Earlier this fall, Middlebury women's hockey alumnae Janka Hlinka '18 and Emily Fluke '15 signed with Connecticut Whale of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). This is Hlinka's first year with the PHF, while Fluke rejoins the Whale after spending the las t two seasons in Boston and Toronto.
 
Hlinka played in Europe over the last three years. During the 2018-19 campaign, she suited up for SKP Bratislava, posting 12 goals and 11 assists in 21 games. She spent the last two seasons with Skellefteå AIK, in Sweden's Division I league,, where she led the team in scoring both years. She had 25 points (14G, 11A) in 21 games over the span. Hlinka also played for Slovakia's national team, competing in the 2019 IIHF Division 1A World Championship, tallying two goals in five contests. As a Panther, Hlinka recorded 20 goals and 45 assists for a total of 65 points in 113 career games. She and Fluke were Panther teammates for one season. 
 
Fluke began her career with the Whale, spending the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons in Connecticut. During that time, she scored 23 points (8G, 15A) and served as the team's captain in her second year. Fluke played for the Boston Pride for the 2019-20 season, tallying a career-best 27 points (9G, 18A) in 23 regular-season games, while adding a goal and an assist in post-season play. She signed with the Toronto Six last year, recording a goal and an assist during the COVID-shortened season in Lake Placid. Before she turned pro, Fluke tallied 115 career points (54G, 61A) at Middlebury. She was named an AHCA CCM First-Team All-American, the New England Hockey Writers Association's Division II-III Women's Player of the Year, and the NESCAC Player of the Year.
 
Connecticut Whale opened the first half of the year with a 6-4 record, finishing with a four-game winning streak. Hlinka played in six contests and had one assist, while Fluke competed in nine games with five points on the year (3G, 2A). The Panther duo and the rest of the Whale are currently scheduled to return to action on January 15.