9 years after the program was cut, UND women's hockey still producing Olympians
· Yahoo Sports
Feb. 7—GRAND FORKS — It has been nine years since UND has cut its women's hockey program.
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But its alums are still going to the Olympics.
Three former UND players will compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. All are playing for Finland.
Former UND star Michelle Karvinen is Finland's team captain. She will match the all-time women's hockey record by playing in her fifth Winter Games.
Former UND standout Susanna Tapani is playing in her fourth Winter Games. Emma Nuutinen is playing in her second.
Karvinen, 35, has a chance to make more history at the Olympics.
She currently ranks sixth all-time in Olympic games played. If she plays in five games, she will tie Switzerland's Nicole Bulla as the all-time record holder for Olympic games played (29). Finnish defender Jenni Hiirikoski also is tied with Karvinen.
Finland will play four pool-play games before advancing to the quarterfinals.
Karivnen needs two points to tie Riikka Sallinen as Finland's all-time Olympic scoring leader, too. Karvinen enters the Winter Games with 12 goals and 23 points in 24 games.
Karvinen plays for the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the PWHL. Her head coach is Brian Idalski, who recruited her to UND.
Karvinen played three seasons at UND, scoring 56 goals and 133 points in 87 games.
Her international medal count includes three Olympic bronze medals, seven World Championship bronzes and one World Championship silver.
Tapani played at UND in 2013-14, tallying 20 points in 24 games. She turned pro the following season. Tapani currently plays for the Boston Fleet in the PWHL.
Tapani, 32, has won two Olympic bronze medals, six World Championship bronzes and one World Championship silver.
Nuutinen was a freshman at UND when the program was cut. She transferred to Mercyhurst for her final three collegiate seasons. Nuutinen plays professionally in Finland now.
Nuutinen, 29, has one Olympic bronze, two World Championship bronzes and one World Championship silver.