Emma Terho | |||
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Born |
Washington, D.C., USA |
December 17, 1981 ||
Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) | ||
Weight | 128 lb (58 kg; 9 st 2 lb) | ||
Position | Defence | ||
WCHA team | Ohio State | ||
National team | Finland | ||
Playing career | 1997–present |
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Medal record | ||
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Women's ice hockey | ||
Representing Finland | ||
Olympic Games | ||
1998 Nagano | Tournament | |
2010 Vancouver | Tournament |
Emma Kristiina Terho (née Laaksonen) (born 17 December 1981 in Washington, D.C.) is a Finnish female ice hockey defenseman. She played on the women's ice hockey team for Finland at the 1998 Winter Olympics, winning a bronze medal. She was the youngest woman on the team (16 years, 54 days). Laaksonen played for the Ohio State women's ice hockey team from the 2000–01 to 2003–04 seasons. At Ohio State, Laaksonen was the first to earn All-America, was a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and had her number 3 retired. Her number was retired by Ohio State on October 11, 2008. The ceremony occurred prior to the football game between Ohio State and Purdue at Ohio Stadium, where Laaksonen was recognized on the field at the 50-yard line. She was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame on 25 September 2009. Laaksonen is a five-time Olympian, serving as co-captain or captain in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 as well as competing in seven world championships, serving as captain in 2008 and 2009. Named Finland's Player of the Year in 2002 and 2006, Laaksonen was recognized by the Buckeye program during the first home series of the 2008–09 season when her No. 3 was the first women's hockey player number retired.
In Finland she has played for Espoo Blues, where she has won the Finnish Championship six times (1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2013). With Espoo Blues she has finished third three times (1997, 1998 and 2006). 2007–2008 she played for SKIF (Nižni Novgorod, Russia), where she won the Russian Championship.
She is also Finnish Olympic Committee board member. Emma Terho is also Finnish Ice Hockey Federation board member, first female ever to be chosen to the board. Emma Terho has build a successful banking career, which already starter during her active ice hockey career. Emma Terho holds finance degrees from Ohio State University (Bachelor's degree) and Aalto University (Master's degree).