Alena Polenská

Alena Polenská (previously Mills; born 9 June 1990) is a Czech ice hockey player and former captain of the Czech Republic women's national ice hockey team. She plays in the Swiss Women's League (SWHL A) with the ZHC Lions Frauen.

Polenská was part of the first Czech team to participate in a top-level tournament of the IIHF Women's World Championship (2013 tournament) and was captain of the first Czech team to earn a medal at the Women's World Championship (2022).

Playing career
She won a bronze medal for the Czech Republic at the 2008 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship. In the bronze medal game, Polenská scored two goals. At the 2008 Roller Hockey World Championships, she won a gold medal. It marked the first time that a European team had won the event. On August 12, 2010, she was named captain of the Czech Republic Olympic Development Team.

NCAA
Polenská joined the Brown Bears women's ice hockey program in the autumn of 2009 and appeared in 28 games during her freshman campaign. Her five goals tied for first on the squad, and her 96 shots on goal led all Bears skaters. On January 31, 2010, versus Yale, she registered two assists. In an exhibition game versus the Etobicoke Dolphins on 17 October 2010, Polenská scored two goals in a 5–2 victory.

Russia
Polenská played in Russia from 2014 to 2022. Her first season was played in the Russian Women's Hockey League (RWHL) with Dinamo Saint Petersburg, and she then remained with the club as the RWHL was replaced by the Zhenskaya Hockey League for the 2015–16 season. After four seasons with Dinamo, she signed with Agidel Ufa in 2018. With Agidel, Polenská won the 2019 Russian Championship and was selected for the ZhHL All-Star Game in 2019 and 2020. Following that season, she signed with the KRS Vanke Rays

Sweden
After leaving the Vanke Rays, Polenská signed with Brynäs IF. She left Brynäs following the 2022–23 season.

International play
Polenská was a stalwart member of the Czech national team for nearly two decades. She served as captain from 2010 until her retirement from international competition in 2023 and led the team through promotion to the Top Division, as well as their first World Championship medal victory. She and figure skater Michal Březina served as flag bearers for the Czech delegation at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics. After playing 260 international games, Polenská announced her retirement from the national team in June 2023.

Personal life
Polenská's Czech Republic jersey from the 2008 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship was displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

In June 2018, she married American ex-pat Thomas Mills, who she met while playing in Saint Petersburg. She returned to using her maiden name in 2024.

International
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Awards and honors

 * Most Valuable Player for the Czech Republic, 2008 U18 World Championship
 * Most Valuable Player, Princeton Tiger Lilies, 2009