Brynäs IF won their first SDHL title on March 27th with a decisive 6-2 win over reigning title holders Frölunda HC. To make the victory extra sweet, the win took place on home ice at Monitor ERP Arena in Gävle. Want a cherry on top of that golden sundae? Brynäs swept Frölunda in the best-of-five series.
How They Got Here
Brynäs took on Skellefteå in the quarterfinals. After winning the series’ first two games at home, they travelled north and lost game three 5-3. The next day, however, they finished the job 1-0 with Wilma Wäng-Germundsson scoring her first goal of the playoffs.
The semifinals brought on Norrbotten juggernauts Luleå/MSSK. Luleå came into the semifinals fresh from sweeping Djurgårdens IF, but Brynäs took out their own brooms and swept Luleå in a commanding 3-0 series win. The playoffs’ leading scorer Noora Tulus netted four points (2G, 2A) in that series against her former team. With 14 points (3G, 11A) in the playoffs, her outstanding playmaking skills picked the perfect moment to shine.
The series win brought them to the finals against last year’s SDHL champions Frölunda HC. Coming off a 28-save shutout in game three against Luleå, goaltender Klára Peslarová opened the final with 32 saves on 33 shots. In game two she kept the door shut, and while game three didn’t have the same magic, she only let in two goals while the team in front of her potted six and sealed the deal.
Peslarová, 29, spent the playoffs proving why she’s one of the world’s best in a truly dominant run. In nine playoff games she put up a stunning .965 save percentage, a .76 GAA, and recorded four shutouts.
General Manager Erika Grahm spent seven years assembling team after team of heavy hitters that never managed to get the job done. This year, however, the magic worked. A combination of star scorers, solid defending, and a goaltender going Super Saiyan at the right time took Brynäs over the finish line to victory.
I thought Brynäs would win, but I didn’t imagine this dominant sweep.
It really was an incredible run! You can see their confidence just keep growing all the way to the finish.