Czech Players of the Year: 2024–25 Season

1. Tereza Vanišová (Ottawa Charge, PWHL)

Club Performance: Vanišová was an offensive catalyst for the Ottawa Charge this season, and quickly became one of the leagues most recognizable names in year two of the PWHL. She tallied 15 goals and 7 assists over 30 regular-season games, leading the Charge in both goals and points. Her scoring prowess included becoming the first player in PWHL history to notch two hat tricks in one season. In one stretch, she recorded a natural hat trick in an 8–3 win on Feb. 13, 2025, and later a second hat trick in a 5-2 victory that cemented her place among the league’s top finishers.

Vanišová also showcased her playmaking and two-way hustle, finishing with 72 shots (top-six in the league by season’s end) and regularly using her speed to pressure defenders in the offensive zone. She brought physical energy as well, unafraid to battle along the boards and even dropping the gloves! Vanišová completed a ‘Gordie Howe/Vanišová’ hat trick on Feb. 20, 2025, by earning an assist, scoring a last-second tying goal, and engaging in the first fight in PWHL history (officially called for roughing against Jill Saulnier). Equal parts playmaker, agitator, and clutch scorer, Vanišová was often Ottawa’s heartbeat, fueling their run all the way to the Walter Cup Final with a combination of fire and flair few in the league could match.

International Play: On the international stage, Vanišová once again proved why she’s been a fixture in the Czech lineup for nearly a decade. At the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, she brought her trademark energy and veteran presence to a Czech squad hungry for a third straight medal.

Skating in a top-six role, Vanišová chipped in 2 goals and 2 assists over the tournament, including key plays in the quarterfinal and bronze-medal rounds. While Czechia ultimately fell just short of the podium in a dramatic battle for bronze, Vanišová’s poise and leadership helped steady the team throughout a high-pressure tournament. Her experience was especially evident in close games, where her ability to control pace and generate chances gave Czechia an edge in transition and special teams play.

Milestones & Honors:

• League leader in scoring chances

• Top-10 in PWHL Scoring (Tied for 2nd in goals)

• Among top PWHL players in the league in shot generation

• Earned PWHL ‘Star of the Week’ Honors in March 2025

Why She’s a Candidate: Few players made a louder statement this season than Tereza Vanišová. Whether it was scoring highlight-reel goals, setting PWHL milestones, or bringing edge and leadership to Ottawa’s playoff run, she consistently delivered when it mattered most. Her ability to take over game with speed and skill, fire, and fearlessness, cemented her place among the league’s most dynamic forwards.

Combine that with another strong showing in national team colors, and Vanišová’s 2024–25 campaign stands out as one of the most complete by any Czech player this year. PWHL fans everywhere are eager to see where she may end up next season, and many, including us are excited to see if she can replicate her success after a phenomenal season!

2. Kristýna Kaltounková (Colgate University, NCAA)

Kristýna Kaltounková closed out her college career with the kind of season that leaves a legacy. As a fifth-year senior and alternate captain at Colgate, she once again proved why she’s one of the most consistent and dangerous scorers in the NCAA. Kaltounková led the Raiders with 26 goals, her fourth straight season hitting the 20-goal mark, and added 22 assists for 48 points in 37 games, finishing second on the team in scoring.

She showed up in the biggest moments, racking up hat tricks, five-point nights, and game-winners as Colgate rolled to a 30–8–0 record and a #5 national ranking. Her physical strength and finishing touch made her a nightmare to defend on the power play and in tight spaces, especially down low. In the ECAC tournament, she helped power Colgate to the championship game with a clutch semifinal goal, and later added another tally in the NCAA tournament to push the Raiders into the quarterfinals.

She was the offensive heartbeat of one of the top teams in the country. And for the first time ever, a Czech player, Kaltounková, earned a nomination for the Patty Kazmaier Award, the NCAA’s highest individual honor.

International Play: After five dominant seasons in the NCAA, Kristýna Kaltounková finally got her long-awaited shot with the senior national team, and we think it’s safe to say…..she broke out! Making her debut at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Kaltounková emerged as one of Czechia’s top offensive players. She finished tied for the team lead in scoring with six points (4 goals, 2 assists) in seven games and earned a well-deserved spot on the tournament All-Star team. Skating on Czechia’s top line and first power-play unit, she regularly faced the best defenders in the tournament and handled the responsibility with poise and confidence.

Her signature moment came in the bronze medal game against Finland, where she opened the scoring with a power move muscling past a defender and beating the goalie from in close. It was her fourth goal of the tournament, and a highlight that was one of many that showed off her ability to rise in the biggest moments.

Though Czechia narrowly missed the podium in a heartbreaking 4-3 OT loss to Finland, Kaltounková’s performance was a major storyline of the tournament. After years of wondering when she may re-join the national program, she turned heads and proved she’s ready to be a fixture in Czechia’s top six for years to come.

Awards & Notable Milestones:

• Patty Kazmeier Award - Finalist

• NCAA Second Team All-American

• Top-20 in NCAA in Scoring

• 4th Straight 20 Goal Season

• Names ECAC First-Team All-Star

Why She’s a Candidate: For years, Kristýna Kaltounková has quietly been one of Czechia’s most consistent offensive forces in the NCAA, but this season, she made sure the whole hockey world took notice. At Colgate, she capped off her collegiate career with a dominant fifth year, earning All-American honors and becoming the first Czech ever named a Patty Kazmaier Award finalist. Then she brought that same level of firepower to the international stage, making a statement in her senior national team debut at the 2025 World Championship.

This season marked a turning point not just in how fans view Kaltounková, but in how she’s trusted to deliver in the game’s biggest moments. Between her leadership at Colgate and her breakout performance with Czechia, simply put: 2024–25 was the year Kristýna Kaltounková arrived and that makes her a serious contender for ČWHR Player of the Year.

3. Adéla Šapovalivová (MoDo Hockey, SDHL)

Club Performance: Šapovalivová continued to burnish her reputation as one of the top teenage players in the world with an outstanding 2024–25 season in Sweden’s SDHL. At 18 years old, she was roughly a point-per-game player for MoDo Hockey, registering 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points in 34 games. That production made her first for the team lead in scoring and made her one of the league’s most productive young forwards. As a 5’3” winger, Šapovalivová isn’t big in stature, but she compensates with exceptional skill, agility, and hockey sense. She showed no hesitation attacking the tough areas of the ice, a fact noted by observers who remarked that she is not the biggest player but not afraid to play in traffic and along the boards. Her fearless style paid off: Šapovalivová scored several highlight-reel goals by outworking larger opponents for inside positioning.

MoDo as a team finished third and qualified for the SDHL playoffs, thanks in large part to Šapovalivová’s offensive leadership where she finished Top 5 in the league in pts. Overall, Šapovalivová’s second season in the SDHL continued to establish her as a rising star for Czechia. She’ll join the University of Wisconsin in the Fall.

International Play: On the international front, Šapovalivová joined the senior Czech national team again for the 2025 IIHF World Championship on home ice. Having debuted in the senior national team as a 16-year-old in 2022 (she was the youngest player of that tournament), she is already a seasoned national-teamer at 19. In the 2024–25 cycle, Šapovalivová’s role with the senior team grew. At the 2025 Worlds in Czechia, she was deployed as an offensive spark and second power-play unit. She finished the tournament with a goal and 2 assists, and provided valuable depth scoring threat for a Czech squad that relied heavily on its young guns. The experience of playing meaningful minutes in front of home crowds during the World Championship will only further her development. Coaches praised Šapovalivová’s maturity and noted that even as a teenager she plays with the poise of a veteran. With Olympic qualifiers and the 2026 Games on the horizon, she is expected to take on an even bigger role for Czechia going forward.

Awards & Notable Moments:

• 5th in SDHL in Points

• SDHL (W) Most Assists by Junior

• SDHL (W) Most Points by Junior

• World Championship (W) Top 3 Player on Team

Why She’s a Candidate: Adéla Šapovalivová’s impact across multiple levels of the sport in 2024–25 has been extraordinary. She excelled in a top European pro league, leading her team in scoring as a teenager, and simultaneously earned accolades on the international stage by captaining Czechia to a junior World Championship silver. Few players her age can match that resume. Šapovalivová’s blend of skill, leadership, and clutch performances (all while breaking age barriers) makes her a compelling candidate for ČWHR Player of the Year. She not only delivered impressive statistics and highlights, but also carried significant weight in advancing Czech women’s hockey, truly embodying a player of the year caliber.

4. Klára Peslarová (Boston, PWHL)

Club Performance: It wasn’t a full season for Klára Peslarová in the PWHL, but when she got her shot, she made it count. Peslarová made just four appearances, but posted some of the best numbers of any goaltender in the league. She finished with a .940 save percentage and a 1.68 goals-against average, making 94 saves on 100 shots faced and helping Boston clinch several key points down the stretch. Her calm, technically sound style translated immediately, and fans and analysts alike took note. Even with limited minutes, Peslarová’s poise and puck-tracking stood out. In a league with no margin for error, she was reliable, composed, and ready.

International Play: On the world stage, Peslarová once again wore the lion on her chest, and once again reminded everyone why she’s long been the backbone of Czechia’s national team. At the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship on home ice, she made six starts for Czechia, finishing the tournament with a .914 SV%, and 2 shutouts including a clutch shutout in the quarterfinal against Switzerland. In the bronze medal match, she stood tall under relentless pressure from Finland, keeping Czechia within striking distance until the final moments of overtime. Her ability to rise to the moment, particularly when the spotlight is brightest, has become her hallmark.

Milestones & Honors:

• .940 SV% in PWHL regular season play (Top 3 among all goalies with 4+ appearances)

• 2025 IIHF World Championship – .914 SV% / Tournament All-Star

• Czech national team MVP in multiple tournament games

Why She’s a Candidate: Klára Peslarová might not have played the most games, but no one can question her impact. Whether stepping into a pressure-filled PWHL debut or anchoring Czechia’s run to another medal game, she brought the same elite level we’ve come to expect. Her numbers speak for themselves, and her consistency, year after year, has been the foundation of Czechia’s rise to the international elite. A quiet force with elite reflexes and even stronger mental toughness, Peslarová once again proved she belongs in the conversation among the best goaltenders in the world. That makes her a worthy nominee for ČWHR Player of the Year.