When asked to describe their teammate Katerina Mrazova in just one word, the answers given by Minnesota Duluth's Jessica Healey and Sydney Brodt had a common theme: Magic.
"She has the filthiest, best hands probably in the NCAA," said Healey, a senior defenseman. "It's unbelievable the stuff she does in practice and in games. She's quite the player to watch."
"She does things that no one else can do," said Brodt, a sophomore wing. "Her hands, her vision, all the plays she makes - she is just so creative."
Mrazova, the Bulldogs' version of former Detroit Red Wings 'Magic Man' Pavel Datsyuk, will play a show at Amsoil Arena one final time this weekend when UMD hosts Bemidji State in a best-of-three WCHA first-round playoff series. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, if necessary.
Mrazova, who goes by the nickname Katka, is in her fifth season at UMD after missing the entire 2015-16 season due to a knee injury. The 25-year-old who joined the Bulldogs midway through the 2013-14 season has 24 goals and 49 assists in 114 career games, with seven goals and 12 assists coming in 32 games this season.
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She posted two goals and an assist a week ago in a 3-2 win at Minnesota State-Mankato to close the regular season.
Mrazova, a center, can score with the best of them, but is more comfortable setting up her teammates. She has built a reputation as a supernatural playmaker who breaks from the norm. As Brodt describes: You don't find Mrazova, she finds you.
"When I'm on a line with her, she says, 'Don't call for the puck, don't call for the puck, because I'm going to find you.' I'm like, 'OK, I'll do whatever you say,' " Brodt said. "I love playing with her because I know the puck is always going to be on my stick in front of the net. She's always going to make a great play."
When Brodt says Mrazova is "always going to make a great play," she's not only talking about offense. Mrazova can be just as magical in the defensive zone with the puck.
One of Healey's favorite Katka tricks is when the Czech forward brings the puck to her forehand and puts it between her legs. Healey said it gives her a heart attack every time, especially when Mrazova is the last one back at the blue line, but there's no one she trusts more with the puck.
Bulldogs coach Maura Crowell has a similar trust in Mrazova, and has similar reactions to her veteran defensive about some of the moves she makes.
Then the coach remembers its Katka out on the ice working the puck, and all those nerves melt away.
"She is one of the most responsible, smart, just effective centers in the league," Crowell said. "If you watch her in the defensive zone, she is one of our best supporters of the defensive side of the puck. ... Then you get her into the offensive zone and she's able to keep that (puck) on her stick when you think, 'Oh boy, it could be turned over.' But she still has it. I think she's a very complimentary player who can basically do anything we need her to do out there."
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Mrazova - who has had her knee surgically repaired three times - said if she's still healthy, she'd like to continue playing hockey after she graduates in May. In addition to playing for the Czech Republic national team, Mrazova said she has options in Europe, but also likes the idea of remaining in the United States and playing here.
The perfect scenario would be to get a job in hockey, she said, unless someone at UMD wants to pull another year of NCAA eligibility out of a hat.
"It would be great, but it's about time," Mrazova said. "I'm lucky to be here and just enjoying every time, every day. It's going to be really hard to graduate. I had a great time."
BEMIDJI STATE (14-17-3) AT UMD (14-14-4)
What: Best-of-three, WCHA first-round playoff series
When: 2:07 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday (if necessary)
Where: Amsoil Arena
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Twitter: @UMDWHockey
