University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Add Laitinen to 2022-23 Signing Class
1/17/2022 3:42:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Nelli Laitinen, a left-handed defender from Lohja, Finland, becomes the newest member of next season's freshmen class.
MINNEAPOLIS – Head coach Brad Frost and the Golden Gopher women's hockey team are pleased to announce the addition of Nelli Laitinen to the 2022-23 freshmen class. The defender from Lohja, Finland joins Allie Franco and Madison Kaiser to make up the newest class of Gophers.
The left-handed defender becomes the third player from Finland in program history joining Noora Räty and Mira Jalosuo. Laitinen most recently played for Kiekko-Espoo in Espoo, Finland where she won two Finnish championships. Through 18 games so far this season, Laitinen has 23 points including six goals and 17 assists.
On the international stage, Laitinen has represented Team Finland in multiple women's world championships. In 2019, the defender took home the silver medal at the women's world championship at her home arena in Espoo. At the most recent women's world championships, Laitinen guided Team Finland to a bronze medal. As captain for Team Finland during the U18 women's world championships, Laitinen took home the bronze medal in 2019 and was named the tournament's best defender in 2020.
Laitinen is in strong consideration for the 2022 Finland Olympic Women's Hockey Team, which is set to be announced on Thursday, Jan. 20.
Frost on Laitinen: "Nelli is a world class player that has played in a number of international events for Team Finland. She was captain of the U18 team and has played a pivotal role on Finland's National Team for a number of years. Nelli is a smooth skating defenseman that sees the ice well and controls the game with her feet and instincts. She will be an impact player for our team over the next 4 years. We wish Nelli the best and hope she heads to Beijing for the 2022 Olympics. We are very excited to have another Finnish player in our program."
Laitinen on Why Minnesota: "I have only heard great things about the university, the team, and living in Minneapolis from alumnae Noora Räty and Mira Jalosuo. That was the biggest thing for me on why I chose the University of Minnesota. In addition, I know that the Gophers have a talented and competitive team every year which always battles for the championship. It was an easy choice to make."
The left-handed defender becomes the third player from Finland in program history joining Noora Räty and Mira Jalosuo. Laitinen most recently played for Kiekko-Espoo in Espoo, Finland where she won two Finnish championships. Through 18 games so far this season, Laitinen has 23 points including six goals and 17 assists.
On the international stage, Laitinen has represented Team Finland in multiple women's world championships. In 2019, the defender took home the silver medal at the women's world championship at her home arena in Espoo. At the most recent women's world championships, Laitinen guided Team Finland to a bronze medal. As captain for Team Finland during the U18 women's world championships, Laitinen took home the bronze medal in 2019 and was named the tournament's best defender in 2020.
Laitinen is in strong consideration for the 2022 Finland Olympic Women's Hockey Team, which is set to be announced on Thursday, Jan. 20.
Frost on Laitinen: "Nelli is a world class player that has played in a number of international events for Team Finland. She was captain of the U18 team and has played a pivotal role on Finland's National Team for a number of years. Nelli is a smooth skating defenseman that sees the ice well and controls the game with her feet and instincts. She will be an impact player for our team over the next 4 years. We wish Nelli the best and hope she heads to Beijing for the 2022 Olympics. We are very excited to have another Finnish player in our program."
Laitinen on Why Minnesota: "I have only heard great things about the university, the team, and living in Minneapolis from alumnae Noora Räty and Mira Jalosuo. That was the biggest thing for me on why I chose the University of Minnesota. In addition, I know that the Gophers have a talented and competitive team every year which always battles for the championship. It was an easy choice to make."
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