Damian Clara Bio
Damian Clara is an Italian professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and remains under contract with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on January 13, 2005, in Brunico, Italy, Clara stands at 197 centimeters tall and weighs 97 kilograms, giving him the tall, athletic frame prized in modern goaltending. He was drafted 60th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2023 NHL entry draft, becoming the first Italian player ever selected in the NHL entry draft. His career has combined European development leagues with senior international play, marking him as one of Italy’s most closely watched hockey prospects.
Despite his young age, Clara has already appeared in multiple IIHF tournaments and represented Italy at senior, junior, and youth levels. His combination of size, technical poise, and international experience has positioned him as a potential long-term answer in goal for both Italy’s national program and the Anaheim Ducks organization.
Early Life and Background
Damian Clara was born on January 13, 2005, in Brunico, a small town located in the South Tyrol region of northern Italy. The area is better known for alpine sports than for ice hockey, making Clara’s rise through the sport an unusual journey for a player from his hometown. Growing up in a region where hockey facilities are limited, he had to seek development opportunities outside Italy at a young age to refine his goaltending craft.
His early exposure to organized hockey came through regional programs before he transitioned into a more structured academy environment. The combination of his physical maturity and quick technical development helped separate him from peers in his age group, drawing attention from professional scouts well before he reached draft eligibility.
Path to Hockey
At age 15, Clara moved to Austria to attend the Red Bull Hockey Academy in Salzburg, where he spent two years training in a high-performance environment designed to prepare elite European prospects for professional hockey. The academy experience allowed him to train with top-level coaches and face older competition, accelerating his development as a goaltender.
In 2022, he joined Färjestad BK’s under-20 program in Sweden, marking his entry into one of Scandinavia’s most respected hockey systems. During the 2022–23 season with Färjestad’s under-20 team, he appeared in 35 games and posted a 17–17 record with a 2.79 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. His consistency at the junior level in Sweden helped elevate his draft stock heading into the 2023 NHL entry draft.
Damian Clara Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Damian Clara first represented Italy on the international stage at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, where he became the youngest goaltender to dress at the tournament. The appearance signaled Italy’s confidence in his potential and gave Clara valuable experience against senior-level competition at a remarkably young age.
He continued his international development during the 2021–22 season, representing Italy at both the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championship and the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship. His performances across multiple age groups drew the attention of NHL scouts and helped establish his reputation as one of Italy’s top goaltending prospects.
Färjestad BK Era (2022–2025)
After joining Färjestad BK’s under-20 program in 2022, Clara transitioned into senior professional hockey during the 2023–24 season when he was loaned to Brynäs IF of the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier league. He appeared in 34 games, posting a 25–8–0 record with a 2.23 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. In the playoffs, he went 10–1 with a 1.68 goals against average and a .931 save percentage, helping Brynäs earn promotion to the SHL.
On June 3, 2024, Clara signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks, formally tying him to the NHL franchise. He was then loaned back to Färjestad BK for the 2024–25 season, where he served as the backup goaltender behind Maxime Lagacé. In 21 appearances, he recorded a 9–10 record with a 3.19 goals against average and an .878 save percentage. On February 14, 2025, Clara’s contract with Färjestad was terminated at the recommendation of the Anaheim Ducks, and the following day he signed with Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga for the remainder of the season. After Kärpät’s campaign concluded, the Anaheim Ducks assigned Clara to the San Diego Gulls, their American Hockey League affiliate, where he played two games and went 0–1–0 with a 3.15 goals against average and an .898 save percentage.
International Play (2021–2025)
Clara has been a fixture in Italy’s international goaltending pipeline since 2021. In 2022, he represented Italy in Division 1B of the IIHF World U18 Championship, posting a 2–2 record with a 3.02 goals against average, and in Division 2A of the IIHF World Junior Championship, where he went 2–0 with a 1.20 goals against average and a .942 save percentage. He played three tournaments for Italy in 2023, competing in the World U18 Championship, World Juniors, and senior World Championship.
In 2024 and 2025, Clara represented Italy in the IIHF World Championship Division 1A, helping the national team earn promotion to the top division for the 2026 tournament. On June 16, 2025, he was one of the first six players selected to represent Italy in men’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics as the host nation, a milestone that underscores his importance to the country’s hockey program.
Notable Events and Milestones
Clara became the first Italian player ever selected in the NHL entry draft when the Anaheim Ducks chose him 60th overall in 2023. He later became the youngest goaltender to dress at the IIHF World Championship in 2021, and in 2025 he was among the first players named to Italy’s Olympic roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.
Damian Clara Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed public information about Damian Clara’s parents and family background is not widely available. He was raised in Brunico, in Italy’s South Tyrol region, and pursued his hockey development away from home at a young age, attending the Red Bull Hockey Academy in Salzburg and later moving through Swedish and Finnish club systems.
Personal Life
Clara keeps his personal life largely private. No public information about a spouse, partner, or children has been confirmed. He splits his professional commitments between European clubs and his NHL contract with the Anaheim Ducks organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season marked a transitional year for Damian Clara. He began the campaign as the backup goaltender for Färjestad BK in the SHL, appearing in 21 games before his contract with the Swedish club was terminated in February 2025 at the recommendation of the Anaheim Ducks. He quickly signed with Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga, finishing the season in Finland before being assigned to the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League.
On the international stage, Clara represented Italy in the 2025 IIHF World Championship Division 1A, where Italy secured promotion to the top division for the 2026 tournament. His selection to Italy’s initial 2026 Winter Olympics roster further highlighted his role as the country’s lead goaltender heading into a historic home Games.
Looking ahead, Clara is expected to continue his development within the Anaheim Ducks organization while representing Italy on the international stage. His combination of senior experience, junior success, and Olympic opportunity makes the upcoming seasons a critical stretch in his young professional career.