Strauss Mann has had great success in Skellefteå. At the same time, it is rumored that he will not remain at the club after the season.
Now the top goalkeeper answers about his future.
– No decisions have been made yet, says Mann to hockeysverige.se.
Since returning to Skellefteå, Strauss Mann has blocked the goal. He has lined up clean sheets and has performed as one of the SHL’s best goaltenders so far this season. After the clean sheet against Leksand last week, he set a new club record in Skellefteå AIK and he is also chasing the all-time clean sheet record in the SHL.
But against HV71 there was no new zero for Mann. The American and Skellefteå had a weaker match, which led to them losing 4-3 against the second-placed team. Afterwards, the goalkeeper was disappointed with the effort.
– It wasn’t our best performance of the season right away. Personally, it wasn’t my best game either, I could have played better, and as a team we didn’t play at our best either. But it’s a long season. Sometimes you get matches like this, but we have to make sure we respond in the best way, says Strauss Mann to hockeysverige.se.
The success in Skellefteå: “It’s a big key for me”
Apart from yesterday’s game, Strauss Mann has been very successful this season. Mann was recruited to Skellefteå after the injury to Linus Söderström and he has since replaced the star goalkeeper with gusto. The 27-year-old has gained a lot of confidence between the posts and has played in 21 of 25 games so far. His 1,230 minutes are the most of any goalkeeper in the SHL. With a 92.6 save percentage and 1.61 goals conceded per game, Mann is also at the top of the goalkeeping league. Only Frölunda’s goalkeeper duo Lars Johansson and Tobias Normann have better statistics than Strauss Mann.
– Everything has of course been good since I came here and I am very happy that I got to come back. We have played good hockey as a team and also got the results with us. For my own part, there have been many zeros, which has been a highlight and something that has been very fun, says Mann about the success and continues:
– But as I said, it is a long season and it is important to continue in a similar way throughout the season. We will try to keep winning games and build on our game in the spring when everything will be decided. Having said that, I am of course very happy with the start I have had this season.
Strauss Mann also played in Skellefteå during the 2021/22 season, where he was also successful, which led to him playing in both the Olympics and the WC. The keeper then spent three seasons in the AHL, ECHL and German DEL with mixed results. But after returning to Skellefteå, the American has once again performed at top level.
What is it that allows you to play your best hockey right here in Skellefteå?
– The biggest reason is that I have a very good team in front of me. That’s how it’s been both my seasons here. The guys work hard, play all over the rink and want to win. It makes my job much easier and allows me to play simple and focus on what I need to do. I trust all my teammates and the defense that we have and I know they trust me as well. That’s a big key for me and it’s been like that both seasons here.
Chasing SHL record: “Really want to break the record”
Strauss Mann has an absolutely incredible record so far with eight clean sheets in 21 games so far. He has thus kept a clean sheet in 38 percent (!) of all his matches with Skellefteå. Eight zeros is a new club record in Skellefteå and he is also close to the all-time record in the SHL. The record is currently nine clean sheets and Strauss Mann now has half a season to keep two clean sheets to pass Oscar Alsenfelt and Fredrik Norrena who currently hold the record.
What do you say about the zeros, and what does it actually depend on?
– It’s actually quite crazy. Then I try to just take it match by match and stay focused in the present the whole time. Earlier in my career, when I have been close to keeping a clean sheet, I have started to think too much and then it rarely turns out well. I have worked on that and now I let it go and just let it come as it comes. Then, of course, we have a very good team and when the boys play as they do in most games, I don’t have to step forward with 45 saves to keep a clean sheet. I’m just doing my job, trying to save all the pucks and that’s how it’s turned out.
But is the record there in the back of your mind?
– Yes, I know the record. It would have been a lot of fun and I feel like I really want to beat the record. It would have been very cool and a memory for life. Big for the club too. But just wanting something doesn’t mean it will happen. I have to keep playing the same way and then I know the rest will work itself out.
Strauss Mann on the future: “It’s not right”
Strauss Mann was recruited to Skellefteå just before the start of the season since the western bottoms have injuries to both Linus Söderström and Gustaf Lindvall. He therefore only signed a contract for this year’s season in Skellefteå. Earlier this week came The evening paper with information that Skellefteå is looking for a new goalkeeper for next season because they expect Mann to leave after the season. Skellefteå already has Linus Söderström on an expensive contract going forward and it will therefore be difficult for Skellefteå to also keep Mann after his success during the season.
Do you have any comment on the information that you are leaving after the season and how do you see the situation?
– I don’t have much to say about that situation. But I can say that is not true because no decisions have been made yet. I don’t really have any comments because it’s a dynamic situation right now.
– I was picked here because the team had injuries and such. It’s just a matter of making things work for both parties. I’m open to staying but we both need to sort some things out first.
Have you had talks with Skellefteå about the contract?
– Yes, we have had some talks but nothing concrete yet. It’s nothing close right now. That said, it’s a complicated situation and I would of course have been open to staying. What I can say is that it is not true that a decision has been made, but I am not cut out for five more years here either.
You obviously enjoy Skellefteå and it sounds like you would like to stay too?
– Yes, it’s a good place and I enjoy myself very much here. As I said, I’m open to it but there are many factors that come into play. I am an import and live here on my own as my family and girlfriend are still in the US. Then it’s a fantastic place to play hockey. But we’ll see what happens, the future will tell where it leads, concludes Strauss Mann.
