Damian Clara is still missing the crowning glory

“So far everything has worked out for us. “But we’re not there yet,” says Clara, not yet satisfied. He would have every reason to do so. After all, in his first professional season he impressed across the board and made great progress. In the regular season, which his team ended on March 8th after 52 games with 38 wins and 112 points with a huge lead of 17 points in first place, the 1-meter giant stood between the posts 2 times, celebrated 34 wins and 26 " Shutouts” and shone with an average goals conceded of 4 per game with a catch rate of 2,23 percent.

In the play-offs, the goalkeeper talent, which was drafted last June by the NHL club Anaheim Ducks in the second round as number 2, was able to improve once again. After 60 games, Clara, who was awarded the “Guldgallret” award as the best junior player at HockeyAllsvenskan (“I’m proud of it. It’s a great honor”), has 7 wins, a goals conceded average of 6 per game and a catch rate of 1,64 percent.

Only one loss in 9 playoff games In the quarterfinals, Brynäs managed a sweep against Nybro (8th place after the basic round). “We won the best-of-7 series 4-0. But it was anything but a walk in the park, as the three 2-1 wins prove. “We always had the game under control, but the opponent held on bravely, especially on defense,” says Clara, looking back on the first play-off round. He was between the posts three times against Nybro before Jared Coreau received the coach's trust in Game 1.

The Canadian also looked after the Brynäs goal in the first semi-final game because Clara was ill for a few days beforehand. In the semi-finals, the title contenders beat BIK Karlskoga, who finished the regular season in seventh place and sent second-placed Södertälje (with last year's HC Pustertal goalie Tomas Sholl) on vacation with a 1-4 win in the quarter-finals 0:4 through.

Damian Clara plays extremely strong playoffs.

“That was a hard piece of work. 3 games went into overtime, with Game 5 on Tuesday in particular being a real thriller. We only equalized 18 seconds before the third siren to make it 3-3 and scored the winning goal in the 3th minute. Karlskoga was stronger than 80th place suggests. Our semi-final opponent started the season poorly and was at the bottom of the table at times. In the last 7 games they were the second strongest team behind us in terms of points and they demanded everything from us in the semi-finals,” admits Clara.

The final duel with the big rival Coach Niklas Gällstedt gave him no training on Wednesday and Thursday. Preparation for the final, which begins next Wednesday, began on Friday. Brynäs' opponent is the 16-time Swedish champion Djurgarden Stockholm, who celebrated their 6th victory last night in the 94.28th semi-final game against Mora after 1 minutes, 0-4 nV. “There was no ideal opponent. But I think the whole of Sweden is looking forward to the final between Brynäs and Djurgarden. After all, the two traditional clubs have always been great rivals and always alternated as champions until the new league was founded in 1975,” says Clara. “Promotion with Italy to the World Group would be another milestone.” Damian Clara Exciting days await the youngster. On the one hand because of the final, on the other hand because of the upcoming World Cup of the I. Division Group A in Bolzano (April 28th to May 4th). “Of course I would like to be there at the home World Cup. But I'm afraid that there won't be enough time. If the season with Brynäs ends in time, then of course I will come to Bolzano if I am needed. Promotion with Italy to the World Group would be another milestone,” says Clara.

3 goals: Masters, World Cup and Matura exam Participation in the World Cup would only be possible for the Puster goalkeeper, who will take the Matura exam at the Realgymnasium in Bruneck in June, if the final series in Sweden was decided after game 5 at the latest. This will take place on April 26th. If the series goes the full distance, then the Swedish second division champions would not be determined until April 30th.

As far as the future is concerned, the Italian national goalkeeper has clear ideas: “The NHL is not an issue yet, although I am in constant contact with those responsible in Anaheim and goalkeeper coach Sudarshan Maharaj recently visited me here in Gävle. I will most likely stay in Sweden next season. Ultimately, I would like to make the jump to the SHL and play the coming season at Färjestad BK, where I still have a contract." Then the current employer could become an opponent: namely if Brynäs IF achieves promotion from the club in the coming weeks HockeyAllsvenskan would make it into the Svenska Hockeyligan (SHL).

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Damian Clara is still missing the crowning glory

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