Playing Free on the World’s Biggest Stage

When Kristýna Kaltounková ’24 arrived at Colgate in 2020, she had already donned the Czech coat of arms on the front of her jersey at a slew of international events — including four world junior championships. But when she skated out of the dressing room in that familiar Czech jersey in Milan on Thursday, Feb. 5, it was different than any of the other times she’s worn it. 

That warmup marked her debut on Olympic ice.

“This is my first time representing my country at such a big stage,” she said. “I’ve always dreamt of going to the Olympics, so seeing my name on that roster just felt that much more special.”

After a prolific career as a member of Colgate’s women’s ice hockey team, she was the first European to be selected with the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s No. 1 overall pick. After scoring just one goal in her first six games with the New York Sirens, she’s potted 10 in her last 10 contests. 

Her 11 goals don’t just lead the Sirens…they lead the entire league. 

With those credentials, Kaltounková was all but a lock to earn a spot on Team Czechia. She knew as much. But you would never know by her attitude. 

“I tried to stay focused and prove that I should be on the team,” she said. “When the roster came out, I was stoked.”

Kaltounková’s lethality in front of the net didn’t just appear out of thin air. It was cultivated in Hamilton, N.Y., and the walls of Class of 1965 Arena. What she learned from the countless hours she spent there has jumpstarted her professional career. 

“The stress our coaches put on physicality helped translate to the PWHL,” she said.

Using her 5-foot-9 frame wasn’t the only thing Kaltounková took from her time with the Raiders. She described the professional schedule as “exhausting,” but she learned how to manage her time while at Colgate. Outside of her studies and athletics, she was also a member of multiple campus organizations. 

The only thing outsiders knew about Kaltounková’s schedule was when her games were, and that at some point during those 60 minutes, she was more likely than not going to find her way onto the scoresheet. Her 111 career goals are the most by any Raider in program history. 

In many regards, Kaltounková embodies Colgate women’s ice hockey. She’s physically imposing and the team’s mantra of “we play free” applies directly to her style. She still plans to take that with her to Milan alongside former teammate Noemi Neubauerova ’22 and future Raider Linda Vocetkova. 

“It’s about representing Colgate wherever you go,” she said. “Anything that can showcase that Colgate is a program that (has) raised good players and people.”

The sniper is no stranger to representing herself and her heritage in unfamiliar places. When she was 15 years old, she moved stateside from her hometown of Vlasim to Vermont. She then moved to Hamilton, and now lives in the New York metro area. 

Through all the dorm room and apartment move-ins, broken sticks and new teammates, Kaltounková has stayed in touch with her roots. 

“(Czechia) will always be home for me,” she said. “The older I get and the less I go there, it makes the connection stronger because I just miss it so much.”

Now, she’ll have the opportunity to play on the biggest stage in sports, hoping to bring home gold for the place she’ll always call home. 

Her first step on that journey came in the form of a matchup against Colgate’s home — the United States. The Americans, along with Canada, are heavy favorites to compete in the gold medal game. Colgate head coach Stefan Decosse knows that Kaltounková will never back down… no matter the name on the front of an opponent’s jersey. 

“She believes she can win any game,” Decosse said. “She won’t blink.”