Sanni Ahola
Ottawa Charge
#1
🇫🇮
Age 25
G
Sanni Ahola made history before playing a single PWHL game, becoming the first Finnish goaltender to sign in the league. Born in Helsinki in 2000, she arrives in Ottawa after a career path that wound through Finnish junior hockey, five years of NCAA competition, and the international stage.
Ahola spent five seasons at St. Cloud State University, playing 84 games and posting a .917 save percentage across her NCAA tenure. In 2024 she earned WCHA Goaltender of the Year honors along with a First Team All-WCHA selection, then received a Third Team All-WCHA nomination in 2025. Her professional roots stretch back further: in 2018–19 she led the Mestis (W) league with a .962 save percentage, and her club HIFK earned promotion to Neisten Liiga the following season.
Internationally, Ahola has represented Finland at three consecutive IIHF Women's World Championships. She was part of the Finnish squad that claimed back-to-back bronze medals in 2024 and 2025. At the 2024 tournament she was named an All-Star and recognized as one of Finland's top three players. At the under-18 level, she recorded a 1.81 GAA and .929 save percentage at the IIHF Women's U18 World Championship and was also selected as one of Finland's top three players at that event. In 2026 she made her Olympic debut, starting four of Finland's five games at the Winter Games in Italy.
Away from the rink, Ahola majored in Biology — Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, and has cited a long-term interest in working with animals.
Career Highlights
- Played five years in the NCAA at St. Cloud State University from 2020 to 2025.
- Posted a .917 save percentage across 84 games and notably earned 2024 WCHA Goaltender of the Year with a First tTeam All-WCHA honours followed by a Third Team nomination in 2025.
- On the international stages, she has represented Finland in three straight Women’s Worlds and was named a 2024 Tournament All-Star and selected as one of her country’s top three players.
- Started four of the five games for Finland in her Olympic debut in Italy 2026.
- Backstopped her country to back-to-back bronze medals at the IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship in 2024 and 2025.
- Had the Mestis (W) league best save percentage (.962) in 2018-19 and her team (HIFK) got a promotion to Neisten Liiga (W) for the following season.
- Had a tournament best 1.81 GAA and .929 save percentage at the IIHF Women’s U18 World Championships as well as earning a spot on Finland’s top three players.
- First Finnish goaltender to sign in the PWHL.
- Huge animal lover and wants to work with animals in the future.
- Majored in Biology – Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution.
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