Jenna Saario and Olli Laine, TPS, have been chosen as players of the month in February. National team coaches make the choice each month.
Both players have played a strong month in F-liiga. Olli Laine was in a big role in his team.
– We are used to seeing confident playing and strong duel battles with Olli Laine. In addition, Laine is also productive in offense-play, Esa Jussila, the head of men’s national team sums up and continues:
– Laine has scored 4+8 in six games in February and made sure that TPS is still fighting for home advantage in the end of regular season before the playoffs. You can’t highlight the meaning of the first line enough and during February Laine had +15 in the +/- statistics. At the same time TPS as a team had +7 when teams were playing at even-strength.
Jenna Saario, on the other hand, led her team from win to win in February. This player scored two goals and six assists in three games in F-liiga. In addition, Saario scored a goal in Kouvolan Lakritsi Finnish Cup finals, leading TPS to win the tournament. The head coach of female’s national team, Andreas Harnesk, gives praise to Jenna Saario:
– Saario has reminded us during last month of how much of a top-player she is in both defense and offense playing. She is skillful with the ball and is excellent in reading and understanding the game: when to turn the game into opposite direction or when to take control for your own team.
– Jenna makes her teammates better and is able to play in every position with various playing systems.
Jenna Saario and Olli Laine will be awarded with Kultajousi giftcards and trophies during March.
KULTAJOUSI PLAYERS OF THE MONTH IN SEASON 2024-25:
September: Emilia Pietilä (TPS), Eemil Äijälä (Jymy)
October: Suvi Hämäläinen (Classic), Teppo Liukkonen (SPV)
November: Miia Maaranen (SaiPa), Heikki Iiskola (Oilers)
December Miisa Turunen (SaiPa), Ville Heiska (Happee)
January: Ulla Valtola (FBC Loisto), Juuso Ahola (Nokian KrP)
February: Jenna Saario (TPS), Olli Laine (TPS)
Article picture: Janne Hirvensalo
