Women’s Ice Hockey Student-Athletes Compete Abroad

The women’s ice hockey team brings together athletes with diverse backgrounds, experience and talent from around the world. Not only has the team had an inspiring spring season with a 22-4-2 overall record, but they also made history by winning the inaugural Middle Atlantic Conference women’s ice hockey championship and making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Amid the incredible season, three of the 30 student-athletes competed on the international stage, representing their countries abroad in China, Serbia, New Zealand and Italy.

Milica Velcek, forward winger from Novi Sad, Serbia, is going into her sophomore year as a business management major. In March, she played her third year in the IIHF World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, where her team finished third. Velcek’s most memorable experience came at her first world championship in 2023, when her team won a gold medal that promoted them to a higher division. Velcek was also named a Top Forward as well as Player of the Game two times and MVP for Team Serbia.

“It’s always fun and it’s an honor being able to represent my country and to wear that jersey,” says Velcek.

Forward right wing Renee Ng from Hong Kong, China, is entering her sophomore year as a nursing major. Ng played in the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, and in the IIHF Women’s World Championships Division II in Dunedin, New Zealand, earlier this year. Ng was recruited to the national Hong Kong team when she was 15 years old. In her first year on the team in 2023, they won Division III, bringing home Hong Kong’s first gold medal.

“Playing in these games with teammates who have more experience and going through such adversity has taught me more leadership qualities that I hope to use at the collegiate level,” says Ng.

Sports management major Nina Hudakova has been playing with the Slovakia team since 2018. Hudakova is a rising sophomore and left wing forward from Kosice, Slovakia. This year, she competed in the World University Games in Torino, Italy, placing third. Walking into the stadium with athletes from all over the world, the smell of the ice under the lights and thousands of people cheering proved emotional and exciting for Hudakova.

“Playing abroad reminded me how lucky I am to have the support and foundation of Wilkes behind me,” she says. “I’m incredibly grateful.”

As these students travel to represent their home countries, it is not without difficulty. Head Coach David LaBaff sees it as an opportunity for the remaining team to rise to the challenge.

“I think it’s something special and speaks to the depth of our team,” says LaBaff. “We miss them when they leave, but everyone is supportive and proud.”

Each time players leave to play for their home country, they return with their jerseys to hang in LaBaff’s office. “It’s a cool thing to see every day, and it showcases the diversity of the team,” he says. “Every year, we know they’re going to leave for a few weeks to represent their countries. The University and team will always support them in that.”