Italian goaltender Damian Clara, 20, will finish the season in the Finnish Liiga with Kärpät Oulu, the Liiga club announced on Saturday. 

The signing had been widely reported in Finnish media before the official announcement, which came just hours before the international transfer window closes and the day after Clara and SHL club Färjestad BK parted company.

Clara is under contract with the Anaheim Ducks, who loaned him to Färjestad but were unhappy with his progress this season. 

Clara had disappointing numbers this season in Sweden – a goals-against average of 3.19, a save percentage of .879 and one shutout – for the second-place club. He was playing behind Canadian Maxim Lagacé and Färjestad also recently acquired veteran Swedish goalie Anders Lindbäck.

“It’s sad when things didn't go as expected, but I’ve been able to learn a lot during the season,” Clara said about his season in Sweden so far. “There’s a fantastic group in the locker room and I wish the guys all the best. I also want to say thank you to Färjestad BK as an organization. They gave me the chance when I came from Austria. I’ve enjoyed myself here and gained a lot of good experience.”

Originally from Brunico, Italy, Clara has played abroad since he was 15 – first it was two seasons at the Red Bull Hockey Academy in Salzburg, Austria, and then to Sweden, where he joined Färjestad, playing for the club’s under-20 team.

Clara was Anaheim’s second-round pick, 60th overall, in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He then played the 2023-24 season on loan to Brynäs of the HockeyAllsvenskan. As a 19-year-old, Clara had a spectacular season in the Swedish second-tier league, particularly in the playoffs when he posted a 1.68 goals-agaisnt average in 11 games, helping Brynäs return to the SHL.

Clara joins a Kärpät team that currently languishes in 11th place in the 16-team Liiga, and is second-worst in the league in terms of goals against. The team currently has Tomi Karhunen and Niclas Westerholm in goal, and it’s unclear if one of them will be moved out to make room for Clara.

It appears the loan to Kärpät is, for now, only for the remainder of this season. 

At 20 years of age, Clara is the starting goaltender of the Italian national team, which is coached by Finn Jukka Jalonen. Italy hosts next year’s Winter Olympics in Milan, which will give Clara a chance to perform on the world stage against NHL players.