#elisa holopainen

[auroraliiga]

KalPa forward Elisa Holopainen was awarded the Golden Helmet Trophy (Kultainen Kypärä -palkinto) for MVP of the Naisten Liiga, as voted by the players

Karoliina Rantamäki presented the award to Holopainen on behalf of the SJRY

[grantmentis]

PWHL transactions (and other women’s hockey news)from this past week

-Ottawa signs Samantha Isbell, formerly a Boston reserve, on a ten day contract (x)

-Fanni Garát-Gasparics (Ottawa) is placed on injured reserve with a season ending surgery. Means she will likely not be able to represent Hungary at women’s worlds as well. (X)

-Mikyla Grant-Mentis, released from Ottawa earlier this month, signs as a reserve in Montreal. (X)

-Jordan Colliton joins PWHL Ottawa coaching staff (x)

-Switzerland, Canada, and Finland have all announced their women’s worlds rosters.

[liigainenglish]

Women’s national team for Finland at Five Nations Tournament

GOALTENDERS 30 Kyrkkö Emilia, Team Kuortane 31 Pajarinen Tiia, Kiekko-Espoo 36 Keisala Anni, HV71 Jönköping SWE

DEFENCE 2 Makkonen Adalmiina, KalPa Kuopio 4 Lindstedt Rosa, Brynäs IF SWE 5 Koukkula Oona, HPK Hämeenlinna 6 Hiirikoski Jenni, Luleå HF SWE 7 Rantala Sanni, KalPa Kuopio 8 Viitasuo Ella, HV71 Jönköping SWE 11 Yrjölä Siiri, HIFK Helsinki 14 Eronen Ada, Kiekko-Espoo 88 Savolainen Ronja, Luleå HF SWE

FORWARDS 10 Holopainen Elisa, KalPa Kuopio 12 Vanhanen Sanni, HIFK Helsinki 15 Havana Oona, Kärpät Oulu 16 Nieminen Petra, Luleå HF SWE 19 Rakkolainen Emmi, Kiekko-Espoo 20 Antti-Roiko Anna-Kaisa, Kärpät Oulu 22 Pirttijärvi Jenna, Luleå HF SWE 23 Montonen Anni, Kiekko-Espoo 24 Vainikka Viivi, Luleå HF SWE 25 Yrjänen Kiira, HV71 Jönköping SWE 26 Säkkinen Sara, AIK Stockholm SWE 27 Liikala Julia, HIFK Helsinki 32 Vesa Emilia, HIFK Helsinki 40 Tulus Noora, Luleå HF SWE

[rask]

2021 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

[beijing2022woho]

[midar1]

funny how finland's womens team is the best team in the world and elisa holopainen is the most elite player to ever play the game!

[evtranslations]

On Finland's success against Canada at the IIHF WWC semifinals

[T/N: The Finnish men’s national hockey team is called Leijonat, “lions”. The women’s national team is called Naisleijonat, “lionesses”.]

Source.

Comment: Naisleijonat’s miracle against Canada required a revolution of the young

After the anemic Canada game in the preliminary round, a necessary change in attitude was made by the Finnish players. It was rewarded with a historic spot in the World Championships Final, writes Anu Karttunen of Yle Sports.

Watching the first Naisleijonat game against Canada in the preliminary round at the World Championships in Espoo, a spot in the final seemed very far away. Head coach Pasi Mustonen is convinced that Finland has caught up with the North Americans, but the games with Canada and the United States didn’t back this up.

It was hard to imagine Finland having a shot against Canada in the semifinals based on the anemic play seen in the preliminaries.

Mustonen with his coaching team succeeded in waking the team up. This was already affected by changes in the line-up, when he broke up the youth line and put on the same line the duo of Tanja Niskanen - Elisa Holopainen, who had already wreaked havoc playing for KalPa. A change in defensive pairings, where Nelli Laitinen rose up to play next to Jenni Hiirikoski in the first pairing, also proved to be working.

However, the biggest shift happened in the players’ attitudes. In the preliminaries, the players succumbed to trying solo, whereas in the semifinal we saw Finland that played uniformly and fought in all situations. The players dared to play boldly and properly challenge the Canadians who had dominated them in the preliminary round.

In the semifinal, Finland played exactly the kind of game that Mustonen had wanted his team to play in the preliminaries and that the coaching staff knows the team is capable of playing at their best.

Additionally, the team now found its mental leaders, like the veterans Hiirikoski and goaltender Noora Räty. Räty’s high-end saves, especially in the second period when the team was playing short-handed, were crucial.

Finland’s team is in the process of a similar turning point as the men’s team, where the young players aren’t carrying the weight of losses on their shoulders. Players of the 80s and 90s were fed the idea that the big federations were unwinnable except maybe by accident, whereas the young players of today, like Holopainen, Laitinen and Viivi Vainikka, do not recognize this way of thinking.

For these youths every opponent can be defeated, and now the whole team has believed it from the start of the tournament - even though many may have doubted it in the stands.

Naisleijonat succeeded in the greatest challenge they had in the tournament: earning a spot in the final, in front of a home crowd wildly cheering them on. The pressure was huge, as nothing but the historic spot in the final would suit the team. Now, they have the opportunity of a lifetime to purely enjoy playing in the final.

Being eliminated from the World Championship final was a catastrophe for Canada, as the country has always been in the finals in major competitions. This fiasco will no doubt be mulled over long and hard in hockey’s country of origin.

[goalhofer]

Every Goal Of The 2022 Olympics Women’s Tournament: Day 5

Canada Vs. R.O.C.

#20 Sarah Nurse (4) unassisted 2:09 1st (Canada 1-0 R.O.C.)

#10 Sarah Fillier (5) Fast (2), Rattray (3) 2:29 1st (Canada 2-0 R.O.C.)

#47 Jamie Rattray (2)(PP) Spooner (8), Nurse (1) 7:45 2nd (Canada 3-0 R.O.C.)

#23 Erin Ambrose (2) Johnston (3), Stacey (2) 10:29 2nd (Canada 4-0 R.O.C.)

#97 Anna Shokhina (1) Vafina (3) 13:21 2nd (Canada 4-1 R.O.C.)

#6 Rebecca Johnston (2)(PP) Jenner (2), Poulin-Nadeau (5) 0:39 3rd (Canada 5-1 R.O.C.)

#29 Marie Poulin-Nadeau (1)(PP) Jenner (3), Ambrose (3) 5:50 3rd (Canada 6-1 R.O.C.)

Finland Vs. Switzerland

#17 Lara Christen (1)(PP) Müller (3), Stalder (1) 11:52 1st (Finland 0-1 Switzerland)

#9 Nelli Laitinen (1) Savolainen (1), Tuominen (1) 7:49 2nd (Finland 1-1 Switzerland)

#26 Dominique Rüegg (1)(PP) Müller (4), Leemann (1) 10:00 2nd (Finland 1-2 Switzerland)

#7 Lara Stalder (4) Müller (5), Sigrist (1) 1:21 3rd (Finland 1-3 Switzerland)

#10 Elisa Holopainen (1) Vainikka (1), Tulus (1) 10:11 3rd (Finland 2-3 Switzerland)

Denmark Vs. Czech Republic

#2 Aneta Tejralová (1) Křížová (1) 5:48 1st (Denmark 0-1 Czech Republic)

#63 Josefine Jakobsen (2) unassisted 9:14 1st (Denmark 1-1 Czech Republic)

#16 Kateřina Mrázová (1) Radová (1), Vanišová (1) 3:01 2nd (Denmark 1-2 Czech Republic)

#21 Michelle Weis (1) unassisted 4:28 2nd (Denmark 2-2 Czech Republic)

#4 Silke Lave-Glud (1)(PP) Jakobsen (1), Söndergaard-Jensen (3) 0:49 3rd (Denmark 3-2 Czech Republic)

Sweden Vs. China

#17 Kassy Betinol (1) T. Lum (1) 5:16 1st (Sweden 0-1 China)

#24 Felizia Wikner-Zienkiewicz (1)(PS) 5:14 2nd (Sweden 1-1 China)

#11 Josefin Bouveng (1) Nylén-Persson (2), Waxin (1) 6:39 2nd (Sweden 2-1 China)

[auroraliiga]

Golden Helmet Award: Anni Keisala

In the 2021–2022 season, the players of the Naisten Liiga voted for the recipient of the Golden Helmet Award for the first time. The award is given to the most valuable player in terms of contribution to their team's success.

The inaugural vote was won by Ilves goaltender Anni Keisala, who collected 187 points in the players' vote.

Results of the 2021–22 Women's Golden Helmet vote:

Anni Keisala (G), Ilves – 187 points

Elisa Holopainen (F), Kiekko-Espoo – 174

Estelle Duvin (F), TPS – 166

Matilda Nilsson (F), HIFK – 77

Nelli Laitinen (D), Kiekko-Espoo – 32

All players in the Naisten Liiga could vote for the three best players. Five points were awarded to the voter's top-ranked player, three points for the second, and one point for the third. Nominating players from the voter's own team was not allowed. — via Finnish Ice Hockey Players' Association (SJRY.fi)

[grantmentis]

Women's Worlds 2023 Primer

The PHF season may be over, but many of the players we love will be playing in women's worlds this upcoming week alongside their peers from the PWHPA, SDHL, Naisten Liiga, NCAA, Usports, EWHL, and countless other fantatic women's hockey leagues or organizations from around the world!

When: April 5th - April 16th

Click here for full schedule

Where: Brampton, Ontario at CAA Center. Games will be in Eastern time

Click here for tickets

What Teams are playing:

Group A: Canada, USA, Switzerland, Czechia, Japan

Group B: Germany, Hungary, France, Finland, Sweden

How to Watch:

Canada: TSN will be broadcasting all games in the tournament for Canadians

USA: NHL Network will be broadcasting all of Team USA's and Team Canada's games, but not the rest of the tournament

Finland: Broadcast scheduling here

Germany: German games should be available at MagentaSport (and apparently free!)

France: Sport En France should have at least the French teams games

Sweden: SVT should carry Sweden's games

Switzerland: available to stream at srf.ch

Unfortunately I could not find broadcast information for Czechia, Hungary, or Japan, but that may be a language barrier issue on my end. If this is something you are familiar with please let me know!

Lastly, if you want to watch a game that's not available to you, feel free to message and I can see what I can do to help

Tournament format:

All of Group A makes it to the quarterfinals, so the preliminary games are just seeding for them. The top three seeds in Group B will move on as well. Then, the knock out stage looks like this:

Below the cut is rosters, notable storylines, and expectations for each team. These are in alphabetical order.

Canada

Roster

Notable changes: Natalie Spooner comes back after missing time with pregnancy. Danielle Serdachny makes her international senior team debut after having 71 points in 40 games as Colgates captain this year. Claire Thompson returns to the world stage after missing last world championships, comes off a spectacular olympic showing. Potomak is out, despite strong performance last world championship.

Player to watch/other fun things; Sarah Fillier. She has been one of the world's best goal scorers for over two year and, at only 22, will likely only get better

Goals: Win gold again! They've been dominate on the world stage again since the break from the pandemic, working extremely well with their new coach. They are the team to beat with a mix of vets and newcomers

Czechia

Roster

Notable changes: Klara Peslarova, star goalie for Czechia, is not here due to season ending knee injury. Michaela Hesova (who is only 17 years old!) makes her senior team debut in her place and Kateřina Zechovská comes back to the mix. Tereza Radová is out, Sára Čajanová returns. Klára Jandušíková makes her senior national team debut, one of the few ncaa dIII players to do so!

Players to watch: Tereza Vanišová is coming off a PHF championship where she scored the cup winning goal, and has been one of the Czech republics more creative offensive players that plays with an edge. Natálie Mlýnková just had a breakout year for University of Vermont that saw her have 42 points in 36 games.

Goals: Get a medal. Czechia has risen FAST on the national stage, going from not qualifying to medaling in their first wwc in just a few years. Thanks to a mix of a good core who's been playing together a long time like like Mills/Mrázová/Križová and talented youth like Čajanová, they have cemented themselves at one of the worlds threats.

Finland

Roster; http://leijonat.fi/index.php/maajoukkueet/naisleijonat/2022-23/mm2023/item/45144-naisleijonien-mm-joukkue-julkistettiin-taessae-kokoonpano ( no graphic :-( )

Notable changes: Elisa Holopainen will not play for Finland after a great showing last worlds due to injury. Susanna Tapani, who had five points in 6 worlds games last year, is also not on this roster. Sanni Ahola will make her senior national team debut as a goaltender for Finland. She had a .920 as the starter in St. Cloud state this year and could be interesting as they try to find their next starter. Emilia Kyrkkö is another new goalie, who played in Finland this year but will play at St. Cloud next year. I’d expect Ahola to get more time though. Michelle Karvinen not on roster. Lots of roster shakeup overall.

Players to watch: Noora Tulus has been a national team mainstay for some time, but the last two years she has found another gear. Coming off a club season in Sweden with 56 points in 32 games. Sini Karjalainen had a breakout season in Vermont, will be interested to see if she can translate in the world stage.

Goals:After a rough few tournaments and roster turmoil, and some coaching questions, Finland is trying to get back in Group A and compete for a medal. Competition will be fiercer than ever but they look to prove why they dominated so long.

France

Roster:

Notable changes: Marion Allemoz, who was the team captain, has retired. Morgane Rihet, who was also an assistant captain and mainstay, is not on the roster. Margot Desvignes makes her senior team debut after some strong showings in Sweden.

Players to watch: Chloe Aurard is /the/ player for this team, being a star over at Northeastern the past few years. Justine Crousy Theode, who plays in the mens division in France, will be interesting to see if she gets any starts. With no clear starting goaltender, the 22 is making her senior team debut after strong performances at the u18 level

Goals: Get their first top division win. After being promoted to Division IA in 2013, they've slowly risen to finally qualify for the primary WWC tournament for the first time since 2019! Despite tournament cancellations from the pandemic, they've kept their momentum as they look to establish themselves as a mainstay in the top division. In 2019, they did not get a win, so they hope to do so this time.

Germany

Roster: https://www.deb-online.de/2023/03/24/frauen-nationalmannschaft-finaler-kader-fuer-weltmeisterschaft-in-brampton-kanada-nominiert/ ( once again no graphic :( )

Notable changes: Going even younger in goal, swapping out lilly Uhrmann for Chiara Schultes, no Tanja Eisenschmid though her sister Nicola is there. We do have university of Maine twins Lilli and Louisa Welke still though!

Player to watch: Nina Jobst-Smith (listed as Katerina) had a breakout year in university of minnesota duluth, with 25 points in 39 games. Sandra Abstreiter is a goaltender who has proven she can steal a game.

Expectations: Similar to hungary below, finish top three in their division, hopefully with two decisive victories, to move on to the semifinals.

Hungary

Roster: https://www.jegkorongszovetseg.hu/noi-valogatott-megvan-a-vb-re-utazo-25-fos-keret

Notable Changes: Very much a run it back roster with little changes. Like its basically identical to their one from last year

Players to watch: Mira Seregély was already a steady contributor for Hungary, but after a breakout year in University of Maine, we may see her take another step. Same with Taylor Baker, a shutdown defender who had a solid season in montreal this year.

Goals: Finishing top three in Divison B to clinch a semifinal berth. They've done so their past two outings, but last time was on a tiebreaker. The past two tournaments they've only had one win in each preliminary round, so trying to secure two would be big. Keeping the group together to try t build on exisiting chemistry will be key.

Japan:

Roster: https://www.jihf.or.jp/common/img/info/info_20230324_153025.pdf

Notable changes: Similar to Hungary, they are running it back. Most of their changes come from adding some younger players to their forward group, including twin sisters Rio and Riri Noro making their national team debut after strong performances at the u18 level

players to watch: Haruka Toko is forever my answer here as I think she's one of my favorite players to watch in terms of her speed and shot, and she's coming off a season that saw her return to the SDHL and have 27 points in 29 games. Ayaka Hitosato also is coming off a successful first season in the SDHL, and it will be interesting to see how that affects her game.

Goals: make the semifinals! last year was a heartbreaking 2-1 shootout lost in the finals they hope to avenge, and have proven they are capable of it

Sweden:

Notable changes: Most notably, long time captain Michelle Löwenhielm is not on the roster. Sara Grahn returns after missing some time on the national team, will be interesting to see how they divide time between her and Söderberg. Ebba Berglund, Jessica Adolfsson, and several other no longer on the teams defense after being in the last few tournaments, so going for a new look there.

Player to watch: Maja Nylén Persson has become the #1 defender for the national team at 22 years old and is coming off a stellar SDHL season. Sara Hjalmarsson was over a point per game at providence college this year.

Goals: Win division B and try to make it to the semifinals. After a few rough years due to labor rights issues, the national team is trying to find some stability again and figure out their identity as they develop a young core.

Switzerland

Roster:

Notable changes: Not many, mostly concentrated in the forward group. Evelina Raselli has retired since last wwc, which is the big one.Sarah Forster makes her return after a strong season in the PHF.

Players to watch: For years, it has been the Lara Stalder and Alina Müller show, rightfully so as they are two of the best hockey players in the world and it is a gift to watch them together. We have also seen young defender Lara Christen have strong defensive performances in the past few tournaments, getting it done on both ends

Goals: Medal for Bronze again, hopefully by improved depth scoring and defense. In the past it has been their top line and Brändli who has carried them, so they hope to supplement their high end talent with a good supporting cast.

USA

Notable changes: A lot of babies! Players having babies, including Alex Cavallini and Kendall Coyne Schoffield. Then a lot of players who are very young, with 6 players being under 20, including new faces Abbey Levy, Gabbie Hughes, and Tessa Janecke to name a few. Brianna Decker has retired. No Hannah Brandt, grace zumwinkle, jincy dunne, maddie Rooney, or Jesse compher. HUGE shakeups here.

player to watch: Taylor Heise won player of the tournament last year, and has continued to dominate at the NCAA level, she may only be just beginning. Gabbie Hughes makes her senior team debut after several great years at Minnesota Duluth, and will be interesting to see how she fits into the roster.

Goals: Win gold again, especially with a new look with John Wroblewski at coach. He was the coach last tournament, but only had a few months to work with there. They looked improved under him already, so we will see how they look with a full cycle

[liigainenglish]

Team Finland women’s team for Swedish tournament

GOALTENDERS 1 Ahola Sanni, St. Cloud State Univ. USA 36 Keisala Anni, HV71 Jönköping SWE

DEFENCE 2 Karjalainen Sini, Univ. of Vermont USA 4 Lindstedt Rosa, Brynäs IF SWE 5 Yrjölä Siiri, HIFK Helsinki 6 Hiirikoski Jenni, Luleå HF SWE 7 Rantala Sanni, KalPa Kuopio 8 Viitasuo Ella, HV71 SWE 14 Parkkonen Krista, Univ. of Vermont USA 88 Savolainen Ronja, Luleå HF SWE

FORWARDS 10 Holopainen Elisa, KalPa Kuopio 15 Havana Oona, Kärpät Oulu 16 Nieminen Petra, Luleå HF SWE 19 Rakkolainen Emmi, Kiekko-Espoo 20 Antti-Roiko Anna-Kaisa, Kärpät Oulu 22 Pirttijärvi Jenna, Luleå HF SWE 24 Vainikka Viivi, Luleå HF SWE 26 Säkkinen Sara, AIK Stockholm SWE 27 Montonen Anni, Kiekko-Espoo 28 Nylund Jenniina, St. Cloud State Univ. USA 32 Vesa Emilia, HIFK Helsinki 40 Tulus Noora, Luleå HF SWE 91 Liikala Julia, HIFK Helsinki

[jessicaniiranen-blog]

Model – Elisa Liinavuori Styling – Markus Holopainen & Jessica Niiranen

[grantmentis]

Elisa Holopainen is not mentioned as much alongside great names like Nieminen and tulus when ppl (well, primarily American media) talk Finnish star power and she should be. if it’s true that shes going to frölunda next year that’ll also make ppl realize how great she is

Also, Germany greatly exceeding my expectations and you love to see it. The welcke’s are legit

[auroraliiga]

2021 IIHF Women's World Championship – Bronze Medal Game • 🇫🇮 vs🇨🇭

[auroraliiga]

Elisa Holopainen–Tanja Niskanen–Sanni Hakala • Ella Viitasuo–Rosa Lindstedt

Naisleijonat Third Line • 2021 IIHF World Championship

[liigainenglish]