Dominika Laskova, Tereza Vanisova, and Katerina Mrazova of Czechia discuss being selected in the PWHL Draft In the PHF last season, five members of Czechia's senior national team plied their trade. This season, not only will those five all play in the new PWHL after being selected in the inaugural 2023 PWHL Draft, but they'll be joined by Czechia's head coach Carla MacLeod, who will coach Ottawa. The players - Dominika Laskova, Tereza Vanisova, Katerina Mrazova, Aneta Tejralova, and Denisa Krizova - were key components to Czechia's back-to-back World Championship bronze medals. Krizova led Czechia in scoring, while Tejralova is the nation's new captain. Last season Laskova and Vanisova helped the Toronto Six win a PHF title, including Vanisova scoring the overtime winner in the Isobel Cup final. Next season, the players will be spread in Montreal, who chose Laskova 19th overall [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/dominika-laskova-first-phf-player-selected-19th-overall-by-montreal] and Vanisova 42nd overall, Ottawa, who picked Tejralova 41st overall and Mrazova 44th overall, and Minnesota, who selected Krizova 48th overall. The group successfully making the move from the PHF to the PWHPA also opens the door for a future wave of talent from Czechia that could include players like Daniela Pejsova, Michaela Pejzlova, Natalie Mlynkova, Klara Peslarova, and Noemi Neubauerova, and Kristýna Kaltounková stepping in as soon as next season, along with future prospects like Blanka Skodova, Sara Cajanova, Adela Sapovalivova, Tereza Plosova, and Tereza Pistekova all joining in the future. By next year, the league's Czech contingent could easily double to 10 players, and continue climbing in the year's to come. It's good news for international hockey fans, and will mark a clear and present challenge for USA and Canada to maintain their hold on the world's top spots. Watch the full press conference above of Dominika Laskova, Tereza Vanisova, and Katerina Mrazova after being selected in the PWHL Draft.
