Successful Weekend for Clan

I know it's Wednesday and I'm late, very late, but I've had little opportunity to get here until now.
The Braehead Clan hockey season finally got underway on Saturday night with a home match v Dundee Stars in front of a record crowd of 2593. A totally immense atmosphere which was further enhanced by the fact that Clan Towers have agreed for the Clan Fans Association to be grouped together in Section N instead of being spread about. That made for a very rousing night!

I had major reservations about how the game would play out due to Mike Bayrack not being available through visa issues and the team essentially only being together for a single week.

I need not have worried as the Clan hit the ice with some great, direct and physical play that saw them go into the first break with a 2-0 lead. Who'd have bet on Vince Connon being the player who scored Clan's first goal of the season?

2nd period was edged by Dundee but they failed to get the puck past Jaako Sumalainen who played majestically in goal whilst the Clan looked a little jaded after their 1st period efforts.

I don't know what Drew bannister said at the break but Clan came out looking more like the 1st period team and finally prevailed with a 4-0 3rd period giving them a well deserved 6-0 win and gaining 2 League and Challenge Cup points.

Sunday saw the Clan visit Murrayfield to play Edinburgh Capitals bhouyed by the previous night's performance.

The main topic of conversation on the bus was "how many", having seen the Caps v Panthers earlier i was aware this team are no pushovers and what ensued proved the case.

Whilst Clan eventually ran out 4-2 winners in the Challenge Cup clash, Capitals played well and Clan looked very tired in front of a sizeable away support that outnumbered the home support by at least 2 to 1.

A great atmosphere once again due to the noisy away support that even warranted a "thank you" from the Capitals announcer. I missed the stovies last year at Murrayfield and my priority was to get mine in early. Very disappointed, very bland and £2 for a cup of puré potato is a bit much. Do not buy!

I love going to Murrayfield, it's like a step back in time and I don't mean that in a bad way! I saw the place on tv in monochrome in another lifetime lol. I feel for those guys just now. Clan fans are cracking up about there not being enough of the black CC jersey available and the Caps players are playing in jerseys donated by fans. I really, really hope they manage to turn all aspects of the club on and off the ice very soon.

Thoughts on this weekend double header up tomorrow.

Al

Nearly Game Time!

It's nearly here, the start of the season for Braehead Clan!
It's been a loooong off season but the weekend sees a Scottish double header with Dundee Stars visiting Braehead on Saturday followed by a trip to Murrayfield on Sunday to play the Edinburgh Capitals.
4 point start to the weekend? Prior to Stars holding Belfast Giants last week to 0-0 in normal time, I might have said so.
Now, though, I'm optimistic but not as certain as I was. Clan will need to be quick out the box tomorrow night if they want to catch Stars cold.
Predictions:
Clan 3-2 Stars
Capitals 2-6 Clan
Roll on tomorrow night!!

Al

Sno! Bar Photos

Last of the pics from the Sno! bar Braehead Clan jersey launch in no particular order lol!

New Braehead Clan Jerseys 2011/12

I attended the Braehead Clan Jersey launch at Sno! Bar at Xscape last night and a good time was had by all!
Really like the new jerseys. Top pic below is the Away jersey, below that the awesome Challenge Cup jersey and bottom is the Home Jersey.

Sadly I was unable to get to the front of the crowd to get pics of the team line up, Scotfail did it again with the trains running late hence, I was late.
However, all the players willingly chatted and posed for photos all night and it's refreshing to see that.
You don't get that at football!
Really looking forward to next Saturday the 14th for the season opener with Dundee Stars now :)

Al

Completed Roster For Clan

I know this is "old" news as it was released 2 days ago, bu7t couldn't get here before now sadly. Yup! Braehead Clan have completed their roster by signing ex Belfast Giants player Mickel Bayrack!

From the official Clan site........
"The 32 year old, left handed Centre, played 34 games for the Giants last season before moving on to the Austrian league. Bayrack brings with him a wealth of experience and skill. Having played in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Slovenia, as well as playing for AHL and ECHL sides.
Bayrack had the following to say as he prepared to fly into Glasgow later this week;
“I am looking forward to playing in the Rapid Solicitors EIHL again, and I am looking forward to playing out of Braehead. I am just keen to get the season underway and am happy to be doing it in a Clan jersey.”"

Dead chuffed is this Clan Fan and with that D line as back up, I have high hopes for next season!!

Al

Clan get their Goalie

At long last Braehead Clan get their goalie and as anticipated it was not Szuper...
From the official Clan website...........

"33 year old Fin, Jaakko Elias Suomalainen joins the Clan having played last season with HK Jesenice in Austria. Jaakko is no stranger to Glasgow, having played for the Paisley Pirates back in 2001/2002 in the BNL. He played 17 games for the Pirates before returning to Finland to finish the season in the Finland 3 league with Karhu Kissat. Jaakko has played in some of the top European leagues such as the Finland 3 and Finland 2 as well as the SM-Liiga.
The 5’11 190lbs puck stopper is looking forward to returning to the Glasgow area and playing out of Braehead Arena....."

I have to admit when I read that I did wonder about the quality of the signing but, having read Jaakko's stats, I'm pretty darned pleased to say he looks like a real step up in class from JFP!

Now a good quality import as a forward and two Brits and we're set for the new season!

Al

Capitals v Panthers

I got my first hockey "fix" of the new season tonight when I went to see the Edinburgh Capitals v Nottingham Panthers this evening.
Strangely, the Braehead Clan Fans sat with the Panthers fans? Weird I thought at the time and by the end of the 1st period I had had enough of sitting there politely applauding the Caps efforts amongst them. I don't do silent at hockey matches and those Panthers fan literally only made a noise when they scored bar a brief chant in the 3rd period. Don't understand following your team hundreds of miles and not giving them vocal support?
So, at the end of the period myself and 2 other brave fans went over to sit with the Caps fans and actually get to make some noise!!
Panthers won, as expected, but only by 5-1 and the Capitals put on a good show, especially as they only had 14 players on the bench. For me, Caps goalie Nathan Craze was MVP but didn't even get a mention. Travesty!! He played a blinder despite the score, making some superb saves.

Al

Sponsors but no player signings...

Well folks, this last week, we've had a few sponsors added which is brill news but no new player signings.
The most open secret so far is the "imminent" or "so close to signing" of Hungarian goalie Szuper. Not holding my breath on that one I'm afraid, too many people seem to know about it, it's like a much hyped movie that doesn't deliver as far as I'm concerned. Hope I'm wrong of course but time will tell. In any event, if Mike Will starts initially and proves himself, could it be justified to put in another goalie in his place? Ahhh yer thinkin now eh?
Incidentally, how come the Szuper rumour is not on Elite Prospects?
Sunday I'm heading to Edinburgh to support the Edinburgh Capitals V the Clan B team..Nottingham Panthers. Hoping to build some relationships with our capital rivals who seemed to feel we taunted them more than they taunted us when they gubbed us 8-3 at Murrayfield in all the snow last season. Just hope they don't get well and truly thumped by the Panthers who walloped the Blaze 10-1 the other night.
Back to the Clan, we have 2 imports and 2 brits still to get. Who will they be? Brit wise, I have no idea. Import wise there is a feeling we may be waiting until the drafts are complete across the pond and we'll try to snag someone from there.
Until next time,

Al

Campbell re-signs for Braehead Clan

Braehead Clan re-sign Ryan (soupy) Campbell. It's been a frustrating time recently, every day I take the opportunity to load the Clan site waiting for new signings with the face off now just 22 days away. It's great to see so much sponsorship but, as a fan, I want to see signings and every time I saw the site had been updated.........yeah.......no signings........ Soooo today!!! I leave my phone at home and then get home to see that Ryan Campbell has re-signed!! That's def a positive. I like Soupy, he's a solid, consistent player and will bring a lot to the club on ice and off just like last season. Just 2 more imports to go.... It's good to have something positive happen in times that are a just a tad concerning. Straight into a league match against CSS Dundee Stars with no pre-season friendlies cannot be a good thing. Friendlies are much maligned if you ask me, they give the teams a benchmark regards their training moves and how effective or ineffective they are and how well the team is working together and give valuable competitive ice time. They are not pointless (other than league status wise). The season starts for real elsewhere this weekend with Steelers at Giants and Panthers at Devils on Saturday night an the Panthers/Devils return on Sunday night. I need my hockey fix so will grab the first Live Stream option to go online, can't say fairer than that yeah? That's it for now :) Al