F - Nela Lopusanova - Vlci Zilina (2026 NHL Draft)

[Gigantor The Goalie]

Sadly the info is hard to get into if one is a casual hockey fan like me.

elite prospects doesn't have stats for past rosters and the official website for the team has some scores but no stats and it's hard to figure out what their regular season is..

2023-24 Girls Hockey 19U Schedule - Bishop Kearney Selects

The official 2023-24 Girls Hockey 19U schedule for the Bishop Kearney Selects

bkselects.org

The comment you're responding to was made in January so I think it might be asking why her PPG in the Slovakian women's game dropped a bit. So far her prep team in NA I don't think has played any regular season games but has recently played in a tournament where they lost in the semi-final 3-2 to the Burlington Barracudas.

 

[bigdog16]

They only play tournaments and exhibitions. They don't belong to a "league". The tournament they played in would be considered regular season.

 

[Gigantor The Goalie]

They only play tournaments and exhibitions. They don't belong to a "league". The tournament they played in would be considered regular season.

Thanks for the info. Thought it would be similar to CSSHL but the CSSHL has a regular season.

 

[wetcoast]

Any word on hos Nela is progressing?

 

[Dr Pepper]

I wonder if there's any chance she makes next year's WJCs with Slovakia, as an exceptional player.

If there was any player to break the gender barrier these days, you'd think it'd almost certainly have to be her.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I wonder if there's any chance she makes next year's WJCs with Slovakia, as an exceptional player.

If there was any player to break the gender barrier these days, you'd think it'd almost certainly have to be her.

Unfortunately no. The best players of all time would have difficultly making most Major Junior teams, let alone the world Junior team, especially for a country as good as Slovakia (especially underaged)

 

[kudla]

I wonder if there's any chance she makes next year's WJCs with Slovakia, as an exceptional player.

If there was any player to break the gender barrier these days, you'd think it'd almost certainly have to be her.

This cant be a serious question?

 

[Dr Pepper]

This cant be a serious question?

Would they fare any worse with her on the roster?

I feel like it'd be a cool story at least, although I realize how unlikely it'd be.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Would they fare any worse with her on the roster?

I feel like it'd be a cool story at least, although I realize how unlikely it'd be.

I doubt she'd make U16 team let alone U20.

 

[mistaclick]

She could be a generational talent and still wouldn’t crack any major junior teams in Canada, let alone a men’s U20 national junior team. Maybe in Europe she could play some form of men’s hockey. Male vs female bodies simply have different biomechanics as a whole, and people still don’t realize this. Especially in a physical sport. Look up any exhibition games between a woman’s team and a junior male team. I don’t even know why she has the “NHL draft” tag in her thread, if it happened it would be a publicity stunt and nothing more. Now maybe we could have a woman goalie play with men, but a skater would just simply never happen. That would not end well even if they happened to be skilled enough to play. Physically incomparable. Not to slight woman’s hockey or sports, it’s just the reality of our biology. Nela is one hell of a prospect though, made a lot of noise last year.

 

[austin63867]

I doubt she'd make U16 team let alone U20.

Maybe U16 is a slim possibility but U20 is less than 0.1% chance. Even the top men in the 2026 class like Tobias Tomik or Adam Nemec wouldn't make it.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Maybe U16 is a slim possibility but U20 is less than 0.1% chance. Even the top men in the 2026 class like Tobias Tomik or Adam Nemec wouldn't make it.

Look at 16 year old boys, some of them are twice as big and fast as grown women let alone a teen girl.

 

[austin63867]

Look at 16 year old boys, some of them are twice as big and fast as grown women let alone a teen girl.

Yeah when I say slim I mean less than 2%. I'm not sure Slovakia would risk it and likely her family won't want her to either. If they think she's good enough is up to the team, but I can't see that happening realistically.

 

[Atoyot]

I doubt she'd make U16 team let alone U20.

I mean, she dominated the Slovakian men's U16 league last year as a 14 year old.

 

[wetcoast]

I mean, she dominated the Slovakian men's U16 league last year as a 14 year old.

The thing is that the physically acceleration for boys from 15 onwards just skyrockets so in as a little as a year she would hit a wall.

Also I really wonder how good the Slovak under 16 league as a whole

 

[Kshahdoo]

The thing is that the physically acceleration for boys from 15 onwards just skyrockets so in as a little as a year she would hit a wall.

Also I really wonder how good the Slovak under 16 league as a whole

Mitchell Miller had 29 points in 19 gp in Slovakia and now he has 2 points in 9 games in the KHL, but it's about top Slovakian professional league. I imagine U16 one is about that good...

 

[alko]

Please stop this nonsense with NHL draft, Slovak boys national teams... If she will be a star in Professional Women's Hockey League, that will be great. More Slovak girls will want to play hockey. And that could bring our womens national team further.

 

[vlady]

She will soon be in action at the U18 World Women's Championships. Let's see how she does against USA on Jan 7. She will also play Sweden on Jan 8 and Switzerland on Jan 10.

 

[FourQuarters]

Nela is Nela. She should be playing for herself, for fun, not playing in a men's league to "prove that women can be just as good as men." When she sparkles on the ice, she naturally becomes the best advertisement for women's hockey.
What we should consider is what we and hockey world can do for young female players like Nela, instead of what Nela should do to contribute to female hockey. I hope women league will grow well, then Nela will have a great league to play in.

 

[Fonzieleaf]

She will soon be in action at the U18 World Women's Championships. Let's see how she does against USA on Jan 7. She will also play Sweden on Jan 8 and Switzerland on Jan 10.

Well seeing as she had 13 points in 5 games as a 14 year old, leading the tournament in scoring, this year will be her own personal playground. It's clear as day the competition isn't strong enough for her.

 

[vlady]

Well seeing as she had 13 points in 5 games as a 14 year old, leading the tournament in scoring, this year will be her own personal playground. It's clear as day the competition isn't strong enough for her.

last year there was a top 4 and bottom 4 group and Nela mostly played the bottom ranked teams with the exception of the game against Sweden (where she scored the Michigan goal, but Slovakia lost 6-1).

This year will be more difficult because she gets to play 2 strong teams in the group and then likely another strong team in the quarterfinals. Therefore it's entirely possible that she won't eclipse her numbers from last year.

 

[austin63867]

It should be noted that she gained notoriety partially for her play against boys, which was impressive, but now she's playing against other girls so that's where the focus should be for her. If I was Lopusanova, I'd rather be playing for the chance at pro tournaments vs Boys U16 anyways.

 

[BondraTime]

I wonder if there's any chance she makes next year's WJCs with Slovakia, as an exceptional player.

If there was any player to break the gender barrier these days, you'd think it'd almost certainly have to be her.

Zero chance

 

[dangomon]

When would Nela be eligible for a PWHL draft? Would love to see her live.

 

[oooooooooohCanada]

When would Nela be eligible for a PWHL draft? Would love to see her live.

I'm unsure if there is an age limit of 18 but if not she could theoretically declare for the next PWHL draft. If there is an age limit of 18 then she'll have to wait a couple years. I'd assume she goes and plays NCAA for 4 years and then goes to the PWHL but maybe she'd prefer to join the PWHL asap at a big salary in hopes to cash in early in case the PWHL doesnt work out.