The Finnish women's national ice hockey team secured their first goal in the Milan-Cortina Olympics with a 3-1 victory over Switzerland, with captain Michelle Karvinen revealing her surprise at learning the lyrics to their team's racy goal celebration song.
In a significant match during the Milan-Cortina Olympic tournament, the Finnish women's ice hockey team, known as the 'Naisleijonat', achieved a much-needed victory against Switzerland with a score of 3-1. This win marked the end of a frustrating goal drought that lasted over 143 minutes of gameplay. Viivi Vainikka scored the team's first goal during the power play in the second period, relieving the team's tension and boosting morale. Captain Michelle Karvinen expressed the importance of this victory, stating, 'It was really important for the whole team to get the monkey off our backs.'
In the aftermath of the game, the team celebrated by playing their goal song for the first time, which is a collaboration between Erika Vikman and Käärijä titled 'Ruoska'. However, captain Karvinen, who does not speak Finnish, was taken aback to learn that the song's lyrics have bold and suggestive undertones. She had no prior knowledge of the lyrics, as no team member had informed her about the sensually charged elements of the song. This revelation sparked laughter among the players, highlighting both a cultural element and an innocent misunderstanding due to language barriers.
The combination of securing their first win and the light-hearted incident with the goal song contributes positively to the team's spirit as they continue in the Olympic tournament. The Naisleijonat hope to build on this momentum as they advance, while navigating challenges on and off the ice, including communication hurdles that come with language differences.
