Kristyna Kaltounkova will forever hold two specific distinctions. The Colgate grad will not only be known as the first player from Czechia ever selected first overall, but she's also the first European player to be selected at the top of the PWHL Draft.
She was quickly followed by fellow member of Czechia's national team Natalie Mlynkova, who was a second round pick, 12th overall of the Montreal Victoire. It makes Mlynkova the third highest Czech ever selected behind only Kaltounkova and defender Daniela Pejsova who went seventh overall to the Boston Fleet last season.
"I'm just really so excited and honored to be picked to such a great organization at number one as the first European and first Czech," said Kaltounkova. "So what a great honor representing not just myself, but my country and and my teammates."
The significance of two players from Czechia being selected so high in the draft was not lost on either player. They know how important and impactful their presence in the PWHL will be on girls and women's hockey back home.
"I think it's just going to boost it," said Kaltounkova. "And I just hope that those little girls that were watching or see it on social media see that it's not just Americans or Canadians that get drafted high or at number one, and it's going to be hopefully a motivation to all of them, and shows that it's possible. So I'm really excited and grateful to be in this position and be that role model hopefully."
Mlynkova, who played her NCAA hockey at Vermont, and this season with the University of Minnesota, echoed Kaltounkova and reflected on the importance not only of her own selection, but of another member of Czechia's national team at first overall.
"It's great. I mean starting off with Kalty going first overall, as a girl from a small country like Czech is just a huge honor, and just I was so proud," said Mlynkova. "All I could think about was just, you know, the girls back home in the small country like how they are watching that right now, and how you know someone made it possible. Not only she's the first Czech one, but she's also the first European player. And you know that just for our country and for us it's like a dream coming true. And you know, just having the opportunity to represent our country here and represent all the girls and everyone that put so much work and support behind us, it's surreal."
Kaltounkova and Mlynkova have each been named World Championship All-Stars in recent tournaments, and are considered cornerstone players for the future of Czechia's national program. They tied for Czechia's scoring lead at the 2025 World Championships on home soil. With more young talent from Czechia continuing to climb through the hockey ranks, including players like Adela Sapovalivova and Tereza Plosova who will join the NCAA with Wisconsin and Minnesota next season respectively, more waves continue to advance.
With nine players from Czechia competing in the PWHL last season, the nation's women's hockey impact continues to grow. Adding Kristyna Kaltounkova and Natalie Mlynkova to that mix will be another important step forward for European women's hockey across the board.