Three former Colgate women’s hockey players and one future player are set to represent their countries on sports’ biggest international stage: The Olympics. Their selections highlight both individual achievement and the continued growth of Colgate’s program beyond the collegiate ranks. Let’s dive into some of their past accomplishments.
Kristýna Kaltounková ’24 left Colgate as one of the most accomplished players in program history. By the end of her five seasons, she built an extremely impressive resume. She earned ECAC All-Rookie Team honors in 2020–21 and delivered one of the defining moments in Colgate hockey history with an overtime game-winning goal against Yale in the 2022 ECAC Championship, after which she was named tournament MVP. That goal also earned the Raiders an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. In 2024, she became Colgate’s all-time leading goal scorer, and she finished her career with 111 goals. Her success has continued at the professional level, as she was selected first overall by the New York Sirens in the 2025 PWHL Draft. She will represent her home country of Czechia in the upcoming Olympic Games.
Kayle Osborne ’24 spent four seasons establishing herself as one of the most reliable goaltenders in Colgate history. She appeared in at least 19 games in each of her four seasons, including 26 as a senior, and compiled an impressive 61–20–4 record in her collegiate career. Osborne posted a save percentage above 91 percent in every season, peaking at 94.1 percent during her senior year. Since being drafted 28th overall by the New York Sirens in the 2024 PWHL Draft, Osborne has become the team’s starting goaltender and was selected as one of three goaltenders to represent Team Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Beyond individual achievements, these two have left a lasting impact on Colgate women’s hockey that is still felt by players today who had the opportunity to play with them, especially through their routines and intensity.
Junior Emma Pais noted the two created a competitive environment in practice that was fundamental to team success.
“[Kaltounková and Osborne] both have a passion for hockey that was evident in their play,” Pais said.
Fellow junior Madeline Palumbo echoed that sentiment, recalling their work ethic and commitment to improvement.
“Both on and off the ice [Osborne] was so dedicated to working on her game and always held extremely high standards for her team,” Palumbo said.
Senior Sara Stewart highlighted Kaltounková and Osborne’s dedication to the team.
“I think they are just both people who always competed so hard in practice as if it was a game,” Stewart said. “They both really made those around them better, and we can bring that mindset to today’s team.”
As the program looks ahead, the culture that Kaltounková and Osborne helped build continues to shape the team today.
Noemi Neubauerová ’22 will join Kaltounková on Team Czechia. In her Colgate career, Neubauerová tallied 51 points over 115 games. She then went on to play a graduate season in 2022-23 at Providence College, where she registered 26 points in 36 games. She continues to play professionally for the EV Zug Women’s team in the PFWL, which is the Swiss women’s hockey league. Neubauerová is the one of the only players with prior Olympic experience, as she played in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, which was Czechia’s first Olympic appearance in women’s hockey. She will presumably be relied upon as a leader for this year’s strong Czech team.
Pais mentioned how the success of former players in the program reminds the team of the possibilities that can come after Colgate and motivates them to improve.
“At Colgate many players have goals of playing in the Olympics so seeing someone who was in your shoes competing at that level is inspiring. It reminds all of us of the possibilities after Colgate and the importance of striving to improve everyday,” she said.
Palumbo spoke about the lasting impact that Neubauerová made on Raider hockey, and how she exemplified the heights that players could reach themselves.
“I think she is someone who left such a big impact on our program. I never played with her but I have always heard such amazing things, and I think she set a high standard for the program which is amazing. It is really special to be able to play for a program with multiple players attending the Olympics now or in the past and I think it is something our team is proud of,” she said.
Finally, Linda Vocetková, class of 2030, will join Kaltounková and Neubauerová. Vocetková is the only one of the four to be a future player, not a former player for the Raiders, but that doesn’t mean she lacks experience. She was the captain of Czechia’s U18 team last year and is now in her final of year in Sweden’s contact league. She is also no stranger to big moments, as she netted the game-winner for Czechia in last year’s U18 bronze medal game.
Women’s hockey in the Olympics begins on Feb. 5. Kaltounková, Neubauerová and Vocetková will lead the Czech team in their first game against the United States.
