Sanni Rantala
Born (2002-07-08) 8 July 2002 (age 21)
Riihimäki, Finland
Height 173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight 63 kg (139 lb; 9 st 13 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NSML team
Former teams
KalPa Kuopio
Kiekko-Espoo
Team Kuortane
National team  Finland
Playing career 2017–present
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Beijing Ice hockey

Sanni Rantala (born 8 July 2002) is a Finnish ice hockey player and member of the Finnish national ice hockey team, currently playing in the Naisten Liiga (NSML) with KalPa Naiset.[1]

Rantala won a bronze medal in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.[2]

International play

Rantala was officially named to the Finnish roster for the 2020 IIHF Women's World Championship on 4 March 2020, before the tournament was cancelled on 7 March 2020 due to public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4] She appeared on the national team roster for all four of the tournaments of the 2019–20 Euro Hockey Tour.[5][6]

After a knee injury sustained in a preseason game kept her in rehabilitation and off the ice for the entire 2020–21 season,[7] the 2022 Winter Olympics served as Rantala's senior-level IIHF debut.[8][9] She played in all seven games and scored two points in the tournament, a goal and an assist, both tallied against the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) during the group stage.[10] With 8 penalty minutes, she was also the most penalized Finnish player.[11]

Career statistics

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Finland U18 WW18 5th 5 1 0 1 0
2019 Finland U18 WW18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 1 1 2 2
2020 Finland U18 WW18 4th 6 2 5 7 2
2022 Finland OG 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 1 1 2 8
2022 Finland WW 6th 7 0 4 4 0
2023 Finland WW 5th 7 0 5 5 4
Junior totals 17 4 6 10 4
Senior totals 21 1 9 10 12

Sources: [12][13]

References

  1. ^ Seppä, Lassi (18 July 2022). "Naisleijonien nuori puolustaja Sanni Rantala tulee KalPan takalinjoille − myös Makkosen siskokset Kuopioon". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Beijing 2022 – Athletes: Sanni RANTALA, Ice Hockey". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  3. ^ Malmberg, Henna (4 March 2020). "Naisleijonien MM-joukkue valittu – Sukupolven vaihdos tuo MM-joukkueeseen seitsemän ensikertalaista". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. ^ Steiss, Adam (7 March 2020). "Women's Worlds cancelled". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  5. ^ "EHT: 4 Nations Tournament 20.-24.8.2019, FIN: Kokoonpanot". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  6. ^ "5 Nations Tournament 6.-10.11.2019, Dmitrov, RUS: Kokoonpanot". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  7. ^ Viljanen, Markus (6 November 2021). "Puolustajalupaus Sanni Rantala lähestyy huippukuntoa haastavan loukkaantumisen jälkeen". Finnish Ice Hockey Association (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  8. ^ Aykroyd, Lucas (20 January 2022). "Finnish women seek another medal". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  9. ^ Estola-Haaranen, Kaisa (21 January 2022). ""Moni muukin on sanonut, että olen tosi rauhallinen" – olympialaisiin valittu Sanni Rantala tunnistaa itsensä lehmänhermoinen -luonnehdinnasta". Aamuposti (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Beijing 2022 – Ice Hockey Women: Preliminary round - Group A, Game 20 – Game Summary". International Ice Hockey Federation. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Beijing 2022 – Ice Hockey Women – Player Statistics by Team: FIN - Finland". International Ice Hockey Federation. 16 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  12. ^ Podnieks, Andrew; Nordmark, Birger, eds. (2019). "Active Skaters, Women". IIHF Guide & Record Book 2020. Toronto: Moydart. p. 658. ISBN 9780986796470.
  13. ^ "2023 IIHF Women's World Championship – Player Statistics by Team: FIN - Finland". International Ice Hockey Federation. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.