Zuzana Tomčíková

Zuzana Tomčíková
Born	(1988-04-23) April 23, 1988 Zvolen, Czechoslovakia
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position	Goaltender
WCHA team	Bemidji State Beavers
National team	Slovakia
Playing career	–present

Zuzana Tomčíková

Medal record
Women's ice hockey
Competitor for  Slovakia
Winter Universiade
Bronze	2011 Turkey	Tournament

Zuzana Tomčíková (born April 23, 1988) is a member of the Slovakia women's national ice hockey team and also plays for the Bemidji State Beavers. Tomčíková was part of the team that finished in eighth place at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. In 2009, Tomcikova played in the 2009 Ball Hockey World Championships in Pilsen, Czech Republic.^[1]

Playing career

Prior to NCAA hockey, she played for the Slovakian National Team that won gold medal in the North Korea World Championships (Division II), and placed second in Latvia (Division I). Despite being from Slovakia, Tomčíková went to high school at Caronport High School in Canada. Her high school ladies team won the Regina League, Provincials and the Western Shield in her sophomore year. In addition to women's hockey, she played for the boys Tier II team in the South Central minor hockey league.

Tomcikova represented Slovakia in ice hockey at the 2011 Winter Universiade and earned a bronze medal as she made 26 saves in a 3-1 victory over the United States.^[2]

Bemidji State

Tomcikova was playing in Sweden before joining Bemidji State. She inherited the starting goaltender position at Bemidji State from Emily Brookshaw, who had set career marks in almost every major goaltendingcategory as a Beaver. As a freshman, she was named to the All-WCHA Second Team and All-WCHA Rookie Team. In addition, she became just the second Beaver to eclipse the quadruple-save plateau with 1,025(also in her freshman year). In terms of minutes, she played 1805:08. Statiscally, she recorded a .917 save percentage and a 3.09 goals against average. In addition, she tied the school record with three shutouts and became the first player in conference history to be named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on three straight occasions (Dec. 10, Dec. 17 and Jan. 7). At season's end, she became the first Beaver to earn All-WCHA Second Team honors.^[3] On January 28, 2012, the Wisconsin Badgers hosted a record crowd of 12,402 attended the Kohl Center as Wisconsin swept the Bemidji State Beavers. Tomcikova made 32 saves in front of the record breaking crowd, while her rival between the pipes Alex Rigsby earned her sixth shutout of the season.^[4] After her senior season, she was a member of the four-year class with the most wins in Beaver history: (with fellow seniors Kimberly Lieder, Alana McElhinney, Montana Vichorek, Marlee Wheelhouse and Lauren Williams).^[5]

International play

Tomcikova was in net as Canada defeated Slovakia at the 2010 Winter Olympics by an 18-0 mark. She was upset after the match, as she had never allowed so many goals in her career. Tomcikova faced a career-high 67 shots in the game against Canada. In a statement, she said she was really happy her team didn’t quit on her and the team was cheering her on after every single goal.^[6]

Tomcikova represented Slovakia at the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championship. She was named Slovakia's Player of the Game for two games in the tournament, against the United States and Russia.^[7] Slovakia's coaches selected her as one of the team's Top Three players for the tournament.^[8] Tomcikova played in all five of Slovakia's games during the tournament, facing 250 shots in total, making 237 saves. She finished with a save percentage of 0.948, and a goals against average of 2.56. She had one win, and one shutout.^[9] She was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, and her play was largely responsible for keeping Slovakia in the top division of women's IIHF play.^[10]

Career stats

Bemidji State

Awards and honors

• 2008-09 All-WCHA Second Team^[12]
• WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (Week of October 12, 2009)^[13]
• WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (Week of November 9, 2009)^[14]
• WCHA Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Week of January 20, 2010)^[15]
• WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (Week of October 5, 2010)^[16]
• WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (Week of October 4, 2011)^[17]
• 2010 Patty Kazmaier Award nominee^[18]
• 2010 Co-WCHA Player of the Year^[19]
• 2010 WCHA All-Academic Team^[20]
• 2011 All-WCHA Second Team^[21]
• Media All-Star team, 2011 IIHF Women's World Championship^[22]
• Most Valuable Player, 2011 IIHF Women's World Championship^[22]
• 2011-12 CCM Hockey Women’s Division I All-American: Second Team^[23]

References