Seven to watch in women’s Olympic hockey at 2022 Beijing Games

The puck is set to drop as the best women’s hockey players in the world converge at the 2022 Beijing Olympics with gold-medal hopes. 

While the current Women’s Worlds champion Canada and reigning Olympic champion United States are undoubtedly the favourites for gold, several other teams will look to make noise in the medal rounds.

From established veterans to rookies making their Olympic debuts, here are seven non-Canadian players to watch for in Beijing over the next couple of weeks. 

Anni Keisala – Finland

When it was announced that goaltender Noora Räty would not be on Team Finland for the 2022 Olympics, it came as shock not seeing one of the greatest goaltenders in women’s hockey history on the roster.

Despite the numerous rumours swirling around Räty’s exclusion, Finnish management made it clear that the No. 1 job at the Olympics belongs to Anni Keisala.

With Räty also not at the 2021 Women’s Worlds, Keisala took the starting job and made the most of the opportunity. Posting a .948 save percentage and 1.43 goals-against average in five games, the 24-year-old was named the tournament’s best goaltender as she backstopped Finland to bronze.

“For a young goaltender to be able to come in and fill the net the way she did given who she was replacing, and the pressure that may have brought on, it was something that I think she certainly seized,” said TSN Hockey analyst and two-time Olympic gold medallist Cheryl Pounder.

Placed in Group A alongside Canada, United States, Switzerland and ROC, Keisala will be a critical piece in Finland’s medal hopes.

Jenni Hiirikoski – Finland

Leading the way in front of Keisala for Finland will be defenceman Jenni Hiirikoski, who is set to participate in her fourth Olympics.

The 34-year-old