Coach credits Finland's resilience in helping women's hockey team overcome stomach virus at Olympics

MILAN (AP) — Don't under-estimate Finnish resilience.

Difficult as the week was for Finland’s national women’s hockey team in dealing with a stomach virus that sent 13 of 23 players into quarantine, coach Tero Lehtera had a good feeling his players would show up ready for their first game at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

“Yeah, it was tough, but you know in the Finnish DNA, it’s kind of like there is some sort of a survival gene or something,” Lehtera said after a 5-0 tournament-opening loss to the United States on Saturday. “So, not that bad. We’ll manage.”

It was “game on” for Finland, as well as Switzerland, after both teams had to deal with a norovirus affecting its players.

Two days after Finland's game against Canada was postponed to Thursday, and four days after players began showing symptoms, Finland played with a full complement of 20 skaters and two goalies against the Americans.

Switzerland followed by also playing with a full roster in 4-0 loss to defending Olympic champion Canada. The Swiss played a day after revealing they had one player test positive for the norovirus.

For Finland, the challenge was steeper given the team had not held a full practice since Tuesday, and at one point was down to eight skaters and two goalies.

The rust showed, with the Finns managing only 11 shots on goal — and just two over the final period.

“They gave all they had today. But I’m a little bit disappointed the way we played,” Lehtera said. “I’m not saying they did a bad effort. So I’m not asking for more in that area. But what I’m asking is maybe take a little bit from that effort, and play a little smarter.”

Finland's players were disappointed with the loss even while acknowledging what they were up against.

“Oh, yeah, for sure, I knew,” said goalie Sanni Ahola, who stopped 44 shots, including 14 of 15 in the first period. “I enjoyed every moment. I love getting a lot of shots.”

The challenge going forward is regaining their stamina and playing their physical defensive style.

“We are definitely not happy with the result,” forward Emma Nuutinen said. "But we also know that this was a rough start for our Olympic journey.”

Finland is a four-time Olympic bronze-medal winner, and in contention to make the podium again this year. Under the tournament format, the Finns are guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals as members of the five-team Group A.

“It’s a long tournament, you need to stay focusing and focusing on what’s next,” defender Jenni Hiirikoski said. “I’m sure we will get the things that we want to prove.”

Despite two teams being affected by illness at the start of the Milan Cortina Games, Olympic organizers downplayed the significance of the virus cases.

“It is not (an outbreak). Let’s not start to make a point about what is currently five athletes being dealt with,” Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi said Saturday. “Proper protocols, really well done.”

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said IOC medical director Jane Thornton sees no reason to suspect the cases on the two teams are related.

The entire Swiss team spent Friday night in isolation and skipped the opening ceremony.

“The incubation period has now passed,” Switzerland’s chief medical officer, Hanspeter Betschart, said in a statement. “From a medical perspective, there are currently no concerns about the game taking place, provided no further players show symptoms.”

Germany goalie Sandra Abstreiter said players are very much aware of the virus and are taking precautions, including agreeing not to shake hands without gloves on following games. That was evident following Germany’s 5-2 win over Japan, when each team formed a line and saluted the crowd without opposing players interacting with each other.

“I think that’s the smart play as of right now. And then obviously we’re disinfecting a lot. We’re not sharing things,” Abstreiter said. “It’s obviously in our heads. But we just still have to focus on hockey obviously. And we just have to let our medical team take care of that.”

AP Sports Writers James Ellingworth and Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

United States' Abbey Murphy, right, checks Finland's Julia Schalin during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Finland's Sanni Ahola and Finland's Noora Tulus, right, make a save against United States' Grace Zumwinkle during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Finland's Sanni Ahola fails to make a save during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Finland players before a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, Pool)

Finland's Ronja Savolainen, right, challenges United States' Kelly Pannek during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the United States and Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Switzerland's Laura Zimmermann, center, celebrates after scoring her side's opening goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Switzerland and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

FILE - An outside view of the Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — AJ Dybantsa had 27 points in another brilliant Big 12 Tournament performance, Kennard Davis Jr. added 20 points, and No. 10 seed BYU beat seventh-seeded West Virginia 68-48 on Wednesday night to advance to the quarterfinal round.

Robert Wright III also had 11 points before a crowd that included BYU alum and Chiefs coach Andy Reid along with his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes — whose No. 16 Texas Tech plays seventh-ranked Iowa State in the first quarterfinal Thursday.

As for the Cougars (23-10), their second win in as many days earned them a quarterfinal matchup with fifth-ranked Houston.

Honor Huff had 17 points for West Virginia (18-14), which had beaten BYU a couple of weeks ago. Brenen Lorient finished with 11.

Dybantsa was downright dominant in the Cougars' first-round win over Kansas State on Tuesday night, pouring in 40 points — three off the single-game Big 12 Tournament record set by Texas Tech's Mike Singletary — to go with nine rebounds and six assists.

Nothing much changed against the Mountaineers.

Dybantsa gave BYU the lead for good with his bucket with 9:36 left in the first half, and that was just the start of the highlights. He scored on a myriad of Euro-step layups, pull-up jumpers and rim-rattling dunks. The most impressive came in the final minute of the half, when he stole the ball from Lorient and threw down a dunk while getting fouled.

The three-point play gave the Cougars a 31-23 at the break.

West Virginia was still within 47-42 after Chance Moore's put-back dunk with 8:02 to go. But Wright scored at the other end for BYU, launching a 10-0 run over the next five minutes that sent the Cougars into the quarterfinal round.

BYU lost to second-seeded Houston in its only meeting on Feb. 7 in Provo, Utah.

The Mountaineers await their NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Sunday.

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BYU forward Khadim Mboup (7) beats West Virginia forward DJ Thomas (5) to a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)