Mercyhurst’s Emma Nuutinen Named To Finland Olympic Ice Hockey Roster

Mercyhurst women’s ice hockey sophomore Emma Nuutinen was named to Team Finland’s 2018 Winter Olympic women’s ice hockey roster as announced by the team on Jan. 22nd. It will be Nuutinen’s second Olympic competition after her first stint in 2014 at Sochi.
 
Nuutinen’s teammate, junior Vilma Tanskanen, was named the team’s first alternate.
 
“We’re very excited and proud of them,” said head coach Michael Sisti. “They’ve both enriched our campus and our hockey team and both are having great seasons and are a big reason why we are in first place right now.”

“It’s an honor to play for Finland and I’m excited,” said Nuutinen. “I was super excited when I heard the news.”

Nuutinen played in the last three international tournaments Team Finland participated in, dating back to the Four Nations Cup on Nov. 7-12. In her last ten games in international play, Nuutinen scored a goal and three assists to help Finland win the bronze medal at the Four Nations Cup, gold at the Pre-Olympic Cup, and bronze at the Nations Cup.

Through 18 games with Mercyhurst this season, Nuutinen has scored five goals and three assists. She has played her best hockey in recent games, scoring all of her goals in the last six games. 

“Last time [at the Olympics] the competition was hard and we didn’t get a medal,” Nuutinen said. “Everything was so new. I feel this time I will be ready for what’s coming.” 
 
Tanskanen will serve as Finland’s first alternate after earning a point in five games in the Pre-Olympic Cup and Nations Cup. Tanskanen is the Lakers’ leading goal-scorer this season with ten goals.

“Words can’t really tell how disappointed I am,” said Tanskanen of not making the Olympic roster. “I worked really hard for it but sometimes it’s not enough. But it’s still a great honor to be named an alternate and I am ready if Team Finland needs me. I am really happy for Emma because she has been working really hard. It’s a huge honor for her and she is like my sister, so I am so happy for her.”

The Olympic tournament begins on Feb. 10 and concludes with the gold medal game on Feb. 22. Nuutinen and Team Finland take on the United States in their first game on Feb. 11 at 2:40 a.m. EST.