Through her first seven PHF games, Lenka Serdar only has one assist thus far, but sheโ€™s created scoring opportunities aplenty and been a constant in the lineup for the Connecticut Whale this season. She joined The Pod this off-season after previously competing professionally in Germany, Finland, Sweden, and Czechia following a four-year career at Cornell University.

โ€œI didnโ€™t know (Head Coach) Colton (Orr) but knew some of the players on the team. Itโ€™s a small world where everybody knows someone on each team. I was just excited to have the opportunity to play here,โ€ Serdar told The Ice Garden following a game against Minnesota.

โ€œI know last season they had a really good year. With the roster they were building for this season I knew weโ€™d have an even stronger team, and I was excited for the opportunity; I was on board immediately.โ€

Last season Serdar was teammates with Justine Reyes playing for Linkรถping HC and this season the duo has been linemates for the majority of Connecticutโ€™s games; Serdar assisted on Reyesโ€™ first PHF goal. Another connection that was already established was with Kateล™ina Mrรกzovรก, who she was a teammate with on Team Czechia at the 2021 World Championships and the 2022 Olympics.

I had a bazillion questions I could have and wanted to ask Serdar, but I limited it to five(ish) for this article about her.

The Ice Garden: Why did you opt to play in the PHF this season, Iโ€™m sure you had offers elsewhere, right?

Lenka Serdar: I think during the off-season I was excited about seeing where I could play hockey. I knew I was coming back to the United States because I was returning to school here. I got really fortunate, I had some calls with Colton over the summer and they went really well. I felt like this would be the perfect home for me to pursue the next step in my career. Iโ€™m really happy, and excited, to be here.

TIG: Iโ€™m always amazed at Ivy League athletes. How did you balance playing hockey while attending a school like Cornell?

LS: I think that even from a young age my parents instilled in me the value of an education. Yes, hockey is my passion, and Iโ€™ve always been pursuing that – but it was always drilled in me at home that itโ€™s really important because your education is something that no one can ever take away from you. Balancing things at Cornell was certainly a challenge, but I was so fortunate to play under Coach (Doug) Derraugh and alongside some amazingly talented American and Canadian athletes. I feel like I grew a lot there, not just academically, but also as an athlete, in terms of my character. So, it was a good fit, and I miss my teammates. I run into some of them now and then and itโ€™s always amazing when I see them. Good family.

TIG: Iโ€™ve noticed that you play a little bit of center and wing as well, do you have any preference?

LS: Honestly, wherever the team needs me, Iโ€™m happy to just help the team in whatever role I can. But, I do feel a bit more comfortable at center because Iโ€™ve played in that position more over my career. Wherever I can help the team win is fine with me.

TIG: What are some things you worked on during this off-season to prepare for your first season in the PHF?

LS: I think I would say I was trying to work on my power. I feel like Iโ€™m strong, but it was more of just working on my power. It was a very different off-season for me this summer. Usually, in the off-season Iโ€™m able to get on the ice a lot – whether I was in Boston or Europe – I always had those opportunities. This summer I spent some time with my parents in Florida, because they just moved down there, and the closest ice rink was like five or six hours away. I was in the western panhandle of Florida, so nowhere near Tampa or anything. So I wasnโ€™t on the ice much at all and I had to focus on my off-ice – conditioning, mobility, all that stuff. It was definitely different, but I also feel like it was a nice break. Last season was very taxing on my body – a long season with international hockey, playing in Linkรถping. So, I played a lot of games, and (that time off the ice) was a nice reset for me heading into this season with the Whale.

TIG: You played in the 2022 Olympics, what were those moments like for you?

LS: I think it is the pinnacle of our sport. Itโ€™s hard to describe. Being in that environment, the amount of support I felt from people all over the world, my family and friends, friends in Europe – just all over. It was just incredible; to be able to represent Czechia, was honestly a lifelong dream. It wasโ€ฆI kind of get emotional at times because I always think about my grandma, and how proud she would be that I was there. It was an incredible opportunity.

TIG: When youโ€™re there amongst some of the biggest and most recognizable athletes in the world, was there anyone you saw and said or thought: oh my god thatโ€™s so-and-so?

LS: I definitely saw some pretty famous athletes out there. There was one meal where I was sitting across from David Krejci – a lifelong idol of mine. Czech, Bruins, centerโ€ฆso that was pretty neat. I just said hi, I didnโ€™t want to disrupt him too much.

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