Saara Elisa Niemi, (born 1 January 1986) is a Finnish retired ice hockey player and current general manager and head coach of HIFK Naiset of the Naisten Liiga (NSML). At the 2006 Torino Olympics, Tuominen competed for . scoring one goal and four assists. She was an alternate captain for Finland's women's ice hockey team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver where the Finns won the bronze medal.

She graduated in 2010 from the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) and was a two-year captain of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, the NCAA Division I national champions in 2008 and 2010. She was a 2009 and 2010 WCHA All-Academic Team member, a 2008 All-WCHA Third Team selection and a member of the 2007 All-WCHA Rookie Team.

Saara Niemi

Playing career

After graduation, she joined the Minnesota Whitecaps for their 2010–11 season. On 8 October, against former WCHA rival Minnesota Golden Gophers, Tuominen scored a goal. The following day, against former WCHA rival St. Cloud State, she scored a goal.

Saara Niemi

Career statistics

Awards and honors

2006 Naisten SM-sarja Best Forward

2008 All-WCHA Third Team

2021 Naisten Liiga Coach of the Year

2023 Naisten Liiga Coach of the Year

Gallery

References

External links

1986 births

Living people

People from Ylöjärvi

Finnish ice hockey coaches

Naisten Liiga (ice hockey) coaches

Finnish women's ice hockey forwards

HIFK Naiset players

Ilves Naiset players

Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey players

Minnesota Whitecaps players

Ice hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics

Ice hockey players at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Olympic bronze medalists for Finland

Olympic ice hockey players for Finland

Olympic medalists in ice hockey

Medalists at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Universiade medalists in ice hockey

Universiade silver medalists for Finland

Competitors at the 2011 Winter Universiade

Women ice hockey executives

Finnish ice hockey administrators

Ice hockey people from Pirkanmaa

Saara Niemi