Catching Up in Finland: Three Players Shaping Their Careers in the Auroraliiga

As the 2025–26 season unfolds, one of the clearest storylines has been the presence of Czech players leaving their mark across Finland. On three teams, Czech skaters are shaping how their teams play, bringing skill, composure, and an unmistakable passion to the ice. We caught up with three of them: Barbora Juříčková (HPK), Magdaléna Erbenová (TPS), and Dominika Malická (KalPa) to talk about their early-season form, adapting to life in Finland, and what keeps them grounded off the ice.

Barbora Juříčková — HPK (Hämeenlinna)

Few players have lit up the Finnish top flight quite like Barbora Juříčková has this autumn. Through mid-October, the 19-year-old forward has piled up 27 points (13 G, 14 A) in 15 games, pacing HPK’s offense and sitting among the league’s overall scoring leaders. Juříčková’s rise hasn’t been sudden in Findland though, it’s the result of steady, patient growth since she joined HPK as a 16 year old teenager.

After posting 62 points last season, she’s now taken on a leadership role, driving HPK’s attack both at even strength and on the power play. “I’m really proud of how our team handled the start of this season…” Juříčková said. “…We just need to keep building on what we’ve started and learn from the mistakes we made in previous games against [league leaders]. We have a strong, skillful group, so I believe it’s only a matter of time before everything truly clicks.” HPK’s system emphasizes pace and puck support, and Juříčková thrives in that environment. Her blend of speed and creativity has helped turn HPK into a legitimate contender, highlighted by her seven-point night in an 11–0 win over RoKi earlier this fall.

Off the ice, she carries herself with a mix of humility and humor that fits perfectly with the HPK dressing room. She laughed when asked what’s fueled her hot start “To be honest I don’t even really know…I just try to enjoy every moment here. We have a great team, great players, and an amazing atmosphere. We’re having fun, but we also work hard and stay focused on the details.”

Balancing life as a student (a soon to be high school graduate) and a top-line forward isn’t easy, but she’s found her rhythm in Hämeenlinna’s quiet beauty.

“I’ve been pretty busy with school lately…” she said, “…but right now the autumn weather is beautiful, so I’ve been trying to spend some time outside with the girls…coffee and a walk is our favorite little hobby at the moment.”

HPK currently sits among the top three clubs in the Auroraliiga table. If the chemistry that Juříčková describes keeps building, the Czechs in Hämeenlinna (Anna Kalová and Tereza Masková included) could find themselves chasing another medal come spring.

Magdaléna Erbenová - TPS (Turku)

In her first Auroraliiga season after graduating from RPI, Erbenová has slotted straight into TPS’s top rotation on the blue line and already put up 9 points (9A) in 12 games, solid two-way value for a defender adapting to a new league and system. TPS sit mid-table and trending competitive. 

Magda, on adjusting to the league & life in Turku: “It’s definitely a big change - the league is a bit different, the team works a bit differently, and the environment too. I’m still getting used to it, but I’m happy so far. I really like Turku, it’s big enough, but you can still find quiet spots in town. Off the ice it’s [been a bit hard] to find work, but it gives me more time for myself and to get to know the place properly.”

For a first-year import defender, nine assists by late October is meaningful impact, TPS are chasing the pack above, and Erbenová’s puck-moving and transition play have helped steady them. 

Dominika Malická — KalPa (Kuopio)

Malická has been a bright spot in Kuopio, tallying 9 points (7G, 2A) in 15 games. KalPa’s record has been tough early to put it lightly (1–12–1 at 15 GP), but the group has been in games and trending better in recent outings. 

Dominika a product of the Karvina youth program back in Czechia, moved to Finland last season, spending a year on a struggling RoKi team where she compiled 6g’s and 16a’s in 31gp. She moved to KalPa over the summer and so far results have been substantial, sitting on 7g’s already breaking her previous total and her highest since was 17 back home in Czechia. At 20, Malická is in a position to continue to provide huge value to her team. “Results-wise, the start hasn’t been what we wanted. But we’re a well-connected team and we play good hockey, often the ending of the game just slips away. If we set our minds to knowing we can win, that will help. The team atmosphere is excellent and we’ve built a strong group. As for life in Kuopio, I’m really happy, it’s a beautiful city with plenty to do. We plan full days with friends and enjoy it to the max.”

When a young forward is finishing at this rate on a team grinding through close games and tough results, it’s a promising arrow for KalPa as fall turns to winter.

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HPK are tucked into the top tier of the standings heading into November. TPS sit mid-table with room to climb, buoyed by a blue line that is contributing offense, and KalPa have endured a bumpy start but are cohesive on and off the ice, and performances like Malická’s suggest more points are coming. These three players tell just part of the story of international players pursuing their hockey dreams, their education, and professional opportunities in the Scandinavian countries. As we continue to follow their journeys, we envision their successes and experiences will illustrate how Czechs from abroad and other international players can thrive in this environment. Unbeknownst to them, young girls back home view their path as a realistic aspiration, with leagues like Finland's offering such opportunities.