Clara in the NHL: "So close, yet so far away"

"Scratches" are uninjured players who are not on the active game roster. Clara has held this role with the Ducks since April 27th, when they drafted him in the second round (60th overall) of the NHL Entry Draft three years ago. On that day, Anaheim won Game 4 of the first playoff round against the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in overtime at home. After a 4-1 loss in Edmonton, the Ducks secured their quarterfinal berth in the world's best league with a 5-2 home victory last Friday.

“After being eliminated from the AHL playoffs with the San Diego Gulls against the Colorado Eagles on April 25th, I immediately went to Anaheim. Because the Ducks’ regular number 3, Petr Mrazek, was injured, I took his place behind the Czech Lukas Dostal and the Finn Ville Husso,” the goalie from Reischach recalls his “promotion” to the NHL team.

A truly special experience For Clara, it was "quite exciting to suddenly be cheering on an NHL team from the stands. I'm so close, yet still so far away. When I joined the Ducks, everything was new for me. It was like a new season was starting. I'm part of the team, but I'm not there 24/7."

Damian Clara during training with the Anaheim Ducks. © Social Media

This is because Clara not only plays the role of a "scratch" in the games, but is also part of the so-called "Black Aces." These are young players from the American Hockey League (AHL) who are called up to the NHL during the playoffs and are allowed to participate in training sessions. "I'm one of six Black Aces who usually stay in Anaheim, train there, and are on standby. Because only two goaltenders from the NHL roster, Dostal and Husso, are currently available, I'm allowed to travel to away games as backup, participate in the pre-game skate, and gain valuable experience," the Puster Valley native raves about his exciting days and moments in North America.

35 games for Brynäs and five games for San Diego After spending the season in Sweden and playing 35 games for Brynäs IF, Clara immediately crossed the Atlantic following the Växjö Lakers' quarterfinal loss in early April, joining the San Diego Gulls. The 21-year-old played in three regular-season games and two playoff games against the Colorado Eagles for the Anaheim Ducks' AHL affiliate, and just two days later, he was in the stands cheering on coach Joel Quenneville's team in Game 4 against the Oilers, featuring superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. "I can learn a lot from the goalkeepers who are currently in action." Damian Clara "The 4-2 series win against Edmonton came as a surprise to everyone involved, including the experts. The Ducks started the playoffs against the Oilers as underdogs, having missed out on the playoffs in the previous seven years. The Vegas Golden Knights were also considered favorites, although we were the better team in the first game and also fired more shots (34-22) than our opponents," Clara explained. Anaheim also started their first-round series against Edmonton with a 3-4 loss before turning the tables.

Clara has great respect for the Golden Knights, who set a record for the fastest time an expansion team has won the Stanley Cup in 2023, in only their sixth year of existence: "Vegas has a very experienced and physically strong team. They are a tough and dangerous opponent. For me, it's a special honor to be able to experience the games up close. I can learn a lot from the goaltenders who are playing and pick up a few things from them," the two-meter-tall giant assures.

Damian Clara in the colors of the San Diego Gulls. © Social Media

Vegas and Anaheim faced each other three times during the regular season. All three games ended 4-3 for the Ducks, who won two of them in overtime. The Golden Knights, whose average age of 30,19 is considerably higher than the Ducks' 27,88, boast 13 Stanley Cup winners on their roster. The team from the gambling metropolis in Nevada's Mojave Desert is managed by John Tortorella, who took over from former Alleghe defenseman Bruce Cassidy on March 29th.

Clara has been on the ice five times so far. He was allowed to fully participate in training with his employer once. That was last Saturday, when he was one of the two goalies alongside Dostal at the official, public team practice. Husso had traveled to Florida for two days to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. "That was a special moment in my career so far. Simply incredible," the goalie said, still elated several days later.

World Cup participation is uncertain For him, the difference to the training sessions in the AHL was enormous. "I was up against several exceptional players who are not only older than those in the AHL, but also considerably better. The shots are harder and more precise, and the plays, drills, and routines are faster. The NHL stars immediately see the gaps and aim with pinpoint accuracy. I was fortunate enough to train with 14 NHL-experienced players at Brynäs, including the two exceptional talents Nicklas Bäckström and Jakob Silfverberg. Therefore, I was already quite used to it. As with any team, there are also some players at Anaheim who stand out from the others. One of them is Mason McTavish, who is incredibly strong in one-on-one situations – that is, in penalty shootouts – and gave me no chance," Clara says calmly.

South Tyrol's ice hockey star is currently living his NHL dream. And he's living it to the fullest. Whether he'll be at the World Championship in Switzerland and guarding the net for the Azzurri is currently up in the air. "That's not in my hands. I'm very willing and eager to be in Fribourg. But right now I'm Anaheim's third-choice goalie and I'll probably stay here as long as we're in the playoff race and I'm needed," explains Clara, who is firmly convinced that his time in Anaheim will further his development. "For my part, the willingness and desire to be in Fribourg is great." Damian Clara on participating in the World Cup Should the quarterfinal series against Vegas go the distance, the decisive seventh game would be played on May 16th, one day after the World Championship begins. In that case, Italy would have to reserve a spot for a potential replacement for Clara. However, should the Ducks advance to the next round, Italy's national coach Jukka Jalonen would likely have to manage without his starting goalie in Fribourg.

The Ducks stayed in Las Vegas after their opening loss. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will take place there in the early hours of Thursday morning at 3.30:7 a.m. CET. Damian Clara, who will most likely spend the upcoming season in North America, will be back in the stands at the T-Mobile Arena, cheering on his new teammates.

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Clara in the NHL: "So close, yet so far away"

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