Damian Clara in the USA: Suddenly on the construction site

Damian Clara has had a turbulent year. Within one season, he played for three teams (Färjestad, Kärpät, San Diego) in three different countries (Sweden, Finland, USA), with varying degrees of success. The sporting year ultimately ended with Italy's World Cup advancement and his early nomination for the 2026 Olympics . After these wild months, the 20-year-old from Reischacher hardly has any time to unwind. After a short beach vacation with his girlfriend, Clara headed to the USA. He was lured there by his hometown team, NHL club Anaheim. The South Tyrolean was one of 30 young Ducks players invited to a so-called Development Cup. Full program in Anaheim For three days, the national goalkeeper and the other selected players – including Anaheim's fresh first-round draft pick Roger McQueen – underwent various training sessions. They completed fitness tests off the ice, honed their skating skills, and performed special technique exercises. “I hope this will be resolved soon” Clara about his sporting future However, Clara also got to experience a lot beyond the sporting events during his trip to California. He and a handful of teammates visited the OCVibe construction site, which is currently being built around the Honda Center, the Ducks' home stadium. It's a massive complex being built by club owner Henry Samueli for an estimated $4 billion. It includes a concert hall, shopping centers, apartments, office space, parks, and entertainment venues. In addition to the construction site visit, Clara also had press appointments on his schedule. Among other things, he spoke with the San Diego Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks' farm team, about his Olympic nomination and his recent overseas experiences in the following interview: The San Diego Gulls of North America's second-highest league (AHL) were Clara's last employer at the end of the season. The South Tyrolean is contractually bound to Anaheim and San Diego until 2028. Whether he'll add more to his two AHL appearances or temporarily return to Europe remains unclear. Scandinavia or USA? Clara's sporting future depends on the NHL franchise, which must now decide whether the goalie will receive further development opportunities in Scandinavia or whether the time is right for a permanent move overseas. "I hope that will be resolved soon. I can't say anything more at the moment," Clara told SportNews He has now returned home to Reischach and will recover from the last turbulent days, weeks and months in his family environment.

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Damian Clara in the USA: Suddenly on the construction site

It is not a summer like any other for Damian Clara: On the one hand, the sporting future of South Tyrol's ice hockey jewel is currently completely uncertain, and on the other hand, he is experiencing special moments on and off the ice in California.

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