Damien Brunner
A swift and skilled Swiss forward who took an unconventional path from European star to NHL rookie sensation in Detroit.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Swiss ice hockey player·Birthday: March 9·Millennials
Biography
Damien Brunner's hockey story is one of a late-blooming European talent who captured the NHL's imagination. Unlike many North American prospects, he developed entirely in Switzerland's National League, honing his game with EV Zug. There, he blossomed into a dynamic scoring threat, known for his quick release and offensive creativity. His breakout performance at the 2012 Spengler Cup, where he was named MVP, caught the eye of the Detroit Red Wings, a team with a history of finding gems overseas. He signed with Detroit and made an immediate impact as a 26-year-old rookie, displaying flashy skill and scoring crucial goals during the lockout-shortened 2013 season. While his North American tenure was brief, spanning parts of two seasons with the Red Wings and New Jersey Devils, he left a mark as a player who dared to make the leap on his own terms. He returned to Switzerland as a star, continuing a prolific career in the league where it all began.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Damien was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Damien Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Damien's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Swiss National League (NL) championship with EV Zug in the 2020-21 season.
- Named the Most Valuable Player of the 2012 Spengler Cup tournament while playing for Team Canada.
- Led the Swiss National League in scoring during the 2011-12 season with 60 points in 45 games for EV Zug.
- Scored his first NHL goal in his very first game for the Detroit Red Wings in January 2013.
Did You Know?
He played on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk during his rookie season in Detroit.
He participated in the NHL Skills Competition in 2013, competing in the Breakaway Challenge.
He won multiple Swiss League titles with EV Zug, both before his NHL stint and after his return.
He represented Switzerland in multiple IIHF World Championships.
“I learned to play with creativity on the big ice, and I brought that here.”
