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)

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (AP) — UC Santa Barbara will join the West Coast Conference for the 2027-28 season, increasing the membership in the league to 12 teams.

The West Coast Conference Presidents’ Council approved the admission of UC Santa Barbara on Friday, following recent decisions to add Denver and UC San Diego.

Denver will begin play in the league next season with the two California schools following the following year.

WCC powerhouse Gonzaga is leaving the conference at the end of this school year to join the Pac-12 but the new additions will give the league 12 schools for the first time.

"This is a monumental moment for the West Coast Conference as we grow our membership to 12 institutions for the first time in our history and enhance our national profile with the addition of UC Santa Barbara,” WCC commissioner Stu Jackson said in a statement.

UC Santa Barbara will compete in the West Coast Conference in 13 sports, including men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, baseball, softball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s golf and men’s water polo.

The WCC had three schools make the NCAA men's basketball tournament this season, with Saint Mary's and Santa Clara joining Gonzaga in March Madness. This is the seventh straight tournament that the league got multiple bids.

The conference has sent multiple women’s basketball teams to the tournament five of the past seven events.

UC Santa Barbara was previously a member of the West Coast Conference from 1965-1969.

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FILE - The UC Santa Barbara mascot performs during a timeout in the first half of an Southeast Regional second round NCAA tournament college basketball game against Florida in Tampa, Fla., March 17, 2011. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)