Nelli Laitinen Explained
Nelli Laitinen (born 29 April 2002) is a Finnish ice hockey player and member of the Finnish national team, currently playing in the college ice hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey program.
Playing career
Laitinen began her college ice hockey career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey program in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) conference of the NCAA as an incoming freshman for the 2022–23 season.[1] Despite missing eight games due to an upper-body injury that kept her sidelined for two months, she tallied 18 points and ranked third for points of all team defenseman.[2] Her impressive first season was recognized with her selection to the Watch List for the Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Year and naming to the USCHO All-Rookie and the WCHA All-Rookie teams.[3] [4]
International play
As a junior player with the Finnish national under-18 team, she participated in the IIHF U18 Women's World Championships in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.[5]
Laitinen made her senior national team debut at the 2018 4 Nations Cup in Saskatoon, Canada, where she contributed one assist in four games to Finland's bronze medal victory.[6] [7] Later that season, she represented Finland at the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship.[8] At sixteen years old, she was the youngest player on the team and 29 years younger than Finland's eldest player, Riikka Sallinen.[9] She recorded one assist in seven games as Finland won the first World Championship silver medal in team history.[10]
She won bronze medals representing Finland at the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship and in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.[11]
At the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship, she notched 3 goals and 7 assists in seven games, ranking third on the team points table in a tie with forwards Noora Tulus and Viivi Vainikka, each scoring 10 points. Her totals ranked second of all Finnish defensemen, trailing captain Jenni Hiirikoski by just 1 assist.
Personal life
Laitinen's older brother, Villi (born 1999), is a professional ice hockey defenseman in the Finnish Liiga. When she joined the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the jersey number 9, which she had worn in her career to that point, was already in use and she selected 7 as her new number because her brother had worn it in the past.[12]
At a pre-Olympic press conference in January 2022, she confirmed that she was in a relationship with NHL player Jesperi Kotkaniemi.[13]
Her major at the University of Minnesota is in business and marketing. Swedish national team player Josefin Bouveng was one of her four roommates during her first year at the university.[12] [14]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Naisten SM-sarja was rebranded as Naisten Liiga in 2017. Espoo Blues renamed as Kiekko-Espoo in 2019.
| | | Regular season | | Playoffs |
|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|
| 2016-17 | HAKI | N. Mestis | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2016-17 | HAKI | N. Suomi-sarja | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2016-17 | KJT (L) | NSMs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | HAKI U16 | U16 Mestis | 18 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2017-18 | Espoo Blues | NSML | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | KJT (L) | NSML | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2018-19 | Espoo Blues | NSML | 27 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | Kiekko-Espoo | NSML | 28 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 6 |
| 2020-21 | Kiekko-Espoo | NSML | 24 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| 2021-22 | Kiekko-Espoo | NSML | 23 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 8 |
| | NCAA | 30 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 4 | – | – | – | – | — |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | NCAA | 39 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 10 | – | – | – | – | — |
| Naisten Liiga totals | 117 | 41 | 100 | 141 | 54 | 46 | 16 | 36 | 52 | 24 |
|---|
| NCAA totals | 69 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 14 | – | – | – | – | – | |
|---|
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|
| 2017 | Finland U18 | WC18 | 5th | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2018 | Finland U18 | WC18 | 5th | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2019 | Finland U18 | WC18 | | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 2019 | | WC | | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2020 | Finland U18 | WC18 | 4th | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2021 | Finland | WC | | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 2022 | Finland | OG | | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| 2022 | Finland | WC | 6th | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Finland | WC | 5th | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 |
| Finland | WC | | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Junior totals | 22 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 10 |
|---|
| Senior totals | 42 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 22 | |
|---|
Honors and achievements
| Award | Period |
|---|
| International |
|---|
| World U18 Top-3 Player on Team | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| World U18 All-Star Team | 2019 |
| World U18 Bronze Medal | 2019 |
| World U18 Best Defenseman | 2020 |
| World Championship Silver Medal | 2019 |
| World Championship Bronze Medal | 2021, 2024 |
| Olympic Bronze Medal | 2022 |
| World Championship Top-3 Player on Team | 2024[15] |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers |
|---|
| USCHO All-Rookie Team | 2023[16] |
| WCHA All-Conference Rookie Team | 2023[17] |
| HCA National Rookie of the Year Watch List | 2023[18] |
| WCHA Defender of the Week | 23–29 October 2023[19] |
| WCHA All-Conference Second Team | 2024[20] |
| Naisten Liiga |
|---|
| All-Star First Team | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| Aurora Borealis Cup Champion | 2019, 2021, 2022 |
| Päivi Halonen Award (Best Defenseman) | 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| U18 Student Athlete | 2020 |
| Player of the Month | October 2020 |
| Karoliina Rantamäki Award (Playoff MVP) | 2022 | |
Sources:
[21] [22] [23] See also
References
Notes and References
- Web site: 2022-01-17 . Gophers Add Laitinen to 2022-23 Signing Class . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220121173202/https://gophersports.com/news/2022/1/17/womens-hockey-gophers-add-laitinen-to-2022-23-signing-class.aspx . 21 January 2022 . 2022-01-21 . University of Minnesota Athletics . en.
- Web site: Schoenberg . Eitan . 2023-01-20 . UMN women's hockey climbs to top of WCHA . 2023-04-16 . The Minnesota Daily.
- Web site: Aykroyd . Lucas . 2023-03-07 . Laitinen's star on the rise . 2023-04-16 . . en.
- Web site: Johnson . Randy . 2023-02-23 . Taylor Heise, Grace Zumwinkle of Gophers named first-team All-WCHA . 2023-04-16 . Star Tribune.
- Book: IIHF Guide & Record Book 2020 . Moydart . 2019 . 9780986796470 . Podnieks . Andrew . Toronto . 653 . en . Active Skaters, Women . Nordmark . Birger.
- Web site: Viljanen . Markus . 2018-10-29 . Naisleijonat vahvalla joukkueella 4 Nations Cupiin - mukana myös useampi 2000-luvulla syntynyt lupaus . Naisleijonat has a strong team for the 4 Nations Cup – included several promising [players] born in the 21st century . 2022-03-28 . Jatkoaika.com . fi . 7 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207123555/https://www.jatkoaika.com/Uutiset/Naisleijonat-vahvalla-joukkueella-4-Nations-Cupiin-mukana-my%C3%B6s-useampi-2000-luvulla-syntynyt-lupaus/206462 . live .
- Web site: 2018-11-10 . 2018 4 Nations Cup – Player Stats – Players (Points) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210131121607/https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/national/2018-19/4-nations/stats/player-stats . 2021-01-31 . 2022-03-28 . . en-ca.
- Web site: 25 March 2019 . Naisleijonien MM-joukkue yhtä vaille valmis – Kisojen alkuun kymmenen päivää . Naisleijonat World Championship team is ready – Ten days to the start of the tournament . 2022-03-28 . leijonat.fi . . 18 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190518050420/https://leijonat.fi/index.php/maajoukkueet/naisleijonat/2018-19/mm2019/item/31483-naisleijonien-mm-joukkue-yhta-vaille-valmis-kisojen-alkuun-kymmenen-paivaa . live .
- Web site: Martela . Ille . 2019-04-05 . 16-vuotias Nelli Laitinen on ottanut paikkansa Naisleijonissa . 16-year-old Nelli Laitinen has taken her place with the Naisleijonat . 2022-03-28 . Jatkoaika.com . fi . 7 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207123555/https://www.jatkoaika.com/Haastattelu/16-vuotias-Nelli-Laitinen-on-ottanut-paikkansa-Naisleijonissa/210333 . live .
- Web site: 2019-04-05 . 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship – Team Roster: FIN - Finland . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190406150348/http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/510/IHW5100FIN_33_2_0_FIN.pdf . 6 April 2019 . 2020-01-04 . stats.iihf.com . .
- Web site: Beijing 2022 – Althetes: Nelli LAITINEN, Ice Hockey . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220313114932/https://olympics.com/beijing-2022/olympic-games/en/results/ice-hockey/athlete-profile-n1005539-nelli-laitinen.htm . 2022-03-13 . 2022-03-28 . Olympics.com.
- Web site: Schoenberg . Eitan . 2023-02-06 . 9 to 7, Finland to Minnesota: Nelli Laitinen speaks on changes in hockey career . 2023-04-16 . The Minnesota Daily.
- Web site: Palojärvi . Otto . 2022-01-25 . Naisleijonien suurlupaus pahoillaan NHL-poikaystävänsä puolesta . 2022-03-28 . Sportti.com . fi . 7 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207123555/https://sportti.com/uutinen.asp?CAT=2-4&ID=456400 . live .
- Web site: Huttunen . Sasha . 2023-04-06 . Nelli Laitinen muutti 20-vuotiaana Yhdysvaltoihin – perillä odotti iso shokki: "Ihan sama, oletko nainen vai mies" . 2023-04-16 . . fi.
- Web site: 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship – Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches . . 16 April 2024 . en . 13 April 2024.
- Web site: Haase . Nicole . 2023-03-31 . Women's Division I College Hockey: 2022-23 All-USCHO Teams . 2023-04-16 . U.S. College Hockey Online . en-us.
- Web site: 2023-02-23 . 2022-23 All-WCHA Teams Announced . 2023-04-16 . . en . Press release.
- Web site: 2023-02-02 . Hockey Commissioners Association Releases National Women's Rookie of the Year 'Watch List' . 2023-04-16 . Hockey Commissioners Association . en . Press release.
- Web site: Sterling Trophy WCHA Players of the Week announced for Oct. 23-29 . . 7 December 2023 . en . 30 October 2023 . Press release.
- News: Kennedy . Ian . USA National Team Stars Highlight WCHA All-Star Teams . 4 March 2024 . . 29 February 2024 . en.
- Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto. Jääkiekkokirja 2019–2020. Liiga. Jääkiekkokirja. Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti. Aaltonen. Juha. Helsinki. 554. fi. 0784-3321. 476321083. Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Liiga. 2020-11-13. 17 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617055939/http://www.jaakiekkokirja.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/J%C3%A4%C3%A4kiekkokirja-2019-20-1.pdf. live.
- Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto. Jääkiekkokirja 2021: Suomen Jääkiekkoliiton ja Liiga Kausijulkaisu 2020–2021. Jääkiekkon SM-liiga Oy. Jääkiekkokirja. Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti. 2020. Aaltonen. Juha. Helsinki. 528. fi. 0784-3321. Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Liiga. 2020-11-13. 5 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201205220433/https://www.jaakiekkokirja.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Jaakiekkokirja-2020-21_2.pdf. live.
- Web site: Mennander. Pasi. 2021-03-15. Naisten Liigan kauden 2020–21 palkitut pelaajat ja tähtikentät. 2021-03-16. Finnish Ice Hockey Association. fi-fi. 3 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210303042055/http://www.leijonat.fi/index.php/sarjat/naisten-liiga/kausi-2020-21/item/40913-naisten-liigan-kauden-2020-21-palkitut-pelaajat-ja-taehtikentaet#d925cbed. live.
