Sanni Vanhanen (born 1 July 2005) is a Finnish ice hockey player for the Ohio State Buckeyes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and member of the Finnish national team.
| Sanni Vanhanen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Vanhanen in 2023 | |||
| Born |
1 July 2005 Nokia, Finland | ||
| Height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Weight | 62 kg (137 lb; 9 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| WCHA team Former teams |
Ohio State | ||
| National team |
 Finland | ||
| Playing career | 2019–present | ||
Vanhanen was the youngest player to represent Finland at the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship and was the youngest player to compete in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[1][2]
Playing career
editVanhanen began playing ice hockey with the youth department of HC Nokia in her hometown of Nokia, in the Pirkanmaa region of southwestern Finland. As HC Nokia did not have a girls' ice hockey section, she played with HC Nokia's top boys' teams for her age. In the 2017–18 season, her last with HC Nokia, she played with the club's boys' teams in the under-12 (U12; E1) AAA league and the U13 (D2) AA and U13 (D2) AAA leagues (see minor ice hockey).[3]
Vanhanen joined the youth department of Tappara hockey club in Tampere, a neighboring municipality some 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Nokia, ahead of the 2018–19 season.[4] Like HC Nokia, Tappara did not have a girls' ice hockey section, and in her first season with the club, she played in the boys' D1 (U14) AAA with Tappara Musta (lit. 'Tappara Black') and also appeared in a few matches as a substitute with Tappara's other D1 AAA team, Tappara Sininen ('Tappara Blue'). In the D1 AAA preliminary series (alkusarja), she ranked sixth of all Tappara Musta players for scoring, with 10 points in 16 games, and tied for third in team assists, with 7. Facing new and more challenging opponents in the regular season (jatkosarja), her scoring was limited to 2 goals and four assists for 6 points in 15 games.
During the 2021–22 season, she played in the U16 SM-sarja with the men's under-16 team of Tappara and on loan with the Tampereen Ilves Naiset in the Naisten Liiga (NSML; rebranded as Auroraliiga in 2024).
She later won two Aurora Borealis Cup championships with IFK Helsinki.[5]
In November 2024, Vanhanen committed to play college ice hockey with the Ohio State Buckeyes women's ice hockey program as an incoming freshman for the 2025–26 season.[6]
International play
editVanhanen participated in the 2019 Women's U16 European Cup, winning silver with the Finnish team.[7] She joined the Finnish national under-18 team in the 2019–20 season, playing in nineteen international matches in addition to competing at the 2020 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship, where Finland finished fourth.[8]
Vanhanen's first invitation to a senior national team training camp was the roster selection camp for the World Championship in March 2021. National team head coach Pasi Mustonen described her as a player with "absolutely tremendous potential" and identified her adaptability as a key attribute that led to her selection.[9]
On 2 January 2026, she was named to Finland's roster to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics.[10]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2017–18 | HC Nokia Black | U13 AA | 6 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2017–18 | HC Nokia Orange | U13 AAA | 25 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2018–19 | Tappara Black | U14 AAA | 31 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2018–19 | Tappara Blue | U14 AAA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2019–20 | Tappara Black | U14 AAA | 22 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2019–20 | Tappara Blue | U14 AAA | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2020–21 | Tappara Black | U15 AAA | 15 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2020–21 | Tappara Blue | U15 AAA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2020–21 | Ilves (L) | NSML | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Tappara Black | U15 AAA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2021–22 | Tappara U16 | U16 SM-sarja | 28 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2021–22 | Ilves (L) | NSML | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2022–23 | HIFK | NSML | 22 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | HIFK | NSML | 32 | 27 | 39 | 66 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Brynäs IF | SDHL | 35 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Naisten Liiga totals | 60 | 49 | 64 | 113 | 16 | 27 | 19 | 17 | 36 | 0 | ||||
Sources:[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Finland | U18 | 4th | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | Finland | WC |  |
4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022 | Finland | OG | |
7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022 | Finland | EYOF | |
2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2022 | Finland | U18 | |
5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2022 | Finland | WC | 6th | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| 2023 | Finland | U18 | 4th | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2023 | Finland | WC | 5th | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2024 | Finland | WC | |
7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2025 | Finland | WC | |
7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 19 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 6 | ||||
| Senior totals | 39 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 6 | ||||
Awards and honors
edit| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Naisten Liiga | |
| Aurora Borealis Cup Champion | 2023 |
| 2024 | |
| Karoliina Rantamäki Award (Playoff MVP) | 2023[26] |
| Noora Räty Award (Rookie of the Year) | 2023[27] |
| International | |
| World Championship Bronze Medal | 2021, 2024, 2025 |
| Olympic Bronze Medal | 2022 |
| EYOF Bronze Medal | 2022 |
| World U18 All-Star Team | 2022[28] |
| World U18 Bronze Medal | 2022[29] |
| World U18 Top-3 Player on Team | 2022[30] |
| 2023[31] | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Huttunen, Sasha (7 April 2021). "15-vuotias teinilupaus valittiin yllättäen Suomen MM-joukkueeseen: "Totesin, että huh huh" – myös pelaaja itse yllättyi". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ↑ "Beijing 2022 – Athletes: Sanni VANHANEN, Ice Hockey". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ↑ Aalto, Markku. "Pelaajat: Sanni Vanhanen, 2017-2018". Leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ↑ Teiskonlahti, Kirsi (25 April 2021). "Naisleijonien Sanni Vanhanen, 15, on poikkeuksellinen kyky, joka muistuttaa päävalmentajasta Sebastian Ahoa – "Hänellä on hartioiden päällä tietokone"". Aamulehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ↑ Moilanen, Mika (7 June 2022). "Superlupaus Sanni Vanhanen, 16, siirtyy HIFK:n riveihin: "Hyvät fiilikset tulla Stadiin"". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ↑ Kallioniemi, Esko (16 November 2024). "Naisleijonien nokialainen huippulupaus siirtyy Pohjois-Amerikkaan". Aamulehti. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ↑ O'Brien, Derek (1 May 2019). "Russia wins Women's U16 European Cup". IIHF. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ↑ "IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Player Statistics by Team: FIN - Finland". IIHF. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ↑ Lund, Sakari (7 April 2021). "Naisleijonien päävalmentaja vaikuttui MM-joukkueen 15-vuotiaasta kuopuksesta jo toissa vuonna: "Sannilla on ihan järjettömän huikea potentiaali"". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ↑ "Naisleijonien olympiajoukkue valittu – Lehterä: "Meillä on mahdollisuus tehdä jotain erityistä"". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ↑ "2017-2018 D2 AA alkusarja, lohko 10 – Pelaajatilastot, HC Nokia Mustat" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 10 December 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2017-2018 D2 AA jatkosarja, lohko 5 – Pelaajatilastot, HC Nokia Mustat" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 18 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2017-2018 D2 AAA alkusarja, lohko 4 – Pelaajatilastot, HC Nokia Oranssit" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 10 December 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2017-2018 D2 AAA jatkosarja, lohko 3 – Pelaajatilastot, HC Nokia Oranssit" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 18 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2018-2019 D1 AAA alkusarja, lohko 2 – Pelaajatilastot, Tappara Musta" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 9 December 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2018-2019 D1 AAA alkusarja, lohko 2 – Pelaajatilastot, Tappara Sininen" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 9 December 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2018-2019 D1 AAA jatkosarja, lohko 4 – Pelaajatilastot, Tappara Musta" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 24 March 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2018-2019 D1 AAA jatkosarja, lohko 2 – Pelaajatilastot, Tappara Sininen" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 23 March 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2019-2020 D1 AAA alkusarja, lohko 2 – Pelaajatilastot, Tappara Musta" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 8 December 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2019-2020 D1 AAA jatkosarja, lohko 2 – Pelaajatilastot, Tappara Musta" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 8 March 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2019-2020 D1 AAA jatkosarja, lohko 2 – Pelaajatilastot, Tappara Sininen" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 8 March 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2020-2021 U15 AAA alkusarja, lohko 2 – Pelaajatilastot, Tappara Musta" (XLS). Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). 29 November 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ↑ Aalto, Markku. "Pelaajat: Sanni Vanhanen > Valitse kausi: 2021-2022 > Pelaajatilastot: Sarjat". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ↑ "2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Player Statistics by Team: FIN - Finland". International Ice Hockey Federation. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ↑ "2023 IIHF Women's World Championship – Player Statistics by Team: FIN - Finland". International Ice Hockey Federation. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ↑ Löfman, Heikki (22 March 2023). "Mestaruuden ratkaissut Sanni Vanhanen jakaa kiitoksia ympärilleen: "Arjessa kehittyy todella hyvin"". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ↑ Mennander, Pasi (10 June 2023). "Naisten Liigan kauden 2022–23 palkitut pelaajat, valmentajat ja tuomarit". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ↑ "2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Media All Stars" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ↑ "2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship – Bronze Medal Game, Game 21" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 27 March 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 27 March 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 3 March 2024.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Sanni Vanhanen at Milano Cortina 2026
- Sanni Vanhanen at Olympics.com
- Sanni Vanhanen at Olympedia
- Sanni Vanhanen at InterSportStats
- Sanni Vanhanen at Olympiakomitea.fi (in Finnish)
- Sanni Vanhanen on Instagram
