Sanni Hakala

Last updated

Sanni Hakala
Born (1997-10-31) 31 October 1997 (age 26)
Jyväskylä, Finland
Height 1.54 m (5 ft 1 in)
Weight 55 kg (121 lb; 8 st 9 lb)
Position Winger
Shot Left
Played for JYP Jyväskylä
Oulun Kärpät
HV71
National teamFlag of Finland.svg  Finland
Playing career 20122023
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2018 Pyeongchang Ice hockey
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2022 Beijing Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Finland
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2017 United States
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2021 Canada

Sanni Hakala (born 31 October 1997) is a Finnish retired ice hockey player and former member of the Finnish national team.

Contents

She played more than seven seasons with HV71 in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) after beginning her career in the Finnish Naisten SM-sarja (renamed Naisten Liiga in 2017) with JYP Jyväskylä and Oulun Kärpät. [1]

In 2023, Hakala suffered a serious injury during a SDHL match that left her paralyzed from the chest down, ending her career at the age of 26. [2]

Playing career

As a youth player, Hakala played on boys' teams until she was 15, at which point she signed with JYP Jyväskylä in the Naisten SM-sarja, the top flight of Finnish women's hockey. [3] She won the Emma Laaksonen Award for Fair Play in the 2015–16 season.

In November 2016, she left Finland to sign with HV71 in the SDHL. [4] She was named HV71's fan player of the year for the 2019–20 season. [5]

After missing the first third of the 2020–21 SDHL season, she scored a hat-trick in her first game back, a 6–1 victory over Brynäs IF in November 2020. [6]

Hakala sustained severe neck injuries in a headfirst collision with a goal post during an HV71 match versus Djurgården IF on 24 November 2023. She was "conscious, talking and in pain" when medical personnel stretchered her from the ice. [7] After being rushed to Ryhov County Hospital  [ sv ] by ambulance, it was reported that she was able to move her arms but "didn't seem to have any feeling in her legs." [8] The following day, she underwent surgery at Linköping University Hospital and the surgeons shared that the operation went well but emphasized that Hakala would have a long period of rehabilitation ahead. In a press release on 26 November 2023, HV71 made clear that further information about Hakala's condition would not be provided and asked that the public respect her need for peace and quiet during rehabilitation. [9] On 30 November 2023, Hakala announced that she had been paralyzed, ending her career. [2]

International play

She made her senior national team debut at the 2016 IIHF Women's World Championship. [10] She has represented the Finnish national team at the World Championships every year since including the team's first-ever silver medal at the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship. She scored one goal in six games as Finland won bronze at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Personal life

Hakala is in a relationship with Canadian female ice hockey player and former HV71 teammate Danielle Stone. [11] [12] [13]

Career statistics

  Regular Season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2012-13 JYP NSMs 12729280006
2013-14JYPNSMs251113242286396
2014-15JYPNSMs252021412430000
2015-16JYPNSMs23171936460112
2016-17 Kärpät NSMs1372910
2016-17 HV71 SDHL 18437061124
2017-18 HV71SDHL351521361220220
2018-19 HV71SDHL352220421072136
2019-20 HV71SDHL342018386666122
2020-21 HV71SDHL2381018251120
2021-22 HV71SDHL35121123830000
2022-23 HV71SDHL30116171022022
2023-24 HV71SDHL1667136
Naisten SM-sarja totals9862571196225641014
SDHL totals2269896194543112112314

International

YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
2013 Finland U18 WW18 5th53250
2014 Finland U18WW185th51016
2015 Finland U18WW185th55054
2016 Finland WW 4th40004
2017 FinlandWWBronze medal icon.svg61016
2018 Finland OG Bronze medal icon.svg61010
2019 FinlandWWSilver medal icon.svg41230
2021 FinlandWWBronze medal icon.svg70000
2022 FinlandOGBronze medal icon.svg71014
Junior totals15921110
Senior totals3442614

See also

Related Research Articles

Hanna-Riikka Sallinen is a Finnish retired ice hockey, bandy, rinkball, and pesäpallo player. She is one of the most highly decorated players to have ever competed in international ice hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosa Lindstedt</span> Finnish ice hockey player and coach

Rosa Lindstedt is a Finnish ice hockey coach and retired ice hockey defenseman, currently serving as assistant coach to Brynäs IF Dam in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL). As player with the Finnish national ice hockey team, she was a three-time Olympian, two-time Olympic bronze medalist, and four-time IIHF Women's World Championship medalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenni Hiirikoski</span> Finnish ice hockey player (born 1987)

Jenni Hiirikoski is a Finnish ice hockey player and captain of the Finnish national team and Luleå HF/MSSK in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eveliina Mäkinen</span> Finnish ice hockey goaltender

Eveliina Mäkinen is a Finnish ice hockey goaltender and member of the Finnish national team, currently playing in the SWHL B with EV Zug and intermittently with EHC Sursee in the Swiss men's 2. Liga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Kilponen</span> Finnish ice hockey player

Anna Kilponen is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman, currently playing in the Naisten Liiga (NSML) with the Ilves Tampere. She played four seasons of college ice hockey in the NCAA Division I, two seasons with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and two seasons with the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Following her college career, she has played in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Linköping HC, in the Zhenskaya Hockey League (ZhHL) with the KRS Vanke Rays, in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) with the Metropolitan Riveters, and in the Swiss Women's League with the ZSC Lions Frauen.

Ronja Savolainen is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman and member of the Finnish national ice hockey team, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Luleå HF/MSSK.

Jennica Haikarainen is a Finnish retired ice hockey player. She played her senior career in the Naisten SM-sarja with the Tampereen Ilves; in the Swedish Women's Hockey League with Linköping HC, Modo Hockey, and HV71; and in the Division 1 with Sundsvall/Timrå and IF Björklöven. Haikarainen won a bronze medal with the Finnish national team at the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meeri Räisänen</span> Finnish ice hockey goaltender

Meeri Räisänen is a Finnish ice hockey goaltender and member of the Finnish national team, currently playing with Gladiators HT in the II-divisioona (2-div.), the fourth-tier men's national league in Finland. With the Finnish national team, she has won two Olympic bronze medals, two World Championship bronze medals, and has twice been named to the World Championship All-Star Team.

Fanny Victoria Camia Rask is a Swedish ice hockey forward and member of the Swedish national team, currently playing in the Swiss Women's League with HC Ambrì-Piotta Girls. She has represented Sweden in over 100 international matches, including the Winter Olympic Games in the 2014 and 2018 as well as at three IIHF Women's World Championships.

Ella Viitasuo is a Finnish ice hockey player and member of the Finnish national team. She most recently played during the 2022–23 season with HV71 of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL).

Petra Nieminen is a Finnish ice hockey player for Luleå HF/MSSK of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) and alternate captain of Finland women's national ice hockey team. She is considered one of the top young talents in Finnish ice hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anni Keisala</span> Finnish ice hockey goaltender

Anni Keisala is a Finnish ice hockey goaltender and member of the Finnish national team, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with HV71 for the 2023–24 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naisten Liiga (ice hockey)</span> Finnish womens ice hockey league

Naisten Liiga, also called the Naisten SM-liiga (NSML) and Jääkiekon naisten SM-liiga, is the elite league for women's ice hockey in Finland. Founded by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association as the Naisten SM-sarja in 1982, it was so known until being rebranded as the Naisten Liiga in 2017. The league comprises approximately 250 players across ten teams.

Matilda Nilsson is a Finnish ice hockey player, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Frölunda HC Dam. As a member of the Finnish national ice hockey team, she won a bronze medal at the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship.

Danielle Stone is a Canadian ice hockey forward. She most recently played in the 2022–23 season of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with HV71.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JYP Naiset</span> Naisten Mestis ice hockey team in Jyväskylä, Central Finland

JYP Naiset or JYP Jyväskylä Naiset is a Finnish ice hockey team in the Naisten Mestis. Their home is the Jyväskylän harjoitusjäähalli in Jyväskylä, Central Finland. JYP Naiset have won the Aurora Borealis Cup three times, in 1997, 1998, and 2016.

Tiina O. Paananen is a Finnish retired ice hockey player. She was a member of the Finnish women's national ice hockey teams that won bronze medals at the IIHF Women's World Championships in 1997 and 1999.

Jenniina Nylund is a Finnish ice hockey centre and member of the Finnish national ice hockey team, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Brynäs IF Dam. Her college ice hockey career was played with the St. Cloud State Huskies women's ice hockey program in the NCAA Division I.

Emilia Vesa is a Finnish ice hockey winger and member of the Finnish national ice hockey team, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Frölunda HC.

Anni-Elina Montonen is a Finnish ice hockey player and member of the Finnish national team, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with HV71 Dam.

References

  1. "IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship – Team Roster: FIN - Finland" (PDF). IIHF . 5 April 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 Niemistö, Juho (30 November 2023). "Sanni Hakala kertoo halvaantuneensa". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  3. Rönnkvist, Ronnie (2 July 2018). "Finländske talangen hyllar SDHL – kritiserar landslaget: "Bra att byta coach"". HockeySverige (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  4. Ranta, Pekka (8 December 2016). "Uusi haaste toi Sanni Hakalan Ruotsin jääkiekon naisliiga SDHL:ään". Sveriges Radio (in Finnish). Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. "Damhockey är under uppbyggnad". damhockey.se (in Swedish). 26 March 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  6. "Hakala gjorde hattrick i comebacken – när HV71 vann". 14 November 2020.
  7. Johansson, Anton (24 November 2023). "SDHL-match avbröts efter otäck skada på Sanni Hakala". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  8. Sandström, Donald (24 November 2023). "HV:s kapten har opererats efter otäcka skadan". Jönköpings-Posten (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  9. Freijd, Johan (26 November 2023). "Information angående skadan på Sanni Hakala". HV71 (Press release) (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  10. 2016 World Championship roster Archived 20 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Hakala, Sanni [@sanniihakala] (15 November 2021). "My cheerleaders! 🥰". Turku, Finland. Retrieved 18 December 2023 via Instagram.
  12. Hakala, Sanni [@sanniihakala] (10 September 2023). "Hakalat 2023 🤍" . Retrieved 18 December 2023 via Instagram.
  13. Stone, Danielle [@dannystone17] (13 September 2023). "3 years sober. Fun story. 1.5 years ago Sanni had just won an Olympic medal and I asked her why she wasn't going to have some drinks with her teammates to celebrate..." Retrieved 18 December 2023 via Instagram.