Sochi 2014 - Finland Womens Preview

Nearly all of this team are based at home in the Finnish SM-sarja with five players coming from the Espoo Blues, Four from JYP Jyvaskyla and three from Team Oriflame Kuortane. Three girls are in the NCAA program in North America and a further two playing in the Russian RWHL with SKIF Nizhny Novgorod. The vast majority of the Finland Team that won Bronze in Vancouver back in 2010 have returned. Michelle Karvinen (23) who was actually born in Denmark and plays her college hockey in the NCAA was one of those returning, along with line-mate Minttu Tuominen (23). They are centered by Karvinen's college team-mate Susanna Tapani (20) who is making her first Olympics appearance.

The Second Line sees another three returning from four years ago. Linda Valimaki (23), Center Venla Hovi (26) and Nina Tikkinen (27). The third line consists of two veterans from the Bronze winning team from Nagano 1998. Riikka Nieminen-Valila who is now 40 returns after taking some time away from the game to have her children. Karolina Rantamaki (35) won Bronze in Nagano and Vancouver. Both Valila and Rantamaki hope to pass on their vast experience to Espoo teenager Emma Nuutinen who is only 17. Anniina Rajahuhta (24) returns after playing in Vancouver and Vilma Tanskanen (18) joins the team for the first time.

Michelle Karvinen

Minttu Tuominen

Susanna Tapani

    Linda Valimaki            Venla Hovi             Nina Tikkinen


      Riikka Nieminen     Karoliina Rantamaki    Emma Nuutinen
Anniina RajahuhtaVilma Tanskanen


The top defensive pair sees 25 year-old Mira Jalosuo with Jenni Hiirikoski (26) who won Olympic bronze in Vancouver and  World Championship bronze in Canada 2004, China 2008 and Finland 2009. Further experience on the second pairing sees Emma Terho (32)and Saija Tarkki (31) line up together. Rosa Lindstedt (26) leads the third pairing with either of the youthful Anna Kilponen (18) or Tea Villila (17).

Mira Jalosuo Jenni Hiirikoski

                        Emma Terho                                   Saija Tarkki

     Rosa Lindstedt        Anna Kilponen             Tea Villila


Noora Raty (24) has started all three of Finland's games so far and was instrumental in keeping the scores down in both of the opening games. Raty has been the best goaltender so far and reduced both Canada's and the United States' high scoring offense to just three goals each. Meeri Raisanen also 24 and
18 year-old Eveliina Suonpaa back up Raty.

                           Noora Raty                             Eveliina Suonpaa
Meeri Raisanen