2017-2018 Memorable Moment #3: Tanskanen's Hat Trick vs Syracuse

I'm counting down the memorable moments of the Mercyhurst hockey season. Here are links to moment 10, moment 9, moment 8, moment 7, moment 6, moment 5, moment 4.

2017-2018 Memorable Moment #3: Tanskanen Scores a Hat Trick at Syracuse on January 27

This memory is about seeing a display of excellence in the wake of individual disappointment.

When it was announced that Finnish hockey players and former UND Fighting Hawks Emma Nuutinen and Vilma Tanskanen were coming to Mercyhurst, one of the questions was whether they would both be 2018 Olympians. Both players were 2014 Olympians for Finland. In the end sophomore Nuutinen was selected for the 2018 Olympics and junior Tanksanen was named first alternate, but did not make the team.

Publicly, Tanskanen showed complete grace with her comments, making the already likeable hockey player even more so. Per Mercyhurst's website:

"Words can't really tell how disappointed I am," said Tanskanen of not making the Olympic roster. "I worked really hard for it but sometimes it's not enough. But it's still a great honor to be named an alternate and I am ready if Team Finland needs me. I am really happy for Emma because she has been working really hard. It's a huge honor for her and she is like my sister, so I am so happy for her."

The roster was named on January 22nd, and four days later the Lakers took on Syracuse in a CHA series. After hoping all week that Nuutinen would be around for game one, I learned she was going to be available. I was happy, but despite Nuutinen playing, Syracuse won game one. Nuutinen departed for the Olympics, and the Lakers had another game to play.

Next day, new day, new game. Who was going to lead the Lakers to a win? Vilma Tanskanen, that's who. Knocked down, but not out, Vilma scored the eventual game winner late in the first. She scored again early in the third, and finished the hat trick with a power play goal late in the third. The Lakers won 4-0. It was Tanksanen's first collegiate hat trick, and the first Mercyhurst Laker hat trick since 2014.

I was happy for her. I doubt it eases the pain of not making the Olympics, but it was a display of excellence, perseverance and self confidence in her own game that any fan and athlete could enjoy and be inspired by. There's a lesson in there somewhere, I'm sure.

Tanskanen was quiet on the scoreboard the next couple weeks, but finished the CHA season with a 4 game point streak, including two assists in the CHA playoffs. She finished 2nd on the team in points with 27 in 33 games, first in goals with 14, and had the second best shooting percentage with 14%.

As a rising senior, Tanskanen will be a key piece of Mercyhurst's offense in 2018-2019, just like she was all year, and especially on that day of her hat trick, in January.