New York Sirens forward Elle Hartje is set to represent Slovakia internationally this summer as the PWHL player heads back to her roots among a talented group of up and coming offensive talents from the nation.
Elle Hartje is set to represent Slovakia internationally. For the Detroit, Michigan product, it's a return to her family roots, and to the place she played briefly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hartje will join Team Slovakia this month beginning August 17 before playing games against Austria August 20, Italy on August 21, and the Netherlands on August 22. It's part of the IIHF European Cup of Nations hosted in Slovakia in Bardejov.
Hartje's grandparents are from Slovakia.
The New York Sirens forward is entering her third professional season notching 13 points in 56 career games for the Sirens. She previously played in a Four Nations event for Slovakia back in 2021 after spending the COVID-cancelled 2020-21 NCAA season playing for SKP Bratislava in the EWHL where she recorded 25 points in 16 games in what would have been her sophomore NCAA season with Yale.
After finishing her four seasons with Yale, Hartje, a former All-American, was selected 25th overall by New York in the 2024 PWHL Draft. She'll be one of several Slovakian players now competing in North America.
"We want to see as many girls in action as possible, with whom we will not be able to work during other events in the season, as they will be working in North America," said new head coach Tomáš Turna in a translated statement. "Nevertheless, we will miss Ema Tóthová, Nela Lopušanová and Lívia Debnárová, who are in their first season in the NCAA. The other two mentioned players, (Tatiana) Blichová and (Lily) Stern, will only train with us before the tournament."
Slovakia has shown significant growth both internationally and in terms of player development the last several seasons. Last year the nation saw Blichová (Lindenwood), Michaela Sophia Paulinyova (Lindenwood), and Lilien Benakova (St. Lawrence) playing in the NCAA, which will this year grow to include Tóthová (Ohio State), Lopušanová (Wisconsin), and Lívia Debnárová (Holy Cross), along with Stern (Connecticut College, D3), and Barbara Sibertova (British Columbia, U SPORTS) all playing collegiately in North America, and more on the way.
