Sanni Ahola

Born in Helsinki on June 3, 2000, Sanni Ahola made history before playing a single PWHL game — she became the first Finnish goaltender to sign with the league, joining the Ottawa Charge with jersey number 1.

Ahola's path to the PWHL ran through five seasons at St. Cloud State University in the NCAA, from 2020 to 2025. Across 84 games with the Huskies, she posted a .917 save percentage. Her fourth season brought the 2024 WCHA Goaltender of the Year award and a First Team All-WCHA selection; in her fifth and final year she earned a Third Team All-WCHA nomination.

Her development in Finland had started years earlier. In 2018–19, playing for HIFK in the Mestis (W) league, she posted the league's best save percentage at .962, and the club earned promotion to Neisten Liiga for the following season.

On the international stage, Ahola has represented Finland at three consecutive IIHF Women's World Championships, helping her country win back-to-back bronze medals in 2024 and 2025. At the 2024 tournament she was named a Tournament All-Star and was selected as one of Finland's top three players. Her record at the U18 level was similarly decorated: she posted a tournament-best 1.81 GAA and .929 save percentage at the IIHF Women's U18 World Championships and was again named among Finland's top three players.

Her Olympic debut came at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, where she started four of Finland's five games.

Away from the rink, Ahola majored in Biology — Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, and describes herself as a dedicated animal lover with a long-term goal of working with animals.