Wikipedia

Ronja Savolainen

Ronja Savolainen (born 29 November 1997) is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman and member of the Finnish national ice hockey team. She was drafted eighth overall by the Ottawa Charge in the 2024 PWHL draft and she signed a three-season contract with the club in September 2024.

Ronja Savolainen
Born (1997-11-29) 29 November 1997 (age 26)
Helsinki, Finland
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 72 kg (159 lb; 11 st 5 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
PWHL team
Former teams		 Ottawa Charge
National team  Finland
Playing career 2013–present
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Pyeongchang Ice hockey
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Beijing Ice hockey
World Championship
Silver medal – second place 2019 Finland
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Sweden
Bronze medal – third place 2017 United States
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Canada
Bronze medal – third place 2024 United States

Playing career

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As a child, Savolainen played in the youth department of Itä-Helsingin Kiekko (IHK) in her home city of Helsinki, first playing forward before switching to defence in her early teens. At age 14, she played with a high-level boys' team but was nearly driven to quit hockey after being bullied by her teammates because they felt "girls should not play hockey."[1]

During the 2012–13 season, she played junior ice hockey with the men's under-16 team of East Hockey Club (EHC) Red Devil of the U16 Suomi-sarja. She made her senior women's debut with Lohjan Kisa-Veikot (LoKV) of the Naisten Mestis.

The following season, at the age of 16, she began playing in the Naisten SM-sarja (renamed Auroraliiga in 2024) with KJT Kerava. The team had an average age of just 19 years, and its roster featured several future national team players, including Matilda Nilsson, Emmi Rakkolainen, and Noora Tulus. Savolainen scored six points in seven games during her rookie season, adding another thirteen points in eight relegation playoff games to keep the team in the top flight.

She signed with the Espoo Blues, the dominant force in the Nisten SM-sarja, ahead of the 2014–15 season. In her first regular season with the Blues, she scored six goals and 20 assists for 26 points in 25 games and notched two assists in five playoff games. The season culminated with Savolainen's first and the Blues' thirteenth Aurora Borealis Cup victory. She remained with the Blues through the 2015–16 season, posting sixteen points in 26 regular season games.

SDHL

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In 2016, she signed in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Luleå HF/MSSK in Sweden, joining several other Finnish national team stars on the team.[2]

She began the 2018–19 season with a 16-game goalless streak that was finally broken when she scored a hat-trick against Göteborg HC at the end of November. She finished the season with ten goals and 29 points.[3] After Luleå beat Linköping in the fourth game of the playoff finals, forcing a game five coming back from a 2–0 series deficit, she caused a minor health scare when she celebrated so hard that she fainted on the ice. About the incident, she later shared, "I don't think I've ever been that happy before. It was very nice."[4][5] Luleå won the decisive game, and Savolainen picked up her second SDHL championship title.

In the 2019–20 SDHL season, she set career bests in goals and points, scoring 20 goals and 41 points, leading all defenders in goals and finishing second among defenders in points. Luleå made it to the championship finals for the third year in a row before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. And she was named a finalist for the SDHL Defender of the Year.[6]

During a game against AIK IF in early October 2020, she had to be taken to the hospital emergency ward after her leg was cut by another player's skate. She missed one match due to the injury.[7] In November 2020, along with four other Finnish national team and Luleå teammates, she forced to miss several SDHL games while being quarantined under Finnish law after a national team camp where a player tested positive for COVID-19.[8]

Her contract with Luleå HF/MSSK expired in April 2024 and she opted to become a free agent rather than re-sign with the team.[9]

PWHL

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On 10 June 2024, Savolainen was drafted eighth overall by the Ottawa Charge (called PWHL Ottawa at that time) in the 2024 draft of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).[10] She signed a three-season deal with the club on 25 September 2024, describing the contract as "a dream come true."[11][12]

International play

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Savolainen made her IIHF World Championship debut at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship and has since represented Finland at the World Championships in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.[13]

She scored the game-winning goal in Finland's first-ever round-robin victory over Canada at the 2017 IIHF Women's World Championship.

Savolainen was part of the historic silver medal-winning Finnish team at the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship, the first team to unseat either the United States or Canada from their perennial lock on World Championship gold and silver.[14] She scored twice and wasn't issued a single penalty minute, despite averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game.[15] She scored twice and notched an assist in the semi-final match against Canada, participating in three of the four goals in the historic Finnish victory.[16] After teammate Petra Nieminen's game-winning goal was controversially overturned, Savolainen was one of five Finnish players to take a shot on American netminder Alex Rigsby Cavallini in the shootout that resulted in the United States' fifth consecutive World Championship gold.[17][18]

Savolainen was selected as a top-three player for Finland by the coaches after scoring four goals and four assists for eight points across seven games at the 2023 World Championship.[19]

Personal life

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Savolainen was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD when she was in primary school. Her ADHD diagnosis was not a surprise to her parents, as her father, Janne, also has ADHD.[20] In March 2020, she chose to speak publicly about her neurodiversity, crediting her girlfriend, Swedish national team player Anna Kjellbin, with encouraging her to be open about her diagnoses.[21]

Along with Finnish national team players Noora Räty and Meeri Räisänen, she has partnered with menstrual cup company Lunette to break the taboo surrounding menstruation in women's sports.[22] She has worked with Luleå teammate Rebecca Stenberg to create a YouTube channel about daily life in the SDHL.[23]

Savolainen spoke out in support of the 2019 Sweden women's national ice hockey team strike, stating that "it was very brave of every single girl who stood behind it" and that she hoped for Sweden to return to the top IIHF division soon.[24] Her solidarity was criticized by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association's competition director, who suggested she find another league to in which to play.[25]

After a Unionen report, released in January 2020, found that the average top-flight men's hockey player in Sweden earns more than the combined salaries for an entire SDHL team, she stated that "I didn't know [the fucking difference] was so big. It sucks. I'm pissed."[26] After the 2020 IIHF Women's World Championship was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was among several Finnish national team players who had to seek a second job since they did not receive the usual stipend for playing in the World Championships.[27]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013-14 KJT NSMs 7 3 3 6 6 - - - - -
2014-15 Espoo Blues NSMs 25 6 20 26 24 5 0 2 2 10
2015-16 Espoo Blues NSMs 26 4 12 16 10 6 0 1 1 0
2016-17 Luleå HF/MSSK SDHL 31 11 14 25 26 4 0 0 0 2
2017-18 Luleå HF/MSSK SDHL 34 5 18 23 34 7 2 2 4 8
2018-19 Luleå HF/MSSK SDHL 34 10 19 29 40 11 5 2 7 12
2019-20 Luleå HF/MSSK SDHL 36 20 21 41 49 6 1 0 1 8
2020-21 Luleå HF/MSSK SDHL 33 11 19 30 52 9 3 3 6 10
2021-22 Luleå HF/MSSK SDHL 25 6 12 18 36 12 3 2 5 14
2022-23 Luleå HF/MSSK SDHL 30 7 25 32 14 8 1 7 8 6
2023-24 Luleå HF/MSSK SDHL 35 11 18 29 20 7 2 3 5 6
SDHL totals 258 81 146 227 271 64 17 19 36 66
Naisten SM-sarja totals 58 13 35 48 46 11 0 3 3 10

International

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Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Finland U18 U18 5th 5 0 1 1 0
2015 Finland U18 U18 5th 5 2 1 3 4
2015 Finland WC   6 0 0 0 4
2016 Finland WC 4th 6 1 1 2 8
2017 Finland WC   6 2 0 2 4
2018 Finland OG   6 0 1 1 4
2019 Finland WC   7 2 1 3 0
2021 Finland WC   7 0 1 1 2
2022 Finland OG   7 0 2 2 2
2022 Finland WC 6th 6 1 1 2 8
2023 Finland WC 5th 7 4 4 8 4
2024 Finland WC   7 1 1 2 6
Junior totals 10 2 2 4 4
Senior totals 65 11 12 23 42

References

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  1. ^ Nilsson, Jonathan (23 November 2019). "Ronja Savolainen om pikarna: "De är avundsjuka"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  2. ^ Åbonde, Oliver (28 April 2016). "18-årig VM-back till mästarna: "En av Europas största talanger"". Hockeysverige. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  3. ^ Karlsson, Måns (30 November 2018). "Nollad genom hela säsongen – i kväll satte hon ett hattrick". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. ^ Skoglund, Henrik (20 March 2019). "Landslagsbacken svimmade vid målfirandet". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 25 June 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  5. ^ Nilsson, Jonathan; Bergström, Kristoffer (20 March 2019). "Hon svimmar – av sitt eget segervrål". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  6. ^ Kågström, Rasmus (20 May 2020). "De kan prisas som säsongens back i SDHL". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  7. ^ Karlsson, Mattias (5 October 2020). "Luleå-stjärnans otäcka skada: "Jag fick panik"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  8. ^ Kågström, Rasmus (9 November 2020). "Luleåstjärnorna fast i Finland – satta i karantän". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ Seppä, Lassi (15 April 2024). "Ronja Savolaisen tie vie Luulajasta muualle kahdeksan kauden jälkeen". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  10. ^ Kennedy, Ian (10 June 2024). "Ronja Savolainen Headed To Ottawa With The 8th Overall Pick". The Hockey News. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  11. ^ Rodriguez, Angelica (26 September 2024). "Charge Lock Down Savolainen for Three Years". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  12. ^ Kennedy, Ian (25 September 2024). "Ottawa Signs Savolainen To A Three-Year Deal". The Hockey News. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  13. ^ "2015 IIHF World Championship roster" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2018.
  14. ^ "IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship, Team Roster: FIN - Finland" (PDF). IIHF. 5 April 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  15. ^ Murphy, Mike (13 August 2020). "2020 Top 25 Under 25 | No. 13, 14: Kelly Pannek, Ronja Savolainen". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  16. ^ Spencer, Donna (13 April 2019). "Canada stunned by Finland, won't play for women's hockey world title for 1st time". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  17. ^ "US women win fifth straight world hockey title in controversial finish". Boston.com. 14 April 2019. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  18. ^ Weiswerda, Brennin (14 April 2019). "Controversial goalie-interference call costs Finland gold medal, USA wins in shootout". Russian Machine Never Breaks. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  19. ^ "2023 IIHF Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches". International Ice Hockey Federation. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  20. ^ Nyman, Marianne (16 March 2020). ""Ronja, nu får du faktiskt vara tyst och inte lägga din energi på fel saker" – damlejonet Ronja Savolainens adhd märks i både omklädningsrummet och rinken". Svenska Yle (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  21. ^ Leinonen, Tiina (7 March 2020). "Huippupuolustaja Ronja Savolainen pelaa rajusti, mutta rauhoittuu, kun vastapuolella on oma rakas: "Annan ollessa jäällä saatan varoa, etten ainakaan satuttaisi"". Yle (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  22. ^ Aykroyd, Lucas (26 August 2019). "Finnish hockey players shutting out the 'bloody taboo'". Global Sport Matters. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  23. ^ Aykroyd, Lucas (25 August 2019). "Savolainen eyes the future". IIHF. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  24. ^ Dahlberg, Tobias (24 April 2020). "Finska stjärnan: "Kanske kommer in någon som ger dem vad de förtjänar"". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  25. ^ Grönholm, Felicia (7 May 2019). "Ronja Savolainen ger svar på tal åt hockeychefen – "Han får säga vad han vill, jag tänker ändå spela här"". Svenska Yle (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  26. ^ Lindgren, Robin (21 January 2020). "Stjärnan: "Det suger – nu blev jag förbannad"". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  27. ^ Norberg, Simon (10 March 2020). "Stjärnan tvingas söka sommarjobb på grund av coronaviruset". SVT Sport (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
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