Slovak ice-hockey player Nela Lopusanova was ranked 3rd in the International Ice Hockey Federation Female Player of the Season 2022/2023 poll. American player Hilary Knight topped the poll, becoming the first ever recipient of the award. The winner was decided by the votes of media representatives and invited members of the IIHF family.
Only 15 years old, Nela Lopusanova showcased her talents to the fullest during the 2022/2023 season at the U18 Women's World Championship in Sweden and at the 2023 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Friuli Venezia Giulia, where she was a major contributor to the historic silver medal for the Slovak girls. She was the MVP of the U18 World Championships and impressed experts with her stick work. Earlier, the Slovakian was the recipient of the Piotr Nurowski Award for Europe's best young athlete in winter sports for 2023.
Even before her fifteenth birthday, she was already playing in the highest women's hockey league in Slovakia for the club Vlci Žilina. As of the 2023/2024 season, Nela Lopusanova will study and play in the USA. She will start high school in Bishop Kearney in August and will also play for the local U19 team BK Selects.
Source: TASR
