The absence of the female lions’ star players from the World Cup is confusing – the head coach explains why Tapani and Karvinen are not included

The female lions will go to the World Cup in Canada in April with a team that is a combination of youth and experience. The national team announced on Tuesday has 11 players from the domestic league, eight from Sweden and five from the North American university leagues.

New names include Kärppien I’m Havana and Anna-Kaisa Antti-Roiko.

About the famous faces of female lions Susanna Tapani and Michelle Karvinen are not in the team. Over the years, they have been the driving force behind the national team’s attack.

The head coach Juuso Toivolan according to both names have been in the coaching management’s discussions throughout the season. Tapani is focused on Ringette this season and therefore will not participate in the World Championships.

– Michelle Karvinen is after many difficult years… We also had discussions with her, and she wanted to focus on the games of her own club team, Frölunda. The team has now been promoted to the main league. The solution was easy and clear in itself, Toivola said.

In addition, the team does not have any of the six players, including the former head coach of the national team Pasi Mustonen made an investigation request to Suek, the Finnish sports ethics center, at the beginning of March. Some of the players in question have already stopped, but some are still playing. According to Toivola, the case has not affected the choices.

– These are two completely different things. We have focused on players’ shots in national team events and club teams. Actions have been built based on them and choices have been made, head coach Toivola stated.

Longtime captain of the Lady Lions Jenni Hiirikoski is in the team. Luistin cut Hiirikoski’s neck in the SDHL’s second final match at the weekend, after which he was operated on in the hospital.

According to Toivola, the team has been in contact with Hiirikoski and his recovery is being monitored day by day. The situation looks good.

KalPa’s star striker Elisa Holopainen is instead out due to injury.

The head coach emphasized that there was fierce competition for all playing spots and there were no easy choices.

Medal games as a goal

The previous World Championships ended in disappointment, when Naisleijonat was left out of the medal games and was sixth. As a result, Finland will start the competition in group B, from which the top three will qualify for the quarterfinals. Before, Finland was in the A group, from which everyone can advance.

Striker Kiira Yrjänen has a positive attitude towards the new situation.

– I think it’s a good starting point. The results of the games matter immediately. We don’t get a place in the quarterfinals for free. You really have to fight for wins.

According to Toivola, Leijonat is the early favorite of the group. The team’s goal is to win the group. The top seed in Group B will likely avoid Canada and the United States in the quarterfinals. Finland’s other goals in the Games are to reach the medal games and to continue the good performances of the EHT tour.

Naisleijonat has played three EHT tournaments since the World Cup, winning each of them with a clean slate (12 wins out of 12 matches). The team has been built in EHT tournaments with the World Championships in mind. In particular, there has been a focus on over and under strength and substitutions.

– The players are dedicated to doing well. We have spent a lot of time together and got to know each other, Toivola says.

Over the course of the season, efforts have been made to play in the offensive zone and to get the puck from one’s own zone to the offensive end.

– When they are combined with our game, we believe that the result will continue to be good.

Fresh goalkeepers

The female lions’ number one keeper Anni Keisala will be joined by the first-timers of the adult competitions Emilia Kyrkön19, and Sanni Ahola, 22. Team Kuortaneen’s Kyrkkö excelled in the summer under-18 competitions and was chosen as the tournament’s best goalkeeper. Ahola has a strong season behind him in a small rink in the university league.

– A slightly different starting point when there are two first-timers. We have gotten to play really well with both of them already in EHT tournaments and we get along well. I guess I can give them some tips and they will give me the same, Keisala said.

The young defender is also interesting to watch Sanni Rantala, 20, who last season played for the first time in the Olympics and the adult World Championships. Rantala scored 7+32=39 in 30 Women’s League regular season matches in KalPa’s shirt this season. From six playoff matches, he totaled 1+8=9.

According to Toivola, the quiet Rantala will be given responsibility at the World Cup.

– He doesn’t make himself a number outside the field. And he doesn’t do it consciously on the field either, but on the other hand he does it because he does very good things. Skating has always been good and developed even more. He sees the game well and gets out of tight spots. Good, game-promoting passes.

The Lionesses will travel to Canada on Tuesday next week. The team gathers in Niagara Falls, where it trains and gets used to the time difference for a few days. On Saturday, it’s time for a training match against Canada, and the day after that, the team will move to Brampton, the venue for the competition. The first match is scheduled for April 5, when France will play against them.