Prior to her first news conference as a member of the New York Sirens, Kristýna Kaltounková had a slight hiccup getting into Prudential Center on Tuesday morning.
Being the new kid on the block seemingly comes with a learning curve from security, who hesitated in letting the No. 1 overall PWHL pick inside.
However, Kaltounková didn’t think much of it. Although it made her slightly late, it was the start of a dream she couldn’t always picture.
For many women hockey players, the PWHL wasn’t around during their college careers to envision as a future career option.
For the star Czech forward, she saw the opportunity arise in her last three years at Colgate but it wasn’t an obvious choice at first.
“I actually thought I was going to probably go play in Europe, which would be closer to my family,” Kaltounková said. “I just didn’t really think that I had the opportunity to play in the PWHL. I don’t know, I kinda didn’t really realize it. I thought I was going to play in Europe or find a job or just kinda get on with my life I guess. My parents were fully supportive of whatever decision I was going to make. But then once I played for the national team [Czechia] this year, there was a lot of talk about the PWHL. … I realized that’s an opportunity and that’s what I want to do.
“And I realized when I was a little girl I actually wanted to play in the NWHL, which is no longer a thing. I kind of realized this is it. I gotta do it to fulfill that dream.”
Her bachelors degree in education and masters in teaching will be put on pause for now.
Instead, the Sirens, who were bottom of the barrel in the six-team league — soon to be eight — last season with 12 wins and missed the playoffs for the second straight year, are looking for Kaltounková to add to their youth movement during her three-year deal to turn things around in New York.
The 23-year-old is expected to make an immediate impact within the Sirens offense after setting the record for most goals scored in Colgate’s women’s hockey program (111) and ranked second in assists (122) and points (233) in program history.
In her eyes, Kaltounková believes her uniqueness starts with her penalty-kill experience and her motivation to step into the hockey roles that aren’t always the flashiest.
“This past year I was able to play a defender on a penalty kill at Colgate, which I never thought I would be able to prior to that. I never played on the PK,” she said. “Being able to step into that role, I think no one really expected, especially being the top scorer in the league. You don’t see those people blocking shots and with bruises on their arm.”
General manager Pascal Daoust echoed the statement, saying Sirens fans should expect to see a lot of physicality from the 5-foot-9, 165-pound Czech.
“She has the courage to block shots and show her teammates on the bench that this is the price that we need to pay,” he said. “The only downside is that she would be willing to block the best single shot, which would be her own shot.”
The Sirens made the decision this offseason to build around young star Sarah Fillier, who had the second-most points in the league as a rookie last year, after leaving veteran top scorers Alex Carpenter and Jesse Eldridge unprotected during the exclusive signing window in June. It led to both players landing with the new Seattle franchise.
Kaltounková finds comfort in the refresh that the Sirens are undergoing as a rookie and she feels the best is going to be brought out of her by head coach Greg Fargo, who she played under for four of her five years at Colgate until he left for the Sirens last year.
“I always felt like I was able to be confident, play confident, play my game. … He’s just an understanding, well-rounded coach which makes me very excited to play for him again,” she said. “I just think under his coaching, I can really push myself and bring out the best in me.”
Kaltounková is already making an early New York impression from brief appearances at Devils practices and games to events in the city, and soon enough more fans — and security — will be opening doors for her as she kicks off her professional career.