The Finnish women's national under-18 ice hockey team (Finnish: Suomen alle 18-vuotiaiden naisten jääkiekkomaajoukkue) is the national women's junior ice hockey team of Finland, which represents Finland at the International Ice Hockey Federation's Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship and other international U18 tournaments. The team is officially nicknamed the Tyttöleijonat (lit. 'Girl Lions')[a] and the nickname is regularly used in Finnish-language media.[1][2][3]
| Nickname | Tyttöleijonat ('Girl Lions') |
|---|---|
| Association | Finnish Ice Hockey Association |
| Head coach | Mira Kuisma |
| Assistants |
|
| Captain | Abigail Byskata (2025) |
| Most games | Nelli Laitinen (22) Krista Parkkonen (22) |
| Top scorer |
|
| Most points | Emma Nuutinen (17) |
| IIHF code | FIN |
 | |
| First international | |
 Germany 4 – 2 Finland  (Calgary, Canada; January 7, 2008) | |
| Biggest win | |
Finland 11 – 1 France  (St. Catharines, Canada; January 8, 2016) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
 Canada 17 – 0 Finland (Calgary, Canada; January 9, 2008) | |
| IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship | |
| Appearances | 14 (first in 2008) |
| Best result |  Bronze: (2011, 2019, 2022) |
| International record (W–L–T) | |
| 27–29–0 | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| World U18 Championship | ||
 | 2011 Sweden | |
| 2019 Japan | |
| 2022 USA | |
U18 Women's World Championship record
edit| Year | GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | Pts | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 |
5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 37 | 3 | 6th place |
| 2009 |
5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 5th place |
 2010 |
5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 5th place |
 2011 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 8 |  Won bronze medal |
 2012 |
5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 17 | 4 | 5th place |
| 2013 |
5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 5th place |
 2014 |
5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 18 | 6 | 5th place |
| 2015 |
5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 5th place |
| 2016 |
5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6th place |
| 2017 |
5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 5th place |
 2018 |
5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 5th place |
 2019 |
6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 14 | Won bronze medal |
 2020 |
6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 3 | 4th place |
| |
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||
| 2022 |
5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 6 | Won bronze medal |
| 2023 |
6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 4 | 4th place |
 2024 |
6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 24 | 9 | 4th place |
| 2025 |
4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 4 | 6th place |
| 2026 |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 47 | 0 | 8th place relegated to 2027 Division I A |
Team
editCurrent roster
editRoster for the 2025 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship.[4][5][6]
Head coach: Mira Kuisma
Assistant coaches: Heikki Kemppainen, Juho Lehto, Aku Perala (goaltender)
| No. | Pos. | Name | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | Kerttu Kuja-Halkola | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | 70 kg (150 lb) | 2 September 2007 | Team Kuortane |
| 2 | D | Nelly Andersson | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | 11 June 2007 | HIFK Helsinki |
| 3 | D | Neea Ketola | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | 66 kg (146 lb) | 22 August 2008 | Team Kuortane |
| 4 | D | Oona Hämäläinen | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | 75 kg (165 lb) | 27 March 2008 | Team Kuortane |
| 8 | D | Katariina Junnila | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | 64 kg (141 lb) | 3 January 2009 | Löwen Frankfurt U17 |
| 9 | D | Viola Kärkkäinen | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | 62 kg (137 lb) | 13 June 2009 | Pohti Pyhäjärvi U15 |
| 10 | D | Fanny Kyrkkö | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | 54 kg (119 lb) | 8 September 2010 | HC Nokia U15 |
| 11 | D | Viivi-Maija Ruonakoski | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | 69 kg (152 lb) | 23 September 2009 | Kärpät Oulu |
| 12 | D | Elli Pohjanaho – A | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | 6 February 2007 | HC Nokia U15 |
| 13 | F | Yenna Kolmonen | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | 62 kg (137 lb) | 5 November 2009 | Team Kuortane |
| 15 | F | Siiri Friederiksen | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) | 64 kg (141 lb) | 19 April 2008 | TPS Turku |
| 16 | F | Ella Hautala | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | 67 kg (148 lb) | 5 May 2008 | Kärpät Oulu |
| 18 | F | Emmi Loponen | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | 64 kg (141 lb) | 20 February 2009 | Kiekko Laser |
| 19 | F | Tuulianna Artti | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) | 48 kg (106 lb) | 14 March 2010 | KJT Haukat U15 |
| 20 | F | Vilma Nurmisto – A | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | 59 kg (130 lb) | 23 August 2007 | TPS Turku |
| 21 | F | Jannika Sten | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | 72 kg (159 lb) | 20 March 2008 | Pelicans Lahti U16 |
| 22 | F | Senja Siivonen | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | 63 kg (139 lb) | 2 May 2008 | Team Kuortane |
| 23 | F | Minea Huovinen | 1.48 m (4 ft 10 in) | 46 kg (101 lb) | 5 May 2009 | Kiekko-75 Leppävirta |
| 24 | F | Julia Kuhta | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | 60 kg (130 lb) | 19 June 2008 | HIFK Helsinki |
| 25 | F | Abigail Byskata – C | 1.53 m (5 ft 0 in) | 62 kg (137 lb) | 7 May 2007 | Team Kuortane |
| 27 | F | Eva Lamberg | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) | 58 kg (128 lb) | 24 November 2007 | HPK Hämeenlinna |
| 28 | F | Tinja Tapani | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) | 54 kg (119 lb) | 5 March 2009 | Lukko Rauma |
| 29 | F | Sara Loikkanen | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) | 50 kg (110 lb) | 11 July 2007 | HIFK Helsinki |
| 30 | G | Annika Saastamoinen | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | 8 May 2007 | RoKi Rovaniemi |
| 31 | G | Emilia Piekkari | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | 63 kg (139 lb) | 25 February 2007 | Team Kuortane |
Team biometrics
- Average age: 16
- Average height: 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
- Average weight: 64 kg (141 lb)
World Championship player awards
editBest Defenseman
Selected by the tournament directorate
- 2020: Nelli Laitinen[7]
Best Forward
Selected by the tournament directorate
- 2019: Elisa Holopainen[8]
Best Goaltender
Selected by the tournament directorate
- 2011: Isabella Portnoj[9]
- 2022: Emilia Kyrkkö[10]
All-Star Team
Selected by members of the media
- 2013: Emma Nuutinen (F)[11]
- 2019: Elisa Holopainen (F), Nelli Laitinen (D)[12]
- 2020: Sanni Rantala (D)[13]
- 2022: Emilia Kyrkkö (G), Sanni Vanhanen (F)[14]
- 2023: Pauliina Salonen (F)[15]
- 2024: Emma Ekoluoma (F), Tuuli Tallinen (D)[16]
Top-3 Players on Team
Selected by the coaches
- 2008: Piia Räty (G), Linda Välimäki (F), Maiju Yliniemi (F)
- 2009: Susanna Airaksinen (G), Tiina Saarimäki (D), Tea Villilä (D)
- 2010: Isa Rahunen (D), Salla Rantanen (F), Susanna Tapani (F)
- 2011: Isabella Portnoj (G), Susanna Tapani (F), Saana Valkama (F)
- 2012: Anna Kilponen (D), Johanna Koivisto (D), Anni Rantanen (D)[17]
- 2013: Anna Kilponen (D), Emma Nuutinen (F), Eveliina Suonpää (G)[18]
- 2014: Anni Keisala (G), Marjut Klemola (D), Emmi Rakkolainen (F)[19]
- 2015: Sanni Hakala (F), Anni Keisala (G), Nelli Salomäki (F)[20]
- 2016: Sini Karjalainen (D), Petra Nieminen (F), Tiia Pajarinen (G)
- 2017: Sini Karjalainen (D), Jenniina Nylund (F), Jenna Silvonen (G)
- 2018: Sanni Ahola (G), Elisa Holopainen (F), Nelli Laitinen (D)
- 2019: Elisa Holopainen (F), Nelli Laitinen (D), Sanni Rantala (D)[21]
- 2020: Nelli Laitinen (D), Sanni Rantala (D), Kiira Yrjänen (F)[22]
- 2022: Oona Havana (F), Emilia Kyrkkö (G), Sanni Vanhanen (F)[23]
- 2023: Pauliina Salonen (F), Tuuli Tallinen (D), Sanni Vanhanen (F)[24]
- 2024: Emma Ekoluoma (F), Tuuli Tallinen (D), Kerttu Kuja-Halkola (G)[25]
- 2025: Kerttu Kuja-Halkola (G), Eva Lamberg (F), Tinja Tapani (F)[26]
- Source: [27]
References
edit- Podnieks, Andrew; Nordmark, Birger, eds. (2019). IIHF Guide & Record Book 2020. Toronto: Moydart. ISBN 9780986796470.
Notes
edit- ↑ All Finnish national ice hockey teams have nicknames incorporating lions in reference to the Finnish lion, i.e. the men's national team is nicknamed the Leijonat (lit. 'Lions') and the women's national team is nicknamed the Naisleijonat (lit. 'Lady Lions').
- ↑ Paavo, Paavo (8 January 2023). "Rajusti uudistunut Tyttöleijonat lähtee luottavaisin mielin MM-kisoihin – kenraaliharjoituksessa kaatui hallitseva maailmanmestari Kanada". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ↑ Virtanen, Vinski (8 January 2023). "USA murskasi Tyttöleijonat". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ↑ Seppä, Lassi (8 January 2023). "Tyttöleijonat pelaaja pelaajalta". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ↑ "2025 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship – Team Roster: FIN - Finland". International Ice Hockey Federation. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ↑ "Suomen joukkue alle 18-vuotiaiden tyttöjen MM-kotikisoihin on valittu - Kisat käyntiin Tikkurilassa 4. tammikuuta". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 18 December 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ↑ Järvinen, Riia (4 January 2025). "Tyttöleijonien kapteenisto – Abigail Byskata johtaa joukkuetta kotikisoissa". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ↑ "2020 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players Selected by the Directorate". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ↑ Podnieks & Nordmark 2019, p. 649.
- ↑ Podnieks & Nordmark 2019, p. 682.
- ↑ "2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players Selected by the Directorate". International Ice Hockey Federation. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ↑ Podnieks & Nordmark 2019, p. 656.
- ↑ Podnieks & Nordmark 2019, pp. 649, 652.
- ↑ "2020 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Media All Stars". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ↑ "2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Media All Stars". International Ice Hockey Federation. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ↑ "2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Media All Stars". International Ice Hockey Federation. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ↑ "2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Media All Stars". International Ice Hockey Federation. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ↑ "2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ↑ "2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ↑ "2014 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ↑ "2015 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ↑ "2019 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches". International Ice Hockey Federation. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ↑ "2020 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches". International Ice Hockey Federation. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ↑ "2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches". International Ice Hockey Federation. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ↑ "2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches". International Ice Hockey Federation. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ↑ "2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches". International Ice Hockey Federation. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ↑ "2025 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches". International Ice Hockey Federation. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ↑ "Award - U18 WJC (W) Top 3 Player on Team". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 8 January 2023.