Damian Clara has shown extremely strong performances for Brynäs so far.

Shortly before the playoffs: Competition begins for Clara

The Swedish second division club Brynäs IF, where South Tyrolean Damian Clara plays and shows outstanding performances, has signed a new goalkeeper. From a South Tyrolean perspective, it is an old friend.

15. February 2024

From: mv

The now 19-year-old Damian Clara (he celebrated his birthday on January 13th) moved to the traditional club Brynäs IF in the summer with the intention of gaining playing experience and learning a lot of new things from former NHL goalie Anders Lindbäck – originally thought to be number 1 . But the young South Tyrolean soon showed better performances than the experienced Swede, who had to sit on the bench more and more often.

Of the 17 games in which Clara was on the ice from the start, his team left the ice as winners 13 times. Lindbäck, on the other hand, started 14 times as a goalie, Brynäs only triumphed in eight games. The catch rate also clearly spoke in Clara's favor: Pusterer had a catch rate of 90,2 percent, while Lindbäck's was 88,9 percent. At the beginning of January, the club's board pulled the ripcord and separated from the 35-year-old.

Clara new number 1

And so Damian Clara became the new number 18 of the traditional Swedish club at just 1 years old. The young keeper Kristers Steinbergs from Denmark (18) served as backup goalies. Since Clara was the sole number 1 at Brynäs, he played 14 games - he won 9 of them, and his team only lost out in 5 games.

Yesterday in particular, Clara once again impressively demonstrated that he is currently in a bomb shape. Brynäs - with Clara in the box - won 2-0 against second-placed Södertälje, where former HC Pustertal goalie Thomas Sholl earns his living. The young South Tyrolean showed an extremely strong performance, did not concede a single goal and was ultimately voted “Man of the Match” within the team.

Still a new goalie

Since the South Tyrolean was more than convincing with his performances, the club decided not to bring in a backup - until now. It was recently announced that Brynäs has signed a new goalie. We're talking about the Canadian Jared Coreau. The 32-year-old played the last two seasons with Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia. Between 2016 and 2018, the 1,97 meter tall giant even played 21 games in the best league in the world, the NHL, for the Detroit Red Wings.

Jared Coreau (right) played 21 NHL games in his career.

Coreau is also well known in this country, as he played in the ICE Hockey League for two years. First he was under contract with the Bratislava Capitals in the 2020/21 season, then he moved to the Black Wings Linz in the summer. It is not yet known when Coreau will make his debut for Brynäs.

Competition with Clara

But one thing is certain: he will duel with Damian Clara for the number 1 spot. But if the South Tyrolean continues as he has so far and manages to confirm the performances he has shown so far, then he will certainly continue to be number 1 at the traditional Swedish club. There are still eight matches left before the play-offs start. The next game for Clara club Brynäs is on Friday.