Susanna Tapani
Susanna "Suski" Tapani (born 2 March 1993) is a Finnish multi-sport elite athlete who competes in ice hockey, ringette, and in-line hockey. She is a member of the Finnish national ice hockey team and Finnish national ringette team.
| Susanna Tapani | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 2 March 1993 Laitila, Finland | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb; 10 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| Ringette SM team Former teams | RNK Flyers | ||
| National team | Finland | ||
| Playing career | 2011–present | ||
Tapani is the subject of a Finnish documentary, Jäänsärkijä ('Icebreaker'), which follows her life as she competes in elite ringette, ice hockey, and in-line hockey from 2015 to 2019.[1]
Ice hockey career
Tapani has played ice hockey in the Naisten Liiga with TPS Naiset, Lukko Naiset, Espoo Blues Naiset, and HPK Kiekkonaiset; in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Linköping HC Dam; and with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks women's ice hockey program during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season.[2]
Tapani trained with a number of men's professional ice hockey players during the extended pause between the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons due to COVID-19. Under the direction of Ismo Lehkonen, the group – which included NHLers Kaapo Kakko, Artturi Lehkonen, Mikko Rantanen, and Rasmus Ristolainen, and a number of Liiga players – trained on ice together for two hours a day. Jonne Virtanen, long-time Liiga player and member of the training group, noted that Tapani's strength and toughness would be well suited to a style of play that permitted checking and enthused, "Suski is the best female player that I have ever seen."[3]
During the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, Tapani played with the TPS Juniorijääkiekko men's under-18 (U18) team, known as TPS U18 Akatemia, of the U18 Mestis/U18 Suomi-sarja until scheduling conflicts forced her to choose between ringette and ice hockey in November 2020.[4] When it became clear that the TPS U18 Akatemia was unable or unwilling to alter its schedule to accommodate Tapani, she chose to leave the team and continue playing ringette with RNK Raisio of the Finnish Championship ringette league, the Ringeten SM-sarja, which is the ringette team she captains. Regarding the situation, Tapani stated, "I’m not commenting on the discussions [with TPS] or the way this came to be, but combining the two sports didn’t fit when there were too many overlapping games."[5]
She played professional ice hockey in the Russian Zhenskaya Hockey League (ZhHL) with the KRS Vanke Rays during the later part of the 2021–22 ZhHL season.[6]
International play
Tapani made three appearances with the Finnish women's national under-18 ice hockey team at the IIHF Women's World U18 Championship, in 2009, 2010, and 2011, winning a bronze medal at the 2011 tournament.[7][8][9]
As of 2020, Tapani ranks sixth in all-time points scored with the Finnish women's national team, tallying 75 goals and 72 assists for 147 points in 179 top division matches.[10] She has represented Finland at every IIHF Women's World Championship since 2011, except the 2016 tournament.[11][12][13][14][15] At the 2017 IIHF Women's World Championship, she was Finland’s leading scorer and ranked fifth for scoring in the tournament overall with 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points in 5 games.[16]
Tapani has also competed with the Finnish national team at the Winter Olympic Games, debuting in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Though Finland suffered their worst Olympic placement in team history, finishing in fifth place, Tapani saw individual success and tied teammate Riikka Välilä for third rank on the Finnish scoring list, with 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points in six games.[17] In the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Finland won bronze and Tapani finished fourth in the team’s scoring ranks, with 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points in six games.[18] The women's ice hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing saw Tapani take another step in offensive production, ranking first on the team in scoring with 6 goals and 2 assists for 8 points in seven games, and leading Finland to another bronze medal victory.[19][20]
In 2021, Finnish national ice hockey team head coach Pasi Mustonen called Tapani the team’s best forward among a roster which also included internationally recognized forwards Michelle Karvinen and Petra Nieminen.[3]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Note: Italics indicate postseason relegation series; statistics not included in playoff totals.
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2009-10 | LaJy U16 | U16 II-divisioona | 22 | 28 | 22 | 50 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010-11 | LaJy U16 | U16 II-divisioona | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010-11 | LaJy U18 | U18 III-divisioona | 9 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011-12 | LaJy U18 | U18 II-divisioona | 11 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011-12 | HPK | Naisten SM-sarja | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2012-13 | Kiekko-67 U18 | U18 Suomi-sarja | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012-13 | Espoo Blues | Naisten SM-sarja | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2013-14 | UND Fighting Hawks | NCAA | 24 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014-15 | HPK | Naisten SM-sarja | 8 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 2 | ||
| 2015-16 | HPK | Naisten SM-sarja | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 2016-17 | Lukko | Naisten SM-sarja | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 4 | ||
| 2017-18 | Lukko | Naisten Liiga | 7 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018-19 | TPS | Naisten Liiga | 16 | 24 | 8 | 32 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018-19 | Linköping HC | SDHL | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 2019-20 | TPS U18 | U18 Suomi-sarja | 16 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019-20 | TPS | Naisten Liiga | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2020-21 | TPS U18 | U18 Mestis | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020-21 | KRS Vanke Rays | ZhHL | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Naisten Liiga totals | 53 | 46 | 27 | 73 | 40 | 23 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 6 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Finland U18 | WW18 | 5th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | Finland U18 | WW18 | 5th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2011 | Finland U18 | WW18 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 33 | ||
| 2011 | Finland | WW | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2012 | Finland | WW | 4th | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2013 | Finland | WW | 4th | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Finland | OG | 5th | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2015 | Finland | WW | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2017 | Finland | WW | 6 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 2018 | Finland | OG | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 2019 | Finland | WW | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 10 | ||
| 2021 | Finland | WW | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 2022 | Finland | OG | 7 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | Finland | WW | 6th | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 16 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 37 | ||||
| Senior totals | 69 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 34 | ||||
Ringette career
Tapani began playing ringette as a child. At the international level of competition, Tapani has served as the captain of the Senior Finland national ringette team. She has also served as the captain of the Raision Nuorisokiekko (RNK) Flyers ringette team in the SM Ringette league, formerly known as Ringeten SM-sarja (RSMs). SM Ringette is Finland's semi-professional ringette league and is also its top elite ringette league.
International play
Tapani played ringette for Team Finland Junior at the 2009 World Junior Ringette Championships (U19) and the 2012 World Junior Ringette Championships. She has also played for Team Finland Senior at the World Ringette Championships in 2010, 2016, 2017, and 2019, winning gold at each tournament.
| Year | Team | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009[23] | U19 Finland White Stars | 2009 WJRC (U19) | |
| 2010 | Team Finland Senior | 2010 WRC | |
| 2012 | Team Finland Junior | 2012 WJRC | |
| 2016 | Team Finland Senior | 2016 WRC | |
| 2017 | Team Finland Senior | 2017 WRC | |
| 2019 | Team Finland Senior | 2019 WRC | |
| 2022 | Team Finland Senior | 2022 WRC |
- 5x winner of World Ringette Championship titles and the Sam Jacks Trophy
- Winning team at the first World Junior Ringette Championships (U19)
- MVP for 2022 World Ringette Championships[24]
References
- ^ Aykroyd, Lucas (4 April 2020). "Best women's hockey documentaries". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ Dodds, David L. (January 2014). "UND's 'dynamo dozen' headed to the Olympic Games". UND Today. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ a b Teiskonlahti, Kirsi (8 April 2021). "Tukalaan tilanteeseen joutunut Susanna Tapani pääsi kovaan treeniseuraan – kyykytti NHL-pelaajaa ja voitti kaksinkamppailussa 118-kiloisen Jonne Virtasen". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ Karttunen, Anu (2 November 2020). "Naisleijonien huipputykki Susanna Tapani joutui tylyyn tilanteeseen: joutuu etsimään itselleen uuden joukkueen". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ Jalonen, Pekka (2 November 2020). "Susanna Tapani valitsi ringeten, ei saa enää pelata TPS:ssa: "Aiheutti pahaa verta"". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 July 2021.
En kommentoi keskusteluja tai tapaa miten tähän päädyttiin, mutta kahden lajin yhdistäminen ei sopinut, kun pelejä oli liikaa päällekkäin.
- ^ "Две россиянки, трое призёров ЧМ-2021: «КРС Ванке Рэйз» обновили состав". Женская хоккейная лига (in Russian). 3 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ IIHF – Team Finland Stats – 2009 U-18 World Championship
- ^ IIHF – Team Finland Stats – 2010 U-18 World Championship
- ^ IIHF – Team Finland Stats – 2011 U-18 World Championship
- ^ Suomen Jääkiekkoliitto; Jääkiekkon SM-liiga Oy (2020). Aaltonen, Juha (ed.). "Jääkiekkokirja 2021: Suomen Jääkiekkoliiton ja Liiga Kausijulkaisu 2020–2021" (PDF). Jääkiekkokirja (in Finnish). Helsinki: Uusi Suomi/Kiekkolehti: 321. ISSN 0784-3321. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ IIHF (2011). IIHF Media Guide & Record Book 2012. Fenn/M&S. p. 557. ISBN 978-0-7710-9598-6.
- ^ IIHF - Team Finland Stats - 2011 World Championship]]
- ^ IIHF - Team Finland Stats - 2012 World Championship
- ^ IIHF – Team Finland Stats – 2013 World Championship 31 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 2015 IIHF World Championship roster 13 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship – Scoring Leaders" (PDF). IIHF. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^
- ^ "PeyongChang 2018 – Ice Hockey, Women – Scoring Leaders" (PDF). IIHF. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "Beijing 2022 – Athletes: Susanna TAPANI, Ice Hockey". Olympics.com. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Beijing 2022 – Ice Hockey, Women – Player Statistics by Team: FIN - Finland" (PDF). IIHF. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew; Nordmark, Birger, eds. (2019). IIHF Guide & Record Book 2020. Toronto: Moydart. p. 663. ISBN 9780986796470.
- ^ "2022 IIHF Women's World Championship – Player Statistics by Team: FIN - Finland". International Ice Hockey Federation. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 12 November 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ "FINLAND WINS WORLD RINGETTE CHAMPIONSHIPS AGAIN, USA WINNER OF PRESIDENT'S POOL". wrc2022.fi/en/. Ringette Finland. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com
- Susanna Tapani at Olympedia
- Susanna Tapani at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)