The appointment of the ex-goaltender, who was part of the Slovakia team that finished eighth in the women’s competition at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, marks the first official act of Miroslav Satan as head of the national team programme.

"It’s a great honour and I really appreciate the trust Miroslav Satan puts in me," Tomcikova said.

"First of all, I want to contact all women’s hockey clubs in Slovakia, present them my vision, listen to their opinions and I believe that together we will move women’s hockey forward."

Tomcikova was the face of the Slovak women’s team during its most successful years, which begun in the 2008-2009 season.

She helped them win two qualification tournaments to earn a place at the Winter Olympic Games for the first and only time at Vancouver 2010.

In the same campaign, Slovakia also gained promotion to the top division of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World Championship programme.

At the 2011 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Slovakia achieved their highest placing in women’s hockey, seventh, and Tomcikova was voted Most Valuable Player and best goaltender of the tournament.

Tomcikova ended her time with the national team in 2013.

The following year, she won the IIHF European Women’s Champions Cup with Tornado Moscow Region before launching a new career off the ice.

As well as working on the coaching staff of the Hungarian women’s national team for two years, Tomcikova has also recently worked as the marketing manager of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation (SZĽH).

Additionally, she has been a mentor for young players in Slovakia and at IIHF development camps.

"We met at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver 2010, where our women’s team competed as well," Satan said.

"Zuzana was the backbone of our team.

"She has experience and probably knows more about women’s hockey than I do.

"That’s why I believe she’s the right person to raise the level of women’s hockey in Slovakia."

Since Tomcikova’s days in goal, the national team has dropped down to 14th place in the IIHF Women’s World Ranking and has fluctuated between the second and third tiers during the past four years.

The SZĽH’s aim is to make Slovakia a regular participant at the top level, a task which has become slightly easier due to the planned expansion from eight to 10 teams.

Next year, Slovakia will battle for a spot in the expanded 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

The winner of the 2018 IIHF Women's World Championship Division I Group A, which is scheduled to take place in Strasbourg from April 8 to 14, will be promoted. 

Competing alongside Slovakia will be Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Norway and hosts France.

Satan, a four-time Olympian and a member of the Slovak men’s 2002 World Championship-winning side, was appointed to his role as head of the national team programme last month.

The 42-year-old also assumed the role of general manager for the men's national team, which has disappointed in recent years.

The team has not reached the quarter-finals of either the World Championships or Olympics since 2013.

Satan has said he is aiming to get Slovakia in the play-offs of every tournament they play next season.