2025 Worlds Preview: Finland

At long last, we may be facing the tragic reality of a Finland team continuing on without stalwart captain Jenni Hiirikoski. The bronze medal winning team is back but without an important piece of their roster. Still, the Naisleijonat will hope to put together yet another great performance at the World Championship.

2024 Recap:

Finland managed to return to their medal winning ways when they beat Czechia in a shootout in the Bronze medal game last year. It wasn't clear if they'd make it that far given they began last year's tournament with three straight losses, but they were able to put together a good run – beating Switzerland twice including in the quarterfinals – which had them in Bronze medal contention by the end of the tournament. They had great performances from players like forward Susanna Tapani and the aforementioned Hiirikoski, who each finished the tournament with six points.

They also had players such as forward Petra Nieminen and defender Nelli Laitinen, who helped propel the team with their performances against Switzterland. Sanni Ahola also put together a great tournament with a strong showing in the game against Czechia where she was solid in the shootout, allowing only one goal to help secure a medal. All three players were named the best players by their Team Finland coaches at the conclusion of the tournament.

With the bronze medal win, Finland was automatically qualified for this year's event and by finishing in the top five teams, they will be in Group A facing familiar foes including the United States, Canada, Czechia, and Switzerland.

Players To Watch:

Forward Elisa Holopainen is coming off of a championship season with Frölunda in the SDHL. While at first glance her numbers are down from last year, Holopainen's first season in Sweden saw her with 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists), good for second in the league behind her Naisleijonat teammate Petra Nieminen.

Sofianna Sundelin just wrapped up her second year at St. Cloud State University, but the left-shot center made a big jump between those two years. She finished this season with 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points in 36 games, a big leap from her one goal and seven assists in the same amount of games from the season before. She was dependable as a mainstay on the power play as well. She's appearing in her fifth World Championship at only 22 years old, but with all the experiences she's had playing at Worlds and playing in one of the toughest conferences in college hockey, it feels like Sundelin will be making a jump in numbers this time around.

A storyline to watch:

Finland will be without Jenni Hiirikoski for the first time since the 2006 Winter Olympics. The legendary defender will miss this year's World Championship due to injury. Hiirikoski is a staple of Finnish hockey and has appeared in 16 World Championships in her career. Injury aside, Hiirikoski is 38 years old and the team has to look again to the not-too-distant future when she hangs up her skates. This tournament will be a good test to see how Finland fares without the heart and soul of the team, but it will also be a great triumph for them to move forward and improve on what they accomplished last year.

Prediction:

Giselle: I am predicting Finland takes home another medal. It feels like this is one of those moments where the team can use the loss of Hiirikoski as fuel for winning a medal for her and showing their appreciation for her as well. I also think Ahola will put together another great showing for Finland along with fellow goalie Emilia Kyrkkö, who is returning to the Finnish crease at Worlds for the first time since 2023. The two were the goalie tandem for St. Cloud State this past season, and I expect the familiarity between the two and the presence of Anni Keisala again will be a great benefit for the goaltenders once again.

Meredith: Aside from 2019 when they won silver, Finland are the perpetual bronze medal bridesmaids in international play. This roster has the potential to do great things, but they'll need to have a strong winning start. They can't afford to drop their first few games like last year if they want any hope of fending off a very dangerous Group A, including a Czech team that's going to want revenge on their home ice. That said, I predict another bronze.