Dec. 5—BEMIDJI — Former Bemidji State women’s hockey goaltender and BSU Athletics Hall of Fame member Zuzana Tomcikova was recognized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for her play in international competition.
Tomcikova is the first woman to receive the IIHF Richard “Bibi” Torriani Award, given to players “for outstanding contributions to the national team in IIHF competition.”
Tomcikova spent most of her career out of the spotlight, but for three incredible events, she stood tall in a way no Slovakian player had previously. For the better part of six years, she fought in the lower divisions, trying to help her country get to the top level of play in women’s hockey. Finally, in 2009, the team earned promotion to the top division for the first time, and then a year later, the Hungarians qualified for their first Olympics.
Both of these successes couldn’t have been achieved without the sparkling goaltending of Tomcikova. And in 2011, at the Women’s Worlds in Switzerland, Tomcikova was nothing short of sensational, allowing only 12 goals against world powers United States, Sweden and Russia. She then allowed only one more goal in two games in the relegation round. She was named tournament MVP, and a year later, she was again stellar, despite Slovakia’s demotion. Tomcikova retired in 2015, having played more in the lower divisions than the top, but her brief but incredible play at the Olympics and Women’s Worlds proved she was a world-class goalie.
Inducted into the Bemidji State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022, Tomcikova was a four-year letter winner for the Bemidji State women’s hockey team and finished her career with the most games played as a goaltender in program history with 118. She set program records with 41 wins, 3,518 saves, 18 shutouts, a 2.32 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. Tomcikova remains the BSU record holder in shutouts and ranks second in games played, wins, saves, goals against average and save percentage.
Tomcikova became the first All-American and first All-WCHA First Team selection in program history, in addition to being named 2010 WCHA Co-Player of the Year. She was a three-time All-WCHA selection in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and a two-time nominee for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the top female college ice hockey player in NCAA Division I. Tomcikova started all five games for Slovakia at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
