Finland's Kerttu Kuja-Halkola #31 tracks the puck with her glove during Preliminary Round - Group A action against Canada at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship at Ostersund Arena A on January 8, 2023 in Ostersund, Sweden.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation/Chris Tanouye/
For the past few years, Finnish goaltender Kerttu Kuja-Halkola has had the same New Year’s routine: she’s been preparing for the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship. And this year is no exception.
“It’s a little different this year as I’m now one of the oldest players on the team, but it’s also nice to be the one with experience,” she told IIHF.com. “I think it shows more off the ice as the coaching staff expects me to take responsibility and lead by example, but on the ice, my mission’s the same.”
The mission is simple. Stop the puck. And that’s something Kuja-Halkola is used to. In the past two years, she’s appeared in every single U18 Women's Worlds game for Finland.
“Oh, that never even occurred to me. I haven’t started all games, though,” she said with a smile.
Even though both her previous tournaments ended in a bronze medal loss, Kuja-Halkola was one of the key reasons the team made it that far to begin with. In 2023, the Janakkala-born player recorded more minutes - 308.56 – than any other goaltender in the tournament, and made the most saves as well. Her 176 saves were 65 more than the next goalie’s. Last year, she played the most minutes again, and made the second-most saves in the tournament (158).
That’s 334 saves in 636 minutes and 47 seconds.
It would be an understatement to say that head coach Mira Kuisma has faith in Kuja-Halkola. And that trust cuts both ways. Kuisma is the only U18 Team Finland coach Kuja-Halkola has ever known.
“I think our relationship’s changed over the years," Kuja-Halkola said. "My first year I was so young, and I probably didn’t have the confidence to be as relaxed as I am now, but now that we know each other better, it’s a little different."
Even though Kuisma is a former goaltender herself, she doesn’t put any special focus on her goalie.
“Well,” Kuja-Halkola said with a laugh, “she likes to remind me to shut the five-hole. All kidding aside, she’s a great coach for this team.”
This year’s tournament is special even for a U18 veteran like the Finnish goalie. After all, the tournament is played in her homeland, where hockey rules.
“It’s exciting. In a way, I feel very privileged to get to play here. Not every European player gets to play on home ice and that I also happen to be of the right age to get to be here. And, yes, it’ll be fun and a little nerve-racking to have family and friends in the stands."
The Finns kick off their tournament with a game against Sweden, their archrival. What will that be like?
“I think it’s good to start the tournament with a tough game like that. Sweden’s one of the best teams here, but we’ve played against them a couple of times during the season and beat them 3-1 last time. They’re always close games and of course the team will be ready to play."
After two fourth-place finishes in a row, Kuja-Halkola is back, with her eye on the prize. She wants that medal.
“There can hardly be a larger gap between emotions than those between a bronze medalist and a fourth-place finisher. In a way, the fourth-place team has got as far as the other team, but they have nothing to show for it. We’re here to win a medal and I know that our team is skilled enough to win games if we do the right things."
Is she feeling any pressure to achiever big goals?
“Not really, except the ones that I set for myself,” said Kuja-Halkola.
She’s ready.
“It’s a little different this year as I’m now one of the oldest players on the team, but it’s also nice to be the one with experience,” she told IIHF.com. “I think it shows more off the ice as the coaching staff expects me to take responsibility and lead by example, but on the ice, my mission’s the same.”
The mission is simple. Stop the puck. And that’s something Kuja-Halkola is used to. In the past two years, she’s appeared in every single U18 Women's Worlds game for Finland.
“Oh, that never even occurred to me. I haven’t started all games, though,” she said with a smile.
Even though both her previous tournaments ended in a bronze medal loss, Kuja-Halkola was one of the key reasons the team made it that far to begin with. In 2023, the Janakkala-born player recorded more minutes - 308.56 – than any other goaltender in the tournament, and made the most saves as well. Her 176 saves were 65 more than the next goalie’s. Last year, she played the most minutes again, and made the second-most saves in the tournament (158).
That’s 334 saves in 636 minutes and 47 seconds.
It would be an understatement to say that head coach Mira Kuisma has faith in Kuja-Halkola. And that trust cuts both ways. Kuisma is the only U18 Team Finland coach Kuja-Halkola has ever known.
“I think our relationship’s changed over the years," Kuja-Halkola said. "My first year I was so young, and I probably didn’t have the confidence to be as relaxed as I am now, but now that we know each other better, it’s a little different."
Even though Kuisma is a former goaltender herself, she doesn’t put any special focus on her goalie.
“Well,” Kuja-Halkola said with a laugh, “she likes to remind me to shut the five-hole. All kidding aside, she’s a great coach for this team.”
This year’s tournament is special even for a U18 veteran like the Finnish goalie. After all, the tournament is played in her homeland, where hockey rules.
“It’s exciting. In a way, I feel very privileged to get to play here. Not every European player gets to play on home ice and that I also happen to be of the right age to get to be here. And, yes, it’ll be fun and a little nerve-racking to have family and friends in the stands."
The Finns kick off their tournament with a game against Sweden, their archrival. What will that be like?
“I think it’s good to start the tournament with a tough game like that. Sweden’s one of the best teams here, but we’ve played against them a couple of times during the season and beat them 3-1 last time. They’re always close games and of course the team will be ready to play."
After two fourth-place finishes in a row, Kuja-Halkola is back, with her eye on the prize. She wants that medal.
“There can hardly be a larger gap between emotions than those between a bronze medalist and a fourth-place finisher. In a way, the fourth-place team has got as far as the other team, but they have nothing to show for it. We’re here to win a medal and I know that our team is skilled enough to win games if we do the right things."
Is she feeling any pressure to achiever big goals?
“Not really, except the ones that I set for myself,” said Kuja-Halkola.
She’s ready.