Heading into the home stretch of summer, things are heating up on the ice as the PostFinance Women’s League (PFWL, also known as Swiss Women’s Hockey League) kicks off its 2024-25 season.

The PFWL has grown rapidly in recent years. With eight teams attracting more international talent than ever, this season could be one of the most competitive in league history.

“It's taking a great step forward because bigger clubs are involved,” Swiss national team captain Lara Stalder (EV Zug) said. “Six of the eight teams are connected to bigger men's clubs that you know by name. This league is emerging because more international players are heading towards this league. We want to develop the young generation as well.”

International players made a significant impact last year as they took seven of the top 10 spots in the scoring race. That included league MVP and French centre Estelle Duvin, Finnish forward Maija Otamo and Swedish  winger Fanny Rask.

HC Ambri-Piotta faces off against HC Davos on 7 September to kick things off. In this balanced league, it’s hard to pick a favourite to win the championship.

“There are six teams that are very competitive, and you have to bring your best game to win every night,” Stalder said. “That's what makes it more competitive and more professional. It is not that easy to win titles anymore.”

With all the growth, the PFWL has earned the reputation of becoming a more global league. There is optimism that the league will develop into something even bigger and better in years to come.

“That's the good part because that puts Switzerland on the world’s radar, and that's how you attract good players,” Stalder says. “It was our goal to create that movement. It started by implementing professional structures. Switzerland is beautiful, and it is a small country. You can travel, but at the same time, you can also play great hockey.”

ZSC Lions

Last year, ZSC Lions won the decisive game against SC Bern to claim their third consecutive championship. It was their ninth title since 2010-11. Captain Sinja Leemann led the team in regular-season scoring (25+27=52). She was a finalist for the league MVP and Woman of the Year Awards. Forward Lisa Ruedi (13+14=27) was also a league MVP nominee. In the playoffs, Ruedi kept producing (3+6=9), including a goal in the championship game. 

Anchoring the defence is American Skylar Fontaine, coming off a 25-point campaign. With the arrival of defender Josefine Holmgren from HC Ambri-Piotta, the Lions have bolstered their back end and added physicality. The Swede had 29 points last year and led the league in penalty minutes (54). Another new addition is ex-Czech captain Alena Polenska, who had 24 points last year with Agidel Ufa.

Sandra Heim brings strong goaltending to the Lions again. The 29-year-old Wilderswil native recorded a league-leading 1.24 GAA last season.

SC Bern

After the disappointment of losing the final to ZSC Lions, SC Bern is determined to go all the way this season.
Three of last year’s top 10 scorers are returning to Bern, including league MVP Duvin. In 2023-24, the French forward amassed 67 points, including a league-leading 35 goals. Otamo (58 points) and Swiss forward Emma Ingold (31 points) will also contribute to Bern’s success on offence.

French forward Clara Rozier joins Bern after a stint with Finland’s HIFK where she guided the team to the Auroraliiga (formerly Naisten Liiga) championship. Rozier was named playoff MVP with 14 points.

Canadian forward Lea MacLeod, who recently completed a stint with Germany’s ERC Ingolstadt, and Slovakian forward Viktoria Maskalova, who previously suited up for SC Langenthal, are other new additions.
Lara Christen leads the defence for Bern after scoring 28 points last season. Between the pipes will be fellow national team veteran Saskia Maurer, who had a 1.37 GAA in last year’s playoffs.

HC Ambri-Piotta

There is a lot of excitement surrounding Ambri-Piotta, last year’s semi-finalists. Heading into the season, the team got a boost with the addition of Czechia’s Michaela Pejzlova. The centre led HIFK to the Auroraliiga championship. She was awarded the Marianne Ihalainen award for most points in the Finnish league (30+41=71) and selected as a First Team All-Star.

Rask was third in league scoring last season (18+37=55). Supporting her will be local forward Romy Eggimann (19+16=35) and Finnish left-winger Jenna Kaila (21+10=31).

Nicole Bullowill lead the core group of defenders, while Sofia Decristophoris returns between the pipes for Ambri-Piotta.

Neuchatel Hockey Academy

After falling short in last year’s semi-finals, Neuchatel has high expectations heading into this season.
Leading the way is Polish forward Tatiana Onyshchenko, who had a team-high 17 goals and 30 points in 2023-24. 

Locals Muriel Wilcke, Nora Fornasier, Tanja Kunz, Ines Berset, and Gaelle Bourquin are all returning and expected to contribute to the team’s success.

One of Neuchatel’s exciting additions is Rosalie Begin-Cyr. The Canadian forward led USPORTS’ Concordia Stingers to three league championships and won gold in the 2023 Winter World University Games.

Returning to anchor the blue line will be American Madison Truax, who had 24 points last year. Another welcome addition on defence is Marie-Pierre Pelissou from SC Bern. Pelissou last played for Neuchatel during the 2021-2022 season.

Former Ambri-Piotta netminder Franziska Walther joins the team and will work alongside returning goaltender Nina Paiva.

HC DAVOS

HC Davos is eager to improve on last year’s record after missing the playoffs with a fifth-place finish.

U.S. forward Leah Marino will provide leadership on offence, having scored 27 points for Davos last year. As the team staved off relegation in the Ranking Round, Marino stepped up with three goals and three assists.

A trio of Canadian players will bolster Davos’ attack. Courtney Kollman brings championship-winning from helping the University of Calgary Dinos triumph in 2023. Her Dinos teammate Elizabeth Lang was named a USPORTS First Team All-Star last season. Meanwhile, Joelle Fiala helped the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds to a Canada West championship in 2024.

Janine Hauser will be a key rearguard after stepping up with 24 regular-season points last year. The tandem of Caroline Spies and Jessica Streicher will divide up goaltending duties as they did last season.

EV ZUG

Last season saw EV Zug promoted to the A league after winning the B League Championship in 2022-2023. While it was a successful season, the team is not looking back but pressing forward to reach even higher goals.
“We don't think about last year, because it’s not the standard we should think about,” Stalder said. "You stick with the same group but you can take steps forward with the system and little details. We are right there in the moment, and we know that every night now, we have to bring our best hockey.”

The only new addition to EV Zug is forward Rahel Enzler. It is a homecoming for Enzler as she returns to Switzerland after playing in the NCAA with the University of Maine Black Bears. Last season, Enzler had six goals and 26 points.

A former perennial SDHL scoring title contender, Stalder brings elite experience, while young national team prospects like Ivana Wey and Naemi Herzig will also chip in offensively.

Austria’s Annika Fazokas anchors the defence. Finland’s Eveliina Makinen and Switzerland’s Chiara Pfosi are the netminders.

Overall, EV Zug is eager to show their competitive fire on the ice this upcoming season.

“We want to win titles; it's part of the club's DNA, and it's part of what we want to identify ourselves with,” Stalder said. “We have a good team and want to compete for the title. I am excited for the season. I can't wait to see where we are standing after the first round. We have high ambitions.”

SC Langenthal

After avoiding relegation last season thanks to a 4-0 win over Lugano, SC Langenthal is another squad looking for improvement.

Returning players include Italian forward Samantha Guis and American defender Megan Cornell.
Swiss defender Anja Luternauer brings a wealth of experience, having spent a decade with the SC Langenthal program. Lenni Kozuh is back for her sixth season with the team.

HC Fribourg-Gotteron

Newly-promoted HC Fribourg-Gotteron will face big challenges at this level. Recently, the team added goaltending depth with the acquisition of Alexandra Lehmann from 2024 finalists SC Bern. 

All eyes will be on top-10 league scorer Jenna Suokko. The Finnish winger joined Frieborg-Gotteron after helping SC Bern reach the league finals last year. In 2023-24, Suokko had 16 goals and 32 points. In eight playoff games, she added two goals and two assists.

Canadian defender Lauren Dabrowski has transferred from Sweden’s SDE HF, with whom she totalled 19 points last year. Forward Maggy Burbridge won a Universiade gold medal in 2023 and was recently with USPORTS' team, St. Francis Xavier.
 
Three players will represent Switzerland at the U18 4 Nations Tournament in Chomutov: defender Rebecca Langenegger and forwards Norina Muller and Livia Tschannen.