Mathias Seger: I Loved Challenges – I Voluntarily Jumped on the Ice for Hot Situations

Former Swiss international defenseman Mathias Seger reflected on his playing career in a recent interview, emphasizing his willingness to embrace challenging situations on the ice. Speaking in French, Seger said, “J’aimais les défis. Je sautais volontiers sur la glace pour les situations chaudes,” which translates to “I liked challenges. I willingly jumped onto the ice for tense situations.”

The comments were shared by RTS.ch, the French-language service of Swiss public broadcaster Radio Télévision Suisse, highlighting Seger’s mindset during his tenure as a defenseman in the National League and with the Swiss national team. Seger, born on December 17, 1977, in Flawil, Switzerland, played his entire professional career in Switzerland, representing SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers and ZSC Lions.

According to his Wikipedia profile, Seger began his professional career with SC Rapperswil-Jona in 1996 before joining the ZSC Lions in 1999, where he spent the remainder of his playing days until retiring in 2018. During his time with the Lions, he won six National League titles and the 2009 Champions League. Internationally, Seger represented Switzerland in multiple IIHF World Championships and Olympic Games, earning a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships held in Sweden and Finland.

Seger’s international experience included four Olympic appearances. He was selected for Switzerland’s Olympic roster in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014, with his final Olympic nomination coming on January 7, 2014, for the Sochi Games. By participating in the 2014 World Championships, Seger set a record for the most appearances by a Swiss player at the tournament, having competed in 16 editions between 1998 and 2014.

In February 2017, Seger agreed to a one-year contract extension with the ZSC Lions, reportedly worth 1.5 million Swiss francs. However, later that summer, he was stripped of the team captaincy for undisclosed reasons, with Patrick Geering succeeding him as captain. Seger was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2020 in recognition of his contributions to the sport.

Throughout his career, Seger was known for his defensive reliability and leadership qualities, traits that align with his expressed preference for high-pressure scenarios. His career spanned over two decades, during which he became one of the most respected Swiss defensemen of his generation, both domestically and internationally.