Emma Terho
Emma Kristiina Terho, née Laaksonen, is a Finnish retired ice hockey defenseman and current general manager of Kiekko-Espoo of the Naisten Liiga. She has served as an active member of the IOC Athletes' Commission since 2018. At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano she became the youngest Winter Olympian to medal for Finland at the age of 16 years 54 days.
Playing career
The Ohio State University
Emma Laaksonen Terho played with the Buckeyes women's ice hockey team while attending The Ohio State University from the 2000 to 2004. In the 2001–02 season she was the first women's ice hockey player from Ohio State to earn the All-America honors as 2001-02 JOFA/American Hockey Coaches Association Second Team All-American and was a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. On 11 October 2008, Laaksonen Terho became the first women's hockey player to have her No. 3 retired as a Buckeye. The retirement ceremony occurred prior to an Ohio State vs. Purdue University football game at Ohio Stadium, where Laaksonen Terho 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.Espoo Blues, 2004-2007
In Finland she has played for Espoo Blues, where she has won the Finnish Championship eight times. With Espoo Blues she has finished third three times.SKIF Nizhny Novgorod
In the 2007–08 season Terho played in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia with SKIF of the Russian Women's Hockey League. Three other Finnish players, forwards Kati Kovalainen, Karoliina Rantamäki, and Nora Tallus, also played for SKIF in that season. The team won the 2008 Women's Hockey League Russian Championship.Espoo, 2008-2017
Terho returned to the Espoo Blues after the 2007-08 season in Russia. The 2008-09 season was very successful, both personally and for the team. Terho set a career high for assists with 32 and ended the regular season with an impressive 34 points in just 19 games.International play
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.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.
Sports administration
Early in her career Terho became involved in the administrative aspect of athletics as a member of the Student Athlete Board during her junior and senior years at The Ohio State University. In 2006, after graduating and returning to Finland to play in the Naisten SM-sarja, Terho became a member of the Finnish Olympic Committee. In 2011 as part of the IIHF Ambassador and Mentor Program she became an Athlete Ambassador to Kazakhstan with the directive to use her experience at Olympic Games, World Championships, and other high level women's hockey programs to help build the women's game in her designated country. As her playing career wound down, Terho ramped up her involvement in Finnish sports administration and she has become an influential and important player in that sphere.Current administrative titles and roles
- Member of the Board, Finnish Ice Hockey Association, 2014-present
- Member of the Finnish Advisory Board of Sport Ethics, 2015-present
- Chair of Athletes’ Commission, Finnish Olympic Committee, 2016-present
- Member of the Women's Committee, International Ice Hockey Federation, 2016-present
- Member of the International Olympic Committee, 2018-present
- * Member of the Athletes' Commission, 2018-present
- * Member of the Coordination Commission for the XXIV Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, 2018-present
- * Member of the Olympic Programme Commission, 2018-present
Personal life
Her husband, Teemu Terho, also works in banking. They have a son and a daughter.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
European tournaments
International
Awards and honours
| Award | Year or Season |
| Naisten SM-sarja Champion All titles won with Espoo Blues | 1998–99 1999–2000 2004–05 2006–07 2008–09 |
| Päivi Halonen Award Best Defenceman in the Naisten SM-sarja | 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 |
| Naisten SM-sarja All-Star Team | 2008–09 2010–11 |
| Naisten SM-sarja Aurora Borealis Cup Champion All titles won with Espoo Blues | 2012–13 2013–14 |
| Naisten SM-sarja Aurora Borealis Cup Championship Silver Medal | 2016–17 |
| Suomen Jääkiekkoleijona #255 Inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame Finland | 2019 |
| Award | Year |
| Winter Olympic Games Bronze Medal | 1998, 2010 |
| IIHF World Women's Championship Bronze Medal | 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009 |
| IIHF Women's World Championship Best Defenceman | 2000 |
| IIHF European Women's Champions Cup Best Defender | 2005, 2010 |
| IIHF World Women's Championship All-Star Team | 2008 |