Aneta Šenková: Player Story
Since the inception of CWHR, we have been captivated by the emerging talent poised to follow in the footsteps of prominent PWHL and NCAA stars who shine in leagues around the globe. From Adéla Šapovalivová and Tereza Plosová in Sweden to Natálie Mlynková in North America, and incoming PWHL draft picks like Noemi Neubauerová and Klara Hymlarová, this new generation is solidifying its presence in Czech hockey. Meanwhile, another wave of talent is eagerly waiting in the wings, ready to make their mark.
One such promising player is 18-year-old goaltender Aneta Šenková, who currently plays for the Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves, a U22 AA program in the OWHL. Aneta is among many European players recruited at a young age to hone their skills in North America, with the goal of advancing to higher-level Juniors or NCAA programs, whether Division III or Division I.
Aneta’s journey into hockey began in her hometown of Litoměřice, inspired by her older brother. “I originally got into hockey because he played, and I wanted to play just like him! I started as a defenseman and played that position for three seasons. I was around 8 years old when I became a goalie. I’m not really sure exactly how it started, but I tried it and loved it!” she recalls. Despite dabbling in basketball, handball, and swimming, hockey remained her true passion.
Growing up in Litoměřice, a town with a rich hockey culture, Aneta had a unique experience. The small Bohemian city, known as the “Garden of Bohemia” due to its fertile agricultural lands and as the final resting place of famous Czech romantic poet Karel Hynek Macha, also boasts a well-established hockey culture. It's home to the newly reconstructed Kalich Arena, which seats 1,750 spectators and hosts the home games of HC Stadion Litoměřice, a team in the second-highest competition in Czechia, the MAXA Liga. "I started playing in Litoměřice with one other girl on the team, Tereza Plosová. She moved away after a couple of years, so I was the only girl on the team after that. We ended up playing with each other again on the Czech National Team, so it was nice to have someone I knew from growing up," she shares. Tereza Plosová has since become a rising star, playing impressively in Sweden's SDHL and committing to the University of Minnesota for next year. It may come as a surprise to some that, despite playing on an all-girls AA team in Canada, Aneta had only played two games with a girls' team before moving to Kingston. Yet, she managed to break through, thriving in her development alongside boys, much like many talented players who came before her.
Aneta's talent and determination earned her a spot on the Czech U18 World Junior Team, where she and her teammates made history this past year by securing a silver medal. Aneta recounted with pride, "I loved the whole tournament. I’d say there were three moments that were my favorites because they were the three times we made history as a team. The first time was in exhibition before the tournament, we beat the USA for the first time in history. The second time was beating Canada in the semi-finals, as that was the first time we had ever beat Canada. The third time was playing in the finals for the first time in program history."
Aneta’s performance at the U18WJC clearly garnered her continued exposure with the national team. During the tournament, she played in 5 games, amassing significant ice time, with an impressive save percentage of .913% and a goals-against average of 2.42. Her continued performances such as those at the WJC did not go unnoticed, earning her an invitation to the national team development camp this past summer, where she further honed her skills and forged valuable friendships and insights.
Now in Kingston, Aneta is pursuing her dream a step further, building experience for the first time in North America. "Kingston so far is great. I’m living my dream here; I’ve always wanted to move abroad to play hockey. This is my first time on an all-girls team, and I love the atmosphere in the dressing room. I love my billets, and they have a dog which is awesome. The coaches and the girls have been great,". Her goals for the season are clear: "My goal is to get better every day and work on the small details with my goalie coach here. I’m looking forward to making new memories with my new teammates."
Looking ahead, Aneta is excited and feels ready about her commitment to play at Clarkson University next season, joining one of the most prestigious women's hockey programs in the NCAA. "I chose Clarkson because the coaches were so welcoming and nice, and they have built an excellent program that I am excited to be a part of. Europe and NCAA were both excellent options, and I’m looking forward to developing my education and hockey career at Clarkson," she says with anticipation. Clarkson's women's hockey program boasts an impressive history, including NCAA Tournament championships in 2014, 2017, and 2018, and multiple appearances in the Frozen Four and NCAA Tournament. The program has also secured ECAC Conference Tournament championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019 (losing to Colgate this past year), and Conference regular season championships in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. Women’s hockey fans everywhere will recognize Clarkson alumni who are now PWHL stars alumni to include names like Jamie Lee Rattray, Erin Ambrose, Savannah Harmon, and Ella Shelton.
Aneta Senkova's journey from Litomerice to Kingston and soon to Clarkson University is but one example of the exciting trend that sees young Czech women’s players coming to North America to pursue their dreams and have a chance at being a part of the best women's hockey programs in the world. Her story is one that deserves to be told, and all of us here at CWHR are so excited about what's to come and the growing presence and impact of Czech women in the world of hockey.
