Jenni Hiirikoski was honoured this afternoon for her 400th national- team appearance.
photo: Andrea Cardin/IIHF
Legendary Finnish defender Jenni Hiirikoski was honoured prior to this afternoon’s Finland-Germany game for playing in her 400th international game with Suomi. The 36-year-old is currently appearing in her IIHF record 15th Women’s World Championship and by playing today she also extends her career Women's Worlds games played record, which now stands at 84.
In addition to her 15 WW’s, Hiirikoski has played in four Olympics. In all, she has won one silver medal (at the 2019 Women’s Worlds) and ten bronze medals for her country. Hiirikoski has been captain of the team since 2012. In addition to being named the MVP of the 2019 WW, she has been named to a record seven IIHF Directorate Awards as Best Defender.
Hiirikoski made her debut with Finland at the 2004 Women’s Worlds and has missed only one event in the succeeding two decades—the 2006 Olympics, because of an injury. As well, she has played in the Finnish and Swedish leagues for more than 20 years, most recently with Lulea, with whom she won the league championship just a few weeks ago.
Her season ended earlier in the playoffs, however, when she suffered a cut to her neck during a game. In the end, the injury was more scary than serious, but luck certainly played a role in preventing a far worse outcome to the incident, which saw a skate blade make contact with her throat area.
In addition to her 15 WW’s, Hiirikoski has played in four Olympics. In all, she has won one silver medal (at the 2019 Women’s Worlds) and ten bronze medals for her country. Hiirikoski has been captain of the team since 2012. In addition to being named the MVP of the 2019 WW, she has been named to a record seven IIHF Directorate Awards as Best Defender.
Hiirikoski made her debut with Finland at the 2004 Women’s Worlds and has missed only one event in the succeeding two decades—the 2006 Olympics, because of an injury. As well, she has played in the Finnish and Swedish leagues for more than 20 years, most recently with Lulea, with whom she won the league championship just a few weeks ago.
Her season ended earlier in the playoffs, however, when she suffered a cut to her neck during a game. In the end, the injury was more scary than serious, but luck certainly played a role in preventing a far worse outcome to the incident, which saw a skate blade make contact with her throat area.