Emma Laaksonen
Encyclopedia
Emma Laaksonen is a Finnish female ice hockey
defenseman. She played on the women's ice hockey team for Finland at the 1998 Winter Olympics
, winning a bronze medal
. She was the youngest woman on the team (16 years, 54 days). Laaksonen played for the Ohio State women's ice hockey team from the 2000-01 to 2003-04 seasons. At Ohio State, Laaksonen was the first to earn All-America, was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and had her number 3 retired. Her number was retired by Ohio State on October 11, 2008. The ceremony occurred prior to the football game between Ohio State
and Purdue at Ohio Stadium, where Laaksonen was recognized on the field at the 50-yard line. She was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame on 25 September 2009.
Laaksonen is a three-time Olympian, serving as co-captain in 2002 and 2006, as well as competing in seven world championships, serving as captain in 2008 and 2009. Named Finland's Player of the Year in 2002 and 2006, Laaksonen was recognized by the Buckeye program during the first home series of the 2008-09 season when her No. 3 was the first women's hockey player number retired.
In Finland she has played for Espoo Blues
, where she has won the Finnish Championship five times (1999, 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2009). With Espoo Blues she has finished third three times (1997, 1998 and 2006). 2007-2008 she played for SKIF (Nižni Novgorod, Russia), where she won the Russian Championship.
She is also Finnish Olympic Committee board member.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenseman. She played on the women's ice hockey team for Finland at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Finland at the 1998 Winter Olympics
-Medalists:- Alpine skiing:MenMen's combinedWomen- Biathlon:MenMen's 4 x 7.5 km relayWomen1A penalty loop of 150 metres had to be skied per missed target. 2One minute added per missed target.- Cross-country skiing:Men...
, winning a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
. She was the youngest woman on the team (16 years, 54 days). Laaksonen played for the Ohio State women's ice hockey team from the 2000-01 to 2003-04 seasons. At Ohio State, Laaksonen was the first to earn All-America, was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and had her number 3 retired. Her number was retired by Ohio State on October 11, 2008. The ceremony occurred prior to the football game between Ohio State
2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio...
and Purdue at Ohio Stadium, where Laaksonen was recognized on the field at the 50-yard line. She was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame on 25 September 2009.
Laaksonen is a three-time Olympian, serving as co-captain in 2002 and 2006, as well as competing in seven world championships, serving as captain in 2008 and 2009. Named Finland's Player of the Year in 2002 and 2006, Laaksonen was recognized by the Buckeye program during the first home series of the 2008-09 season when her No. 3 was the first women's hockey player number retired.
In Finland she has played for Espoo Blues
Espoo Blues
The Blues are an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Espoo, Finland at the Barona Areena.-Team history:The club was established in February 1984 as Kiekko-Espoo and played their first season in 1984-1985 in the Finnish Second Division...
, where she has won the Finnish Championship five times (1999, 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2009). With Espoo Blues she has finished third three times (1997, 1998 and 2006). 2007-2008 she played for SKIF (Nižni Novgorod, Russia), where she won the Russian Championship.
She is also Finnish Olympic Committee board member.
Awards and honors
- Emma Laaksonen, Ohio State Most Valuable Defensive player (2001)
- Emma Laaksonen, Ohio State Most Valuable Defensive player (2002)
- Emma Laaksonen, Ohio State Most Valuable Freshman (2001)
Career stats
| Event | Goals | Assists | Points | Shots | PIM | +/- |
| 2010 Winter Olympics | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | |