Bison women's hockey player Venla Hovi will return to the Bisons with some extra luggage after earning her second Winter Olympic medal with Team Finland at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea from February 9-25.
Hovi made her third consecutive Olympics for Finland. She already represented her native Finland in the 2010 Olympics (won bronze medal) in Vancouver and 2014 Olympics (5th place) in Sochi, Russia.
Hovi, 30, had an assist on the eventual game-winning goal during the 3-2 bronze medal win by Finland over OAR on Wednesday, February 21. Overall in the 2018 Olympics, Hovi scored three points in six games after notching a goal vs. USA in the first preliminary game (Feb. 11), had one assist in quarter-final match vs. Sweden (Feb. 17) and assist in bronze medal game.
She has been part of the Finnish women's hockey program since 2006-07 and has played in numerous tournaments over the last decade with Team Finland. After the 2018 Olympics, her international totals with the national program are now at 186 games played with 70 points (26 goals and 44 assists).
The Tampere, Finland native continues to make an impact and the U SPORTS and Canada West conference level throughout her three year career with the Bisons. The 5'7" versatile forward earned her first conference selection as 2016-17 Canada West Second Team All-Star. So far in her three years with the Herd, Hovi has averaged almost a point a game production with 50 points (21g, 29a) in 51 conference regular season games. In addition, she has added 17 points (8g, 9a) in 13 playoff games.
Despite playing only 12 games in the 2017-18 CW regular season, Hovi finished tied for 20th in conference scoring race with 12 points (4g, 8a) and T-4th spot in team scoring. In 2016-17, she had her best statistical season at Manitoba as she was tied for second in conference scoring with 25 points (10g, 15a) in 22 of 28 CW regular season games.
Bison Notes: Hovi is available to play for the Bisons after the 2018 Olympics are complete for Team Finland. No. 1 Manitoba hosts the No. 2 Alberta Pandas in the Canada West quarter-final best-of-three series at the Wayne Fleming Arena (U of M Fort Garry campus) from February 23-25. Winner advance to conference final.
