Skating fast and blocking shots: How Aneta Tejralová plans to win over PWHL Ottawa fans

The first thing you should know about Aneta Tejralová is that she loves blocking shots.

It's one of the reasons why six-year-old Tejralová wanted to become a defender when she started playing hockey. At first, she wanted to play in net, but her parents told her goalie equipment was too expensive.

"I actually like to block the shots and be like a superhero," she said with a smile.

Tejralová's hockey journey began more than 20 years ago in Prague and continues in Ottawa this season. The 27-year-old shutdown defender has signed a one-year contract to play in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), after being drafted in the seventh round (41st overall) in September.

It will be her second year playing professionally in North America after suiting up for the Boston Pride of the now-shuttered Premier Hockey Federation last season, and following several years of playing professionally in Russia. 

The new league, which begins play in January, aims to attract the best talent from across the world. Ottawa may be leading the way in that regard, with more countries represented on its training camp roster than any other PWHL team.

In addition to Tejralová and her Czech teammate Katerina Mrázová, Ottawa has players from Japan (Akane Shiga), Germany (Sandra Abstreiter), and Hungary (Fanni Garát-Gasparics), plus Canadians and Americans.

"To have the international feel that we've got within our group is really special to us," head coach Carla MacLeod said.

Friday was Tejralová's fourth day in Canada and first opportunity to get on the ice with teammates during training camp at TD Place.

Though it's only been a couple of days, and the jet lag hasn't worn off, Tejralová already feels like she made a good decision by coming here. She