Will the 2022 Olympic women’s hockey tournament belong to established superstars like Marie-Philip Poulin and Hilary Knight? Or is it time for a new generation of Winter Games rookies to take over in Beijing?
The answer likely lies somewhere in between. At the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Calgary, Poulin and Knight showed they have plenty of game left. The Canadian captain capped off the epic drama of the gold medal game with the 3-2 sudden-death winner, and “Knighter” overtook Cammi Granato as the U.S.’s all-time goals leader.
Yet the August tournament also showcased a host of budding U25 stars. Some made splashy debuts in the Calgary bubble, while others had a few Women’s Worlds under their belts. Now we’ll find out if they can deliver in the most high-pressure tournament women’s hockey offers.
In this youth-laden sport, there are, of course, great U25 talents who already strutted their stuff in Sochi 2014 and/or PyeongChang 2018. Switzerland’s Alina Muller (23), the U.S.’s Cayla Barnes (23), and Finland’s Petra Nieminen (22) are just a few examples.
However, with the first pucks dropping at the Wukesong Sports Centre and National Indoor Stadium on Thursday, it’s time to focus on the young women who are about to hit Olympic ice for the very first time. Here are our picks, in alphabetical order, for the top 10 U25 Olympic rookies.
Sarah Fillier (CAN)
When the Canadian Press asked Princeton coach Cara Morey about Sarah Fillier, the 21-year-old captain of her NCAA squad, there was no hesitation: “I think she’s going to be the best player in the world, and I think she’s very close to it already.” Playing with veteran stars Melodie Daoust and Natalie Spooner, Fillier has ramped up the excitement after potting six points in her first Women’s Worlds and a team-high five goals in the pre-Olympic Rivalry Series against the Americans.
Caroline Harvey (USA)
Top U.S. blueliner Lee Stecklein was 19 when she made her Olympic debut in Sochi. Caroline Harvey, whose big, smooth skating stride evokes Stecklein’s, is likewise 19, but you couldn’t tell. Fresh out of high school, the Wisconsin commit looked amazingly comfortable at her first Women’s Worlds in Calgary (average ice time 17:35), despite being the youngest U.S. player. If head coach Joel Johnson unleashes “K.K.,” look out.
Elisa Holopainen (FIN)
Elisa Holopainen, 20, couldn’t have become a two-time Naisten Liiga MVP without being mentally and physical tough. In 2018, after taking a puck in the face, the gifted Kiekko-Espoo stickhandler had two titanium plates implanted in her jaw. Now, after totalling five points in 14 games at the 2019 and 2021 Women’s Worlds and winning silver and bronze respectively, Holopainen can tap into her determination to take the next step offensively in Beijing.
Anni Keisala (FIN)
It’s a huge responsibility to serve as Finland’s number one goalie. And when legendary starter Noora Raty isn’t on an Olympic roster for the first time since the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, the pressure increases. But Anni Keisala, 24, showed fantastic composure with 129 saves on 136 shots at the Women’s Worlds en route to Best Goalie honours. The Lohja native has come a long way since playing just one game total at her two prior Women’s Worlds (2015, 2016).
Noemi Neubauerova (CZE)
Noemi Neubauerova is a slick, creative puck-mover whose ice time grew in Calgary from 16:24 in Czechia’s opening 6-1 win over Denmark to 22:24 in the closing 3-2 loss to Japan. Tied for second in team scoring with five points, the 22-year-old Colgate forward emerged as an important offensive catalyst for coach Tomas Pacina. Along with the likes of captain Alena Mills and fellow youngster Natalie Mlynkova, Neubauerova could help the Czechs pull off a long-awaited quarter-final upset.
Abby Roque (USA)
With what Hilary Knight describes as a “hunger to be great,” Abby Roque, 24, could someday turn out to be the most significant player on this top-10 list. The Wisconsin and PWHPA power forward fought through injuries this fall – including torn ankle ligaments and a broken finger – in order to make the U.S. Olympic team, becoming the first Indigenous female hockey to achieve that feat. Expect Roque to play a bigger role than she did on August’s silver-medal team.
Akane Shiga (JPN)
With apologies to AC/DC, forward Akane Shiga shoots to thrill. In Calgary, the second-time Women’s World Championship participant led Japan with four goals and 28 shots. Shiga, 20, made history by tallying two of those goals in a 10-2 quarter-final loss to the U.S. It was the first time Japan had ever scored on the then-defending champions. For the younger sister of defender and second-time Olympian Aoi Shiga, the best is yet to come.
Claire Thompson (CAN)
Team Canada has auditioned several promising young blueliners in IIHF competition recently. The offensive-minded Claire Thompson – a teammate of Sarah Fillier’s at Princeton – passed her 2021 Women’s Worlds audition with flying colours. With four assists and an excellent +7 plus-minus rating, the 24-year-old looked confident in all situations, logging an average of 18:54 in ice time.
Sanni Vanhanen (FIN)
As Marie-Philip Poulin fans will tell you, it’s not just how much you score but also when you do it. Finland’s Sanni Vanhanen, 16, already has a Women’s Worlds bronze medal to her credit, and the nifty kid from Nokia (not the tech company, the town) was a contributor, not a passenger. She scored an unlikely breakaway goal for a 1-0 quarter-final win over the determined Czechs. What will Vanhanen do for an encore? Stay tuned.
Grace Zumwinkle (USA)
Talk about the complete package. If you’re not marveling at Grace Zumwinkle’s ability to power to the net and roof the puck in tight, you’re applauding the way the 175-cm, 75-kg winger wins battles and retrieves pucks along the wall. At 22, this former Ms. Hockey Minnesota was a shining star for the Americans in Calgary, where the rookie’s four goals matched Hilary Knight’s output.
Source: iihf.com
