ERIE, Pa. — Mercyhurst University Women's Ice Hockey senior Sofia Nuutinen will represent Finland on the international stage this week as the Finnish national team opens the 2026-27 Women's Euro Hockey Tour in Kloten, Switzerland.
The four-team tournament, featuring Finland, Czechia, Sweden and host Switzerland, begins Wednesday, August 19, and runs through Saturday, August 22. Finland will open tournament play against Czechia on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. local time. The Finns will then face Switzerland on Friday before closing the tournament against Sweden on Saturday.
Nuutinen enters the international competition following a strong 2025-26 campaign with the Lakers. The Vantaa, Finland native appeared in 37 games for Mercyhurst, recording 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points.
The upcoming tournament marks another opportunity for Nuutinen to compete against some of Europe's top national teams as she continues to establish herself within Finland's senior national team program. She previously represented Finland during the Women's Euro Hockey Tour and enters her senior season with the Lakers.
Nuutinen's international opportunity also continues a family connection between Mercyhurst Women's Hockey and Finnish national team hockey. Her older sister, Emma Nuutinen, is a Mercyhurst alumna who enjoyed a standout career with the Lakers before continuing her professional and international career. Emma has represented Finland at multiple Olympic Games and World Championships and was part of Finland's bronze-medal-winning Olympic team in 2018. She also represented Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
Emma's return to the Finnish national team in recent years helped renew the Nuutinen family's connection to the international stage, while Sofia has continued to build her own path with Finland. The sisters were recently highlighted by The Hockey News among notable sister combinations in women's hockey, with Sofia entering her senior season at Mercyhurst and Emma preparing for her first season with the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women's Hockey League.
For Mercyhurst, Sofia's selection provides another opportunity for the Lakers to be represented on an international stage while preparing for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
WOMEN'S EURO HOCKEY TOUR — KLOTEN, SWITZERLAND
Wednesday, August 19
Finland vs. Czechia — 3:30 p.m.
Friday, August 21
Switzerland vs. Finland — 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 22
Finland vs. Sweden — 11 a.m.
All times are local to Switzerland.
