Born Jun 3, 2000 · Helsinki, Finland
Sanni Ahola
Ottawa Charge
#1
🇫🇮
Age 26
G
Born in Helsinki on June 3, 2000, Sanni Ahola made history before she ever faced a shot in the PWHL: she became the first Finnish goaltender to sign with the league, joining the Ottawa Charge and wearing number 1.
Ahola's path to Ottawa was built steadily over more than a decade of competitive hockey across two continents. Her professional roots reach back to the 2018–19 season in Finland's Mestis (W) league, where she posted the circuit's best save percentage at .962 with HIFK — a performance that helped earn the club promotion to the top-tier Naisten Liiga for the following year.
From Finland she moved to the United States and St. Cloud State University, where she spent five full NCAA seasons between 2020 and 2025. Across 84 games with the Huskies she compiled a .917 save percentage. In 2024 she earned WCHA Goaltender of the Year and First Team All-WCHA recognition; a Third Team All-WCHA selection followed in 2025. She graduated with a major in Biology — Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, and has described a long-term interest in working with animals.
On the international stage, Ahola represented Finland at three consecutive IIHF Women's World Championships. At the 2024 tournament she was named an All-Star and selected as one of Finland's top three players, and she backstopped Finland to bronze medals in both 2024 and 2025. Earlier in her career she turned in a tournament-best 1.81 goals-against average and .929 save percentage at the IIHF Women's U18 World Championships, also earning recognition as one of Finland's top three players at that event.
In February 2026 she made her Olympic debut in Milan-Cortina, starting four of Finland's five games at the Games.
Ahola is a member of the Ottawa Charge and wears number 1.
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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