Wpg Free Press: Bisons coach starting at the Finnish line of her sparkling international hockey career

As the Winnipeg Free Press reports: 

Venla Hovi

Venla Hovi has always been a bit of a trailblazer, never one to simply accept and follow what society might try to dictate is the traditional path to follow….

Now 31, Hovi’s playing days are over, following an illustrious international career which includes two Olympic bronze medals on Team Finland (2010 in Vancouver and 2018 in Pyeongchang), a USports national women’s championship with the University of Manitoba Bisons in 2018 and a 2019 silver medal with Finland at the World Championships.

Despite announcing her retirement earlier this year, Hovi’s not ready to walk away from the sport she loves as she transitions into the next phase of her career in her adopted hometown of Winnipeg.

And the same Hovi who made a bold statement when she chucked her figure skates across the room is now using her voice to make another one.

Hovi has been hired by True North as its first-ever female coach in the Jets Hockey Development program. She’ll work with head on-ice instructor Dave Cameron and a handful of other male leaders in the program, which teaches hundreds of local players of all ages and skill levels 12 months a year.