This Saturday sees a repeat of the Play-off Finals from the past two seasons in the PostFinance Women’s League: SC Bern take on the EVZ Women’s Team. As we all know, we came out on top in the most recent final. Following the opening matches of the current season, both teams are already back in contention. EVZ are in 2nd place, whilst the Bern women are in 4th. Ahead of the match against EVZ, Bern still have an away game in Neuchâtel to play on Thursday.

The most impressive player of the first few weeks of the championship wears an EVZ jersey: Mira Seregély. The Hungarian international forward tops the league’s scoring charts with eleven points from four matches. “I feel very welcome and at home in the team – you can see that in the way I play,” she says. The 23-year-old joined EVZ from HK Budapest in the summer. After a year in Hungary, she wanted to play abroad again: she had previously spent six years playing in North America. Discussions with EVZ head coach Daniela Diaz quickly moved to a concrete stage. “The organisation went to great lengths to sign me. What’s more, EVZ are the defending champions and very ambitious – that gives me the chance to celebrate successes.” There’s also a familiar face in the Zug team: Mira Seregély already knows Rahel Enzler from university; the two played together for the University of Maine in the NCAA for three seasons.

Mira Seregély had ended up there via a detour. She says it’s difficult to go straight from Hungary and find yourself in the spotlight of US universities; that’s why she went to Canada first. “I learnt a great deal about myself there. Being in a foreign country at 16 wasn’t always easy, but it helped me grow as a person.” In her current venture abroad, the focus is on her development as an ice-hockey player. “The standard here is very high – even in training: Daniela pushes us every day,” says Mira Seregély. The whole team is under pressure at the moment, partly because of the many injuries. “It’s always difficult when you have a lot of players out. But we’re fighting for them too,” says the Hungarian. Just how seriously she takes this team spirit was evident earlier this week when she accompanied Sini Karjalainen to hospital following her injury. The Finnish defender had to undergo cruciate ligament surgery on Tuesday

No wonder Mira Seregély was the first recipient of ‘Timmy’. That is the name of the team’s internal award, which is presented after every match to the player who has gone the extra mile for the team and stood up for others. Mira Seregély was presented with the award by video coach Kristina Kontny after the opening match in Neuchâtel. “Team spirit is very important,” she says, adding: “You only win and lose together.”

Off the ice, she is exploring her new surroundings. She enjoys cooking and baking in her flat in Cham. The keen hiker is also looking forward to getting to know Switzerland better – though not until after the season. For now, the priority for her and the EVZ Women’s Team is to successfully defend the double. A win on Saturday in Bern should boost their confidence as they work towards that goal (2 pm, PostFinance Arena).