Kiia Lahtinen loves facing a lot of shots in net. And that’s a good thing, because the UMaine women’s ice hockey goalie has stopped more of them than any other Division I netminder so far this season.
The sophomore goaltender currently leads the country in saves with 163 through the team’s first four games.
There are 39 Division I teams.
“She’s amazing,” said UMaine head coach Molly Engstrom. “Her progress from last summer to this summer has been extraordinary.”
She made 95 saves on 105 shots in a pair of 5-0 losses to defending national champion and current No. 1 Wisconsin in Madison this past weekend.
The sophomore had made 68 on 75 shots in season-opening 3-2 and 4-3 losses to No. 10 Quinnipiac the previous weekend.
She has made at least 12 saves in 10 of the 12 periods and has stopped at least 16 shots in a period four times.
The 5-foot-9 Lahtinen posted a miniscule 0.58 goals-against average and .975 percentage in UMaine’s last five regular season games a year ago before making 23 stops in a 4-3 loss at Boston College in their Hockey East quarterfinal game.
She stopped all 13 shots she faced in the third period of the BC game last season.
She allowed two goals or less in 14 of her 23 starts.
“I feel more confident this year. I played a lot of games last year,” said Lahtinen.
She has been happy with her start including her 95 saves at Wisconsin, although she acknowledged that there were a few goals she wished she could have back.
She added that she “loves” games where she faces a lot of shots.
Lahtinen spent part of her summer with the Finnish national team and she is under consideration for the Olympic team. UMaine signed an agreement with the Finnish hockey federation which allows the Finnish team to call her up.
“That gave me more motivation. It was nice to see that [the Finnish federation] saw that I was playing good last year,” Lahtinen said.
She began her career as a forward before switching to goalie 13 years ago.
“As a goalie, you’re kind of on your own. It’s an individual role within a team,” she said in explaining her reason for enjoying the stressful position.
She has focused on being a better reactionary goaltender and doing a better job controlling rebounds.
“Last year, I gave up a lot of goals off rebounds. That’s the big thing for me, and getting better at skating and creasework,” she said.
Engstrom said Lahtinen uses her size to her advantage.
“She’s a big goalie so there isn’t a lot of net to shoot at. And she challenges the shooters,” said Engstrom, who added that Lahtinen is also quick enough to skate back towards her net to stop breakaways.
Lahtinen is a fierce competitor who hates to lose, according to Engstrom.
She is also a tireless worker.
“It’s tough to get her out of the net in practice,” according to Engstrom.
“That’s true. That sounds about right,” chuckled Lahtinen.
There have been four NHL goalies from Finland who have eclipsed the 300-win mark including former Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. But it is wins leader Pekka Rinne (369) who is her idol.
“I always loved Pekka Rinne and his style of play,” Lahtinen said.
She does emulate some of his traits but she pointed out that he is so much taller so there are things she can’t replicate. Rinne is 6-foot-5.
Lahtinen got her chance to play last season when Julia Bachetti sustained an injury after starting the first four games.
Lahtinen made 36 saves in a 2-1 loss to Boston University in her debut and stopped 24 more against the Terriers in a 2-0 setback the following night.
She has been encouraged by the team’s start this season despite the early losses. UMaine has nine freshmen on the roster.
“The team is doing really well for getting so many freshmen in. They’re playing really good,” Lahtinen said.
She is pleased to be under consideration for the Finnish Olympic team but said her top priority is UMaine.
“It would be really cool to play in the Olympics but focusing on our team is more important,” said Lahtinen, who added that she loves Maine and that it reminds her of home.
The Porvoo, Finland native said the $50 million renovation to the Alfond Arena is amazing.
“We’re very grateful,” Lahtinen said.
She will take the ice with her teammates for their home opener against Saint Anselm on Friday at 2 p.m.
