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