Braehead Clan full roster?

Braehead Clan may or not have completed their roster with the signing of Matt Towe (couple of two way signings may yet follow) but they really seem to have upped the ante this season under new coach Ryan Finnerty and Ass coach Kevin Bergin.

From the back with netminder Kyle Jones all the way to the front, Clan have a tough, agile, flexible team with speed and skill to boot. Other than the new coaching team, a major coup was the return of Ash Goldie, didn’t see that happening to be honest after the debacle which was last season.

Clan have a sturdy group of brits and Matt Haywood will only continue to improve in his 4th season with the Clan, Aidan Fulton and Craig Mitchell both gain full time contracts having been on 2 ways last season with the ever present Mike Will as back up goalie for a 4th season (how much longer clan can keep this talented lad, I do not know).

I really like the look and balance of the clan roster this season,  it’s young and strong and many are used to playing multiple roles on ice which means shots on goal and of course, a defence in front of Kyle Jones, unlike his unlucky predecessors last season.

How will Clan do this time out?

On paper they should win the Gardiner Conference at a canter but I said that last year lol! But this time around, experienced non playing coach and his hard philosophy on toughness and fitness… better than last year.

Nottingham Panthers may struggle to repeat last years treble as the Sheffield Steelers look to be strong in all areas so far with Doug Christianson assembling an excellent side. Belfast Giants may find themselves treading water this time around.

Cardiff Devils seem to be heavy on the D and may lack the firepower up front to make a major impact.

Coventry Blaze? Hmm write them off at your peril! No idea how they will do!

In the Gardiner Conference I can’t see Hull Stingrays challenging too much, unlike other teams, they have stayed with the same formula whilst other teams have gone with flexibility.

I don’t see Edinburgh Capitals or Fife Flyers making a major impact dude to budget issues (sorry folks but that is the way I see it)

Dundee Stars will, I think, be the team to compete with Braehead Clan this season, although,,,, coach Jeff hutchins has tweeted recently that players should get real about demands as it is mid august, a sign here is having problems getting a team together.

Soo the clan? Sticking my neck out and reckon 4th place in league, play off finals and challenge cup finalists.

Clan know what they need to do

On Tuesday, Clan had four must win games left, they won the first two and then, hmmm if Hull Stingrays beat Dundee Stars.. they *only * needed to beat Stars.

Sadly for Clan,  Stingrays went into meltdown tonight and lost 5-0.

This means Clan require to beat Stars at home on Friday at home and then win away at Fife Flyers on Saturday. Not an easy ask.

The displays against Flyers (5-1) and Stars (6-3) do give some reason for optimism though, more cohesive play, positive offence, better defence and playing as a team was great to see for the first time this season. They played like they wanted to compete and win, great to watch!!

Players of note over the two games,  the ever present Haywood gave his all as always,  Zajac stepped up, McPherson is looking fantastic on the boards and Farmer, Goldie and Schepke are looking awesome.

With Daren Machesney away for a career interview, Mike Will stepped in against the Stars and did a brilliant job, great to see him get the W!! I for one have no worries about him taking his place in front of the pipes. Very capable young man and one for the future!

So what of next weekend?

Well, based on the last two performances, Braehead Clan have every chance of doing what a few weeks ago was almost unthinkable, winning the Gardiner Conference. Coach Paul Gardner seems to have found a way to get the players motivated and long may that continue!

Clan lose out to Giants

Braehead Clan 2 – 6 Belfast Giants tonight at Braehead Arena.

The loss was widely expected but to outshoot your opponents and lose by the above score hurts big time.

Got to feel for Mike Will who was hung out to dry by the defence for the sixth goal after Machesney was pulled after the fifth goal. Terrible defending most of the night it has to be said.

Can’t really fault the team for effort but quite simply it was just not enough on a night where the Giants needed the win tonight keep their title challenge hopes alive.

Schepke got MOM and given his checks, probably deserved but my MOM was Matt Haywood, the man who gives everything and more every single game.

Four games to go in the season now and Clan are up against it regards making the playoffs. Fife home and away plus stars at home twice looks good on paper but, given our record v Gardiner Conference teams it is fraught with difficulties for a clan team misfiring week to week.

My own reckoning is that Clan need to beat Stars twice and Fife once to win the Conference and so qualify as second seeds, anything less will see Clan finish outside the top eight in the Elite League and not even a shot at qualifying for playoff weekend.

Paul Gardner needs to get the players motivated for the match against Fife Flyers on Wednesday and get the win or the season is over.

Mon the Clan!!!!!

Jedi Jade returns, Machesney in, Zemlak out

Good news that Jedi Jade Galbraith has returned from Canada to rejoin Braehead Clan and ices saturday night v Dundee Stars. A fit Galbraith will be a very welcome addition to the short benched Clan now boosted by the presence of the very fast Hartmanis!

Nettie Daren Machesney has signed a deal until the end of the season with Garret Zemlak departing to unknown new ice. I don’t know a lot about Machesney (pronounced Ma-chesney) but there appears to be a positive reaction to his appointment which is good.

Sorry to see Zemlak go, I had high hopes for him but it looks like circumstances this season went against him and wish him well in the future, whatever team he goes to.

This weekend sees a visit from Dundee Stars on saturday night, a match Clan really need to win if their Gardiner Conference aspirations are to be realised. Clan are currently four points ahead of Stars but the east coast side have five games in hand so a Clan win is a must.

Sunday sees Clan visit Sheffield Steelers. Sadly, work commitments mean I can’t make the roadtrip,  which I see as being a close affair and will depend very much on what Jekyll and Hyde teams turn up on both sides!

Back to tomorrow’s matchv Stars, really hope that Mike Will gets the start as a reward for his recent performances before handing over the number one spot to Machesney, it’s the least he deserves in my humble opinion, we’ll see what transpires in the fullness of time.

Braehead Clan beat Fife Flyers

Yep, you got that right! Final score was Fife Flyers 1 – 3 Braehead Clan.

A much depleted Clan squad due to the usual injuries and the return to NHL by Drew Miller, leaving Braehead with only eleven skaters, travelled to the Kingdom of Fife and pulled off a remarkable victory. Can’t say much more than that about the match as my transport to the match fell through due to illness. All I have to go on is the updates from both clan and flyers fans, they seemed to agree a great performance from clan and poor from flyers.

With regard to the Gardiner Conference challenge, that’s a big five points from six the clan have taken from Flyers over three games in eight days! To be honest I did not expect that with the way Clan have been short benched but shows the resilience and commitment of the whole team in the face of adversity.

Interesting stat, last four games saw backup goalie Mike Will in the net and only nine regulation goals conceded, that’s the best four game sequence this season for Clan with five points from eight into the bargain so well done Mike Will!!

Clan GM Kirsty Longmuir stated on twitter tonight the first new signing would be announced tomorrow (Monday) at 9.30 am, who is it? Guess we’ll need to wait and see!

Next up is Dundee Stars who are on form at the moment, at home at Braehead Arena, will Clan’s new signings make a difference? Only time will tell….

Disappointing weekend so far for Braehead Clan

Been a disappointing weekend so far for Braehead Clan, nothing new there lol.

Thursday saw a great performance against Belfast Giants at Braehead with the visitors winning a close encounter 3-2 in regulation. Great hockey to watch albeit a loss for Clan. MoM was Mike Will who has really stepped up to the plate now the impending (alleged?) departure of Garret Zemlak looms on the horizon. Not often a losing nettie gets MoM so well done Mike!

Tonight vs Fife Flyers? Back to old ways I’m afraid. Plenty of effort for little result. Outshot Flyers yet still contrived to lose 4-3 in OT? I do have to say that the missile from Fife’s Keller was worthy of winning any match, it was a belter!! Even with the three (four) signings Clan are hopefully going to announce this week, I have difficulty putting my finger upon what needs to be fixed to get those Ws. Offensively they can’t do much more than they are at present,all though….Drew Miller standing behind the Fife net for about 20 secs and no takers in front of the net might have something to do with it? It’s basic hockey but Clan, even 2 1/2 seasons in just do not seem to have realised that. The defence will no doubtbe strengthened and perhaps that will give the offence some freedom to be creative. Positive thinking!

Sunday I’m off to Kirkcaldy for the rematch as it were and hoping Clan can get the all important two points away from home but without the SO drama of last week!