Finnish forward Elisa Holopainen is the SDHL's Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 season.
Holopainen finished the season tied for the league lead in points with 45 in 36 games while playing for the SDHL champions in Frölunda. She was second in the SDHL with 24 goals in that span, sitting only one behind Petra Nieminen in the mark.
Holopainen was also named the SDHL's Best Forward.
This was Holopainen's first season in Europe's top league. Prior to the SDHL, Holopainen was the six-time reigning Best Forward in Finland's Naisten Liiga, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player four times in that span while averaging more than two points per game.
Holopainen is under contract in Frölunda through next season. She is believed to be considering the PWHL following the 2026 Olympic Games.
In 11 playoff games this season en route to Frölunda final upset over Luleå, Holopainen recorded 11 points.
Mattivi Named SDHL's Best Defender
Italian defender and former Boston University captain Nadia Mattivi was named the SDHL's Best Defender for 2024-25. Shortly after earning the honor, Mattivi announced she was re-signing with Luleå for the coming season. It's uncertain if her new contract has a PWHL out-clause as Mattivi was considered a prospect for the 2025 PWHL Draft.
"Nadia is a player who joined our team last season and has done incredibly well," said Luleå's Oskar Häggström. "She grew throughout the season and it feels great that our coaches will continue to work with her. She has her strength in the game with the puck but has also developed a lot in the rest of the game. And it was very fun when we found out that she was named the SDHL's best defenseman last season."
