The under-18 girls’ national ice hockey team for the World Championships in Östersund has been selected. Finland will face Canada, the United States and Sweden in its initial group.
The Finnish under-18 girl lion team for next year’s World Championships in Östersund has been selected. The head coach Mira Kuisma has nominated many familiar names from the domestic Women’s League for the World Championships in January.
HIFK’s star player Sanni Vanhanen enters the racing machine after recovering from an injury that sidelined him for two months.
– The selection of the team caused a positive headache for the coaching. Several different players were available for different roles. However, I believe that the players complement each other both on and off the rink, Kuisma says in the Jääkieksliitto’s press release.
In the 2022 World Championships played last summer, Finland won bronze. According to Kuisma, the goal for the tournament starting on January 8 is clear in Finland.
– Every time we go to play in the lion shirt, we go to win. In the Games, the goal is a medal.
Finland’s U18 girls’ national team for the World Championships, 8–15 January 2023 Östersund, Sweden
Goalkeepers:
Kerttu Kuja-Halkola, JYP Jyväskylä
Suvi Saarinen, TPS Turku
Venla Varis, Team Kuortane
Defenders:
Nella Berg, VG-62/TPS Naantali/Turku
Bianca Kanerva, Kiekko-Espoo
Aino Krook, Team Kuortane
Jennika Ojala, Team Kuortane
Ilona Palin, HIFK Helsinki
Tuuli Tallinen, Team Kuortane
Sinna Varjonen, Team Kuortane
Attackers:
Abigail Byskata, Team Kuortane
Sofia Kari, Team Kuortane
Tilli Keränen, Kärpät Oulu
Eveliina Kitula, HIFK Helsinki
Erica Korhonen, HIFK Helsinki
Heidi Kokora, Team Kuortane
Iida Lappalainen, RoKi Rovaniemi
Kerttu Lehmus, Team Kuortane
Neea Pelkonen, Team Kuortane
Pauliina Salonen, TPS Turku
Julia Schalin, Kiekko-Espoo
Sara Suhonen, HIFK Helsinki
Sanni Vanhanen, HIFK Helsinki
Sun 08.01. 21.00 Canada – Finland
Mon 09.01. 17.00 USA – Finland
Wed 11.01. 17.00 Finland – Sweden