On Sunday, Prague’s Žofín Palác was the site of the 56th annual Golden Hockey Stick – Zlatá hokejka – an award given to the best Czech hockey player of the year. Almost lost in the countdown of the top 10 male players of the year, the top junior player, the top slegde hockey player and various musical numbers by Czech pop star Ewa Farna was the presentation of the top Czech female player of the year to Denisa Křižová.

The award was announced by Czech national team captain Aneta Tejralová, who opened the envelope and greeted Křižová on stage. Event emcee Libor Bouček first asked her about winning the PWHL title with Minnesota.

“It’s a beautiful feeling, especially to win in the first year. It’s really historic – after all, the league is just beginning – so I really appreciate it,” Křižová replied. She then added, “We were down (in games) 2-0 and we came back to win 3-2. We didn’t change anything, we just took it shift by shift and, in the end, we managed to win.”

Křižová was then asked about the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, which the Czech women will host for the first time ever in České Budějovice.

“It’s very important,” she emphasized. “I’ve enjoyed playing for the national team for a long time now and I always enjoy going to the camps and the World Championships, so I’m really looking forward to playing at home and I hope that we win a medal too.”

Although the relatively minor attention her award got on the night reflected the enormous gulf in popularity between men’s and women’s hockey, especially in Europe, Křižová nonetheless acknolwedged the strides made in recent years on both sides of the ocean. Speaking to ceskyhokej.cz after the event, she cited the attendance at an international tournament in Liberec last February.

“It’s unbelievable how the entire women’s hockey is moving,” she said. “It’s so nice to see it, the rinks overseas are full and fans at home are watching our national team. We are very happy about that. We have come a long way, and the next journey awaits us.”

About winning the award, she said, “I'm very happy about it, but it wouldn’t be possible without the girls on the ice and the entire staff. It’s a team sport, so you can’t not acknowledge them.”

Křižová spoke about the demanding travel schedule during the season to fulfill her duties with Minnesota and the Czech national team, but she is nonetheless ready to do to it again. Next season, her goals are to help Minnesota repeat as PWHL champion and to win a medal at the Women’s Worlds.

“I'm really looking forward to it,” she said. “The pressure will come, but that's part of it.”