2026 Olympics Profile: Mercyhurst and Finland National Team Forward Julia Schalin

As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games draw near, The Ice Garden will be covering the women’s hockey tournament in several different ways. In the lead up to the Games, we’re taking a look at some of the NCAA players taking part.

We begin with Mercyhurst forward and Finland national team member Julia Schalin.

Schalin is a native of Espoo, Finland and will be making her Olympics debut. She is in her second season with the Mercyhurst Lakers of the Atlantic Hockey America conference. She ranks third in the conference in points with 30 and leads in assists with 21. Schalin has one hat trick this season which was part of a four point game she had against Lindenwood in early December.

The Ice Garden talked to Schalin about her reaction to finding out she will be an Olympian, what she likes about playing both internationally and in college, and the journey her and other first time Olympians on team Finland have been on.

Career Highlights:

• Schalin played in 37 games and finished with 32 points on 14 goals and 18 assists her freshman season.
• Her points total ranked second amongst all rookies in the nation.
• She finished the season with a 1.32 points per game average in conference play. That average led all AHA rookies and was second overall in the conference.
• She won the AHA Rookie of the Year award.
• As a sophomore, Schalin currently has 26 points in 28 games.
• She has an almost point per game average with hers currently sitting at 0.93 in conference play.
• Schalin also has four games with three or more points this season.

• Internationally Schalin won back-to-back bronze medals with Finland at the 2024 and 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
• She’s participated in both the Euro Hockey Tour and the Six Nations tournament with Finland.
• Schalin also played in the 2022 and 2023 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship where she won a bronze medal in 2022.
• Before joining Mercyhurst, Schalin played in the Naisten Liiga with Kiekko-Espoo where she won two championships.

A quick Q&A with Julia Schalin:

Answers have been edited for clarity.

THE ICE GARDEN: Julia, when did you find out you made Finland’s Olympic team and where were you when you got the news?

Schalin: I found out before Christmas, but obviously I couldn't tell anyone before the team was published. I was visiting my boyfriend in Germany and we were shopping at the grocery store and I knew that our coach [had] already called a couple players that day. I knew that he was going to call me too. I answered, I was like, hi and I didn't know what he was going to say. So it was a surprise for sure.

TIG: When did you tell your parents and what was their reaction?

Schalin: I couldn't even tell my parents [because] I didn't want to tell them before I got home. I had to wait for a couple of days to get home and then I told them. My mom is not that emotional usually, but I saw that she was really, really, really happy for me and obviously they both were really happy for me and proud of me.

TIG: How special it is to be named to Finland’s Olympic team?

Schalin: It has been my dream since I was a little girl and it has always been a kind of a dream and also a goal for me. I was proud of myself and all the work I have done. It's such a big honor for me to represent my country [at the Olympics.]

TIG: You’ve played against a lot of players at the World Championship and in other international tournaments too, how has that experience helped your development?

Schalin: It helps to get used to the game and also playing with those incredible players in our team, it has helped me to improve my game.

TIG: How excited are you to play with the same players you’ve played with on team Finland before?

Schalin: It's exciting [because] there [are] a couple players I played in U18 worlds with and they're like really close friends of mine. I played with [Ohio State’s] Sanni Vanhanen and [St. Cloud State’s] Emilia Kyrkkö and Siiri Yrjölä in the U18, so I think we created some kind of bond there. It's so nice that we are all there and we can all share this experience with each other.

TIG: You're in your second season at Mercyhurst currently, how has your college hockey experience been like and what do you like about it?

Schalin: I like college hockey. The hockey is like so good here compared to Finland.

I like the games. They're like really good quality games and fast games and I get to play against good players every weekend. So I like that.

TIG: When you think about going to the Olympics and going to Italy, what are you most excited for in that time that you'll be there?

Schalin: The whole experience. Being at the Olympics with all the other sports too. It's great that we got like NHL players there too. I think the experience overall and seeing the Olympic Village and the opening ceremony and of course the games are the top priority, but on top of that, all the other things.

TIG: Are there any other sports that you would like to watch in person when you're over there?

Schalin: Men's hockey and Team Finland. When I was a kid, I was a huge fan of cross-country skiing, but that's so far away from our village this time.

TIG: Are there any places maybe in Italy that you want to go sightseeing with your teammates to see?

Schalin: I've never been [to] Milan, so I think that's something I want to explore.

Finland is part of Group A at the 2026 Winter Olympics and will play first against Canada in the preliminary round on Feb. 5.

You can view the full schedule for the Olympics here via the IIHF.