Vancouver signs first-round pick F Michelle Karvinen

Field Level Media|published: 10/06/2025, 2:32pm EDT

Finland's Michelle Karvinen and Czechia's Sara Cajanova (from left) battle for contol of the puck during the International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship bronze medal game Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York.

PWHL Vancouver signed first-round draft pick Michelle Karvinen to a one-year contract on Monday.

Karvinen, 35, was selected seventh overall by the expansion club in the 2025 PWHL Draft in June.

A Denmark native who competes internationally for Finland, Karvinen is a four-time Olympian with bronze medals in 2010, 2018 and 2022. She is Finland's all-time leading scorer with 62 points (24 goals, 38 assists).

"Michelle is a proven winner and hockey veteran with a wealth of experience, and we are excited to welcome a player of her caliber to PWHL Vancouver," general manager Cara Gardner Morey said. "Her leadership on and off the ice is going to be immensely important to the success of our team this season."

Karvinen's Olympic debut in 2010 was in Vancouver.

"Joining Vancouver is like a full circle moment," said Karvinen. "Vancouver, you made my Olympic dream come true at the 2010 Olympics. Today you have once again made a dream come true.

Karvinen has played professionally in Finland, Switzerland, Russia and Sweden.

Vancouver's first game in franchise history is scheduled for Nov. 21 against another expansion club in PWHL Seattle.

--Field Level Media