Born Jun 3, 2000 · Helsinki, Finland
Sanni Ahola
Ottawa Charge
#1
🇫🇮
Age 26
G
Sanni Ahola made history before she ever played a regular-season game in the PWHL, becoming the first Finnish goaltender to sign with the league. Born in Helsinki on June 3, 2000, she now wears number 1 for the Ottawa Charge.
Ahola spent five years at St. Cloud State University in the NCAA, playing 84 games and posting a .917 save percentage over that stretch. In 2024 she was named WCHA Goaltender of the Year and earned First Team All-WCHA honours, followed by a Third Team selection in 2025.
Her path to the collegiate level began in Finland, where she posted a league-best .962 save percentage in the Mestis (W) in 2018–19 with HIFK — a season that ended with the club earning promotion to Naisten Liiga. Before that, she recorded a 1.81 GAA and .929 save percentage at the IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championships, performances that also earned her a place among Finland's top three players at that tournament.
On the senior international stage, Ahola represented Finland at three consecutive Women's World Championships. The team claimed back-to-back bronze medals in 2024 and 2025, and at the 2024 tournament she was named an All-Star and was selected among her country's top three players. In 2026 she made her Olympic debut in Italy, starting four of Finland's five games.
Away from the rink, Ahola majored in Biology — Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, and has described herself as a passionate animal lover with an interest in working with animals in the future.
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.
Bio data provided by the Professional Women's Hockey League via LeagueStat. Powered by HockeyTech.
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