Predicting Finland's 2026 Olympic Women's Hockey Roster

Finland is a medal contender, and sooner than later, they will knock off Canada or USA in another upset. Alongside Czechia, they make up a group of four nations who currently sit above the rest, and there remains a strong pipeline of talent developing. Naisten Liiga in Finland will be greatly weakened this season with six of the top ten scores in the league already leaving for Switzerland and Sweden.

Two years can make a big difference, and if Finland's secondary group of players continue developing, they will likely enter 2026 as a medal favorite. For Jenni Hiirikoski, perhaps the best women's player to ever wear the Finnish colors, the 2026 Olympics will certainly be her last marking the end of an era.

Here's a look at how Finland's roster could stack up for the 2026 Olympics.

Goaltenders

It seems clear that Sanni Ahola is Finland's goalie of the present and future. She's got one more season of NCAA hockey left and then will fight for a spot in the PWHL, or take a starting role with an SDHL club to continue her development. Ahola was spectacular at the 2024 Worlds. Unless Anni Keisala has a brilliant bounce back season, her 2023-2024 season looks like one of, if not the final time she'll play for Finland. Finland has always managed to develop a strong crease and there are plenty of candidates in the pipeline.

Defenders

Finland will sit six strong for the 2026 Olympics on the blueline, but knowing it will be Jenni Hiirikoski's final hurrah, if she hasn't already retired, will be bittersweet for the Finns. Nelli Laitinen will be ready to turn pro following the Olympic year, and Ronja Savolainen will enter with PWHL experience.  By the time 2026 rolls around, other members of their blueline will have NCAA experience as well, adding to the depth.

Forwards

Finland will have one of the deepest forward groups of any nation by the time the 2026 Olympics come around. With Susanna Tapani returning to the mix this year along with Michelle Karvinen, Finland boasted one of the top forward groups in the world. Viivi Vainikka will join the PWHL following the 2024-2025 season joining Noora Tulus and Tapani up front. Finland's other top players have already started abandoning the weak Naisten Liiga as Sanni Vanhanen, Julia Liikala, and Elisa Holopainen all jumped to stronger European leagues, and Julia Schalin is off to the NCAA. The dividends of these moves will be significant.

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