Denisa Křížová Bio
Denisa Křížová (born 3 November 1994) is a Czech ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the New York Sirens of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). She is also a longtime member of the Czech Republic women’s national ice hockey team and an accomplished ball hockey athlete. Known for her scoring touch and playmaking, Křížová has built a professional career that spans college hockey, North American professional leagues, and the Swedish Women’s Hockey League.
A left-shooting forward standing 165 cm and weighing 62 kg, Křížová has worn several jerseys across her career, including HC Slavia Praha, Boston Pride, Brynäs IF Dam, Minnesota Whitecaps, Minnesota Frost, Vancouver Goldeneyes, and her current New York Sirens. Her journey from a small Czech town to international professional hockey has made her one of the most recognizable Czech women’s hockey players of her generation.
Early Life and Background
Denisa Křížová was born on 3 November 1994 in Horní Cerekev, a small town in the Czech Republic. Growing up in a country with a deep love for hockey, she was introduced to the sport at a young age and quickly developed a passion for the game. Her early years in Horní Cerekev helped shape her work ethic and competitive drive, traits that would later define her professional career.
Křížová began her organized hockey journey in the Czech youth system, where she first played for HC Slavia Praha. That early exposure to competitive team hockey allowed her to refine her skills as a forward and prepare for the jump to higher levels of the game. Her development in the Czech system also laid the foundation for her future international career with the national team program.
Path to Hockey
Křížová’s path to professional hockey included a standout college career in the United States. Across four seasons with the Northeastern Huskies women’s ice hockey program, she posted 169 points in 143 games, finishing as the sixth-highest scorer in the history of the university. That college production made her one of the most promising Czech forwards heading into the professional ranks.
Her transition to the professional level came in 2017, when she became the first player born in the Czech Republic to be drafted into the National Women’s Hockey League. The Connecticut Whale selected her with the thirteenth overall pick in the 2017 NWHL Draft, marking a historic moment for Czech women’s hockey. She signed her first professional contract with the Boston Pride on 2 August 2018, officially beginning her pro career in North America.
Denisa Křížová Career
Early Career (2011–2018)
Křížová’s competitive career began in 2011, the same year she represented the Czech Republic at the senior IIHF World Championship Division II tournament. She split her early years between national team duties and her time at HC Slavia Praha, building experience at both the club and international levels. As a junior player, she also suited up for the Czech under-18 team at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Her college years at Northeastern sharpened her offensive game and prepared her for the professional stage. The Boston Pride then signed her to her first pro deal in 2018, giving her a foothold in the North American game. After one season in Boston, she returned to Europe to play in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League.
Boston Pride and Brynäs IF Dam (2018–2022)
Křížová joined the Boston Pride for the 2018–19 season, becoming one of the early Czech players to compete in the NWHL. Although her time in Boston lasted only one year, it gave her valuable professional experience in a fast, physical North American league. That single season helped her adjust to the pro style of play before she took her game overseas.
In Sweden, Křížová joined Brynäs IF Dam of the SDHL and quickly became one of the league’s top scorers. In her first season with the club, she recorded 47 points in 34 games, finishing seventh in league scoring. Her production in Sweden reinforced her reputation as a dynamic offensive forward and kept her on the radar of North American teams.
Minnesota Era (2022–2025)
Křížová returned to North America in 2022, playing one season with the Minnesota Whitecaps in the PHF. When the PWHL launched, she was selected by PWHL Minnesota in the eighth round of the 2023 PWHL Draft. During the 2023–24 season, she recorded three goals and three assists in 24 regular season games and added two goals in ten playoff games, helping Minnesota capture the inaugural Walter Cup championship. On 21 June 2024, the team re-signed her to a one-year contract for the 2024–25 season.
Vancouver and Return to Minnesota (2025–2026)
On 9 June 2025, Křížová was selected twelfth overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft, opening a new chapter in her career. On 19 November 2025, she was traded back to the Minnesota Frost in exchange for a third-round pick, Anna Segedi. During the 2025–26 season split between the two clubs, she posted one goal and four assists in 23 games, continuing to provide reliable two-way play.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a left-shooting forward, Křížová is known for her skating, vision, and ability to contribute in all three zones. Her college scoring record and her seventh-place finish in SDHL scoring highlight her natural offensive instincts. Defensively responsible and willing to play physical minutes, she fits comfortably into a top-nine forward role.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her most defining moment to date is helping Minnesota win the inaugural Walter Cup in 2024. She also made history in 2017 as the first Czech-born player drafted into the NWHL, a milestone that opened the door for future Czech women’s hockey players. In ball hockey, her 2017 World Championship gold and Best Forward award stand among her signature international accomplishments.
Denisa Křížová Career Wins
Denisa Křížová’s trophy case features both ice hockey and ball hockey achievements. Her most prominent ice hockey title is the 2024 Walter Cup, won with PWHL Minnesota. In ball hockey, she has earned a gold medal at the 2017 ISBHF World Championship, silver in 2022, and bronze medals in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2019.
PWHL Highlights
Křížová’s PWHL résumé includes the 2024 Walter Cup championship with the Minnesota Frost. She contributed two goals in ten playoff games during that title run, helping Minnesota become the league’s first-ever champion. Her role on a championship roster cemented her place among the top Czech forwards in the league.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Křížová represented the Czech Republic at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and at multiple IIHF World Women’s Championship events, including top-division tournaments in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021. In ball hockey, she was named Best Forward of the 2017 World Championship and led all players in scoring in 2019 while earning All-Star honors.
Denisa Křížová Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Denisa Křížová’s parents and family background is limited, and she has not publicly detailed her family lineage in connection with hockey. Her rise from Horní Cerekev to professional hockey reflects a personal journey shaped largely by her own development through Czech youth programs and college hockey.
Personal Life
Křížová keeps her personal life largely private, and no confirmed public details about a spouse or children are available. Off the ice, she remains connected to fans through her social media presence and continues to represent the Czech Republic on the international stage.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was a season of transition for Denisa Křížová. She was selected twelfth overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft on 9 June 2025, giving her a fresh start with a new franchise. Her brief tenure in Vancouver was followed by a mid-season trade back to the Minnesota Frost on 19 November 2025, where she returned to a familiar organization.
Splitting the 2025–26 campaign between Vancouver and Minnesota, Křížová posted one goal and four assists in 23 games, providing steady two-way play for both clubs. Her comfort in Minnesota, where she had previously won the Walter Cup, made her a smooth re-addition to the Frost roster during the season.
On 30 March 2026, Křížová was traded to the New York Sirens in exchange for Jincy Roese, and on 20 June 2026 she signed a one-year contract extension with the Sirens. With her move to New York now official, Křížová enters the next chapter of her PWHL career looking to bring veteran scoring and playoff experience to a growing Sirens franchise.