WHKY: Manitoba's Hovi headed to Pyeongchang Olympics

WHKY: Manitoba's Hovi headed to Pyeongchang Olympics
Posted: Jan 23, 2018

Chris Zuk, Bison Sports

WINNIPEG - Bison Venla Hovi has been named to her third consecutive Olympic women’s hockey team for Finland and will compete at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea from February 9-25. 

Hovi, 30, represented her native Finland in the 2010 Olympics (won bronze medal in Vancouver) and 2014 Olympics (5th-place in Sochi, Russia). She has been part of the Finnish women’s hockey program since 2006-07 and has played in numerous tournaments over the last decade, having accumulated 67 points (25 goals and 42 assists) in 180 games with the Finnish women's national team.  

The Tampere, Finland native has made a big impact at the Canada West conference level throughout her three-year career with the Bisons. The 5’7” versatile forward earned her first conference selection as an all-star in 2016-17 (second team). 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 is still tied for 12th in conference scoring race with 12 points (4G - 8A) and third 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.

“Venla has worked extremely hard over the last three years to realize her dream of playing in a third Olympics,” commented Bison women’s hockey head coach Jon Rempel. “The amount she has taken on and the sacrifices she has made are impressive and our players, staff and entire Bison program are very proud of her.”

Manitoba is No. 2 in the latest U SPORTS Top 10 women’s hockey rankings, as they are battling for first spot in Canada West with a 14-5-2-1 record for 47 points with only three weeks left in the 2017-18 regular season.

Bison Notes: Hovi will be available to play for the Bisons after the 2018 Olympics are complete.