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The Straubing Tigers have secured their new goalkeeper. On Wednesday 16 July, the DEL club officially announced the signing of Czech goalkeeper Jakub Skarek, who arrives in Bavaria after five seasons with the San Jose Sharks organisation, split between the NHL and the AHL.
This is a strategic signing for the Tigers, who were forced to replace Henrik Haukeland, who has moved on to pastures new after several seasons as the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for the Bavarian side.
Born in Jihlava in the Czech Republic, he cut his teeth at HC Dukla Jihlava before crossing the Atlantic.
An impressive CV
Jakub Skarek, 26, is no stranger to European ice hockey fans. Born in Jihlava in the Czech Republic, he cut his teeth at HC Dukla Jihlava before crossing the Atlantic. Drafted in the third round (72nd overall) by the New York Islanders in 2018, the 1.91 m, 93 kg goalkeeper subsequently joined the San Jose Sharks organisation, where he mainly played for their AHL affiliate, the Barracuda.
His statistics in the American league are solid, and his North American experience — five full seasons across the Atlantic — is a valuable asset for an increasingly competitive DEL. Skarek has also represented the Czech Republic at youth level, taking part in several World Junior Championships.
A timely signing
The timing of this arrival is anything but coincidental. Straubing, who reached the quarter-finals of the last DEL play-offs, are aiming to take their game to the next level next season. With Haukeland’s departure, the goalkeeper position had become the sporting director’s top priority.
The Tigers’ management has not disclosed the exact length of the contract, in keeping with its policy of confidentiality regarding financial terms. However, the commitment is serious enough for the club to be counting on Skarek as first-choice goalkeeper from the start of the new season.
A league to get to grips with
For a goalkeeper trained in the Czech tradition — a school renowned for the technical quality of its goalkeepers — the DEL represents an ideal platform to showcase his abilities. For several years now, the German league has been attracting North American players seeking a more prominent role than they could find in the AHL, and the competition there is fierce.
Skarek will also be reunited with a number of familiar faces from the league, starting with the goalkeepers mentioned above, but also a new generation of goalkeepers from Scandinavia and North America. Next season’s schedule, which promises to be packed, will offer little respite for first-choice goalkeepers. Straubing will have to cope with international call-ups and the long list of away trips that come with playing in the top-flight German league.
The German challenge
For Skarek, this return to Europe represents both an opportunity and a challenge. The DEL is a demanding league, renowned for its high tactical standard and the quality of its goalkeepers. Establishing himself in a league featuring leading figures such as Maximilian Franzreb (Bremerhaven) and Dustin Strahlmeier (Wolfsburg) will require a quick adaptation.
But the Czech has what it takes: physical stature, an understanding of the game, and experience on North American rinks. If he settles in quickly, Straubing could well have found the missing piece of the jigsaw to become a force to be reckoned with in the 2026–2027 season. The Bavarian club’s management is monitoring the situation closely, aware that a goalkeeper of this calibre can make all the difference for a club now aiming for the top spots in the German league. The league resumes in September, with pre-season training starting at the end of August for DEL clubs, and every session will be crucial for the new Czech goalkeeper’s integration.