s Lions World Cup tournament.
According to Savolainen, the Sweden match was decided by Finland’s appearance.
– We knew how important the win was and how much we wanted it. Even though they scored the first goal, we kept our faces. It never matters who scores the first goal, Savolainen talked after the victorious match against Sweden.
In the tournament, Sweden’s power rested largely on the first chain, but the first goal was scored by the defender of the second court, the captain of the Swedish team Anna Kjellbin. Kjellbin is also Savolainen’s partner.
– I was just that of course it’s him who does it. In the last game I was able to do it, maybe it was fair play, Savolainen laughed.
The teams also met in the preliminary round, and in that case Sweden led by two goals at the start of the final round. However, Savolainen was the key figure in Finland’s rise – he struck twice, and in the end Finland won 4–2.
Even now, Finland recovered from Kjellbin’s hit quickly – still in the opening set, Naisleijonat rose Jenni Hiirikoski level with the goal and then hit in every set. He was responsible for the second hit Kiira Yrjänen and from the third Nora Tulus.
– Fortunately, we scored immediately after that and another in the second set. Then it was like a wedding! But it’s nice that he got to score a goal too.
According to Savolainen, the game of hockey is hardly discussed at home in Sweden anymore, because the couple doesn’t tend to talk much about hockey at home. Both represent Lulea, which celebrated the Swedish championship.
– Of course we are happy for each other. I’m a little happier that we won and of course really proud of how Anna has managed the team as a captain. Yes, both of us will be very happy when we come home, Savolainen assured.
The games of the Swedish women’s national ice hockey team continue in the B group. After the 2019 World Cup, Sweden, which was relegated to Division I and returned to the World Cup due to the closure of Russia, is returning to the top in women’s ice hockey as well.
– They have improved a lot and play a very physical game. We always have to put everything in the game to win, Savolainen and Kjellbin’s teammate Petra Nieminen assured.