Tereza Vanisova had a memorable career for the University of Maine’s women’s ice hockey team, finishing as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 129 points (63 goals, 66 assists) in 129 games.
And her pro career has been equally impressive, especially this season.
The 29-year-old Vanisova, who is one of seven former Black Bears currently playing in the International Ice Hockey Federations’ World Women’s Championship in her native Czechia, has entered her name in the Professional Women’s Hockey League record book this season.
The PWHL is the world’s best league.
Vanisova, who plays for the Ottawa Charge, became the first player in the league’s two-year history to register two hat tricks in the same season.
She also became the first player to record a Gordie Howe hat trick, which involves a player scoring a goal, notching an assist and being penalized for a fight. It is named after the hard-nosed and high-scoring National Hockey League Hall of Famer.
In a 3-2 overtime loss to Boston on Feb. 20, Vanisova and Boston’s Jill Saulnier exchanged several punches with their gloves on and both received double minors for roughing. After that scrap, the PWHL clarified that fighting will lead to a five-minute major and a game misconduct moving forward, according to the Athletic.
It’s been widely viewed as the first fight in league history.
Vanisova had an assist and the tying goal, and was chosen the game’s second star.
Vanisova is tied for second in the PWHL in goals with 15 and is tied for 10th in points with 20. She is also tied for second in game-winning goals with four.
She has three power play goals and has been assessed 38 penalty minutes.
She played for three seasons in the Premier Hockey Federation and is one of two players who is a three-time Isobel Cup champion, twice with Boston and once with Toronto.
The Isobel Cup goes to the league’s playoff champion.
Vanisova scored the overtime game-winner to give Toronto a 4-3 win over Minnesota in the deciding game in 2023.
That was the final year of the PHF and the PWHL made its debut a year ago.
Vanisova began the 2023-24 season with Montreal but was traded to Ottawa late in the campaign.
She had two goals and eight assists in 17 games for Montreal and two assists in six games for Ottawa.
Vanisova’s former UMaine teammate, Vendula Pribylova, is also playing for Czechia in the World Championships.
Pribylova also played in 129 games at UMaine and had 21 goals and 39 assists.
Ida Kuoppala, UMaine’s leading scorer two years ago with 21 goals and 39 points, is playing in her first World’s Women’s Championships for Finland. She is currently playing in the Swedish pro league. She concluded her UMaine career with 93 points on 48 goals and 45 assists in 121 games..
Rahel Enzler is playing for Switzerland and she is playing professionally in her native country after a 103-game career at UMaine (11 goals, 38 assists) through the 2023-24 season.
Mira Seregely is playing for Hungary after concluding her UMaine career this past season. She had a 127-game career at UMaine and finished with 25 goals and 36 assists.
The Welcke twins, Lilli and Luisa, are playing for Germany after spending their freshman seasons at UMaine and this past season at Boston University.