The Braehead Blog: Start As You Mean To Go On

The Braehead Blog: Start As You Mean To Go On

As I took my seat in Braehead Arena Block B on Saturday night, even before the first face off, I knew it was going to be the start of something good. I'd entered the arena on my own, as I'd got from Fir Park to Paisley before my fiancee and my folks, and sat down in the corner of the bench side stand.

Both the Clan and Dundee were warming up as I soaked in the ambience and the view from an unfamiliar seat. I'm usually a K man. As I notified my cohorts that I was inside already, my eyes buried in my phone, I could hear the clunk and thud and scraping of skates, sticks and pucks emanate from the pond.

A shrill cry of "heids!" broke the audio of the rink, but not enough for me to take notice. What did make me look up from my texting, was 2 lads dog piling on to the seat next to me from over my shoulder. It was then that I realised what had happened.

In events similar to my first Clan game, also against Dundee, a stray puck had flown from the ice and landed right next to me. However, on this occasion, I had not seen it coming. Had I been sat 1 seat to my right I would probably be still looking for my teeth or phoning the insurance company to explain how my phone had been shattered by a hockey puck.

By the time I'd realised it all, there were now 4 boys scrapping for the puck. Eventually 1 of them was declared the victor, with his prize the black rubber disc that could have easily broken my glasses.

The puck that I claimed last year has pride of place on my desk at work. It acts as a boredom killer, a stress totem and a really thick coaster. It still has the scuff marks from the ticks that had passed it around and is a conversation starter with newbs to the office.

It also serves as a reminder of my first season following The Clan. Now that we are 2 games in to our season, I'm wondering what I will gain in the season ahead as a reminder of how it pans out.

I'll have my blogs and my reports and the tweet I got from David Simms after objecting to him diminishing the league by highlighting Edinburgh Capital's misfortune. I see no merit to the EIHL from playing on the poorer aspects of what is a fairly decent British League, and the promotion of the league should be put ahead of anything negative.

Maybe this season's must have black Clan shirt will be the material possession to spark the memories. It does look rather fetching and think the team will look awesome in a slightly more intimidating kit. Not that there's anything wrong with the home colour scheme, it's just not very menacing.

However, Bannister's Purple Army sounds just as good as Richardson's. The 2500+ crowd on Saturday night made sure of that by making the new coach welcome, as well as the new starters for this season.

Jaakko Suomalainen was under the cosh for most of the 2nd period, keeping out 33 efforts in total. His performance fully merited the chants of "Sumo" from the crowd and he was unlucky not to be Man of the Match. Jimmy Jorgensen scored a debut goal and Behemoth Brock McPherson was unlucky to hit the post. That man is a giant and could be the muscle we need this season. Of the old guard, Jordan Krestanovich started as he meant to go on with 2 fine goals, as did Vince Connon, Adam Walker and Ryan Campbell, all ably assisted by Jade Galbraith.

Knowing of Galbraith's notoriety, it was good to see him get on with playing the game, assisting with assists and fancy stick play when needed. With Bayrack to come in as well, this bunch of Braehead battlers look like they could be a very good team in a few weeks.

A 6-0 win is as emphatic as you can really get for a 1st game, but I'm lead to believe game 2 v Edinburgh was not quite the cakewalk many expected. Winning 4-2 is still a good result against a resilient if depleted Caps side.

From what I have read, Clan were a bit sluggish and fatigued, but that was probably to be expected. Without a proper preseason and a good few games behind everyone else in terms of fitness, it was always going to tell. Coach Drew was certainly keen for the lads to perform better, but a win is a win is a win. All eyes point towards next weekends game against Cardiff. This will be the first proper test for Clan 2.0 as The Devils have started the season fairly well, most recently defeating Coventry, who themselves are having a less than perfect start to the 2011/12 season.

Unfortunately my footballing commitments will see me travelling back from Dundee while this game is on, so I'll be keeping my eyes glued to my phone for updates, just like I did when narrowly avoiding death by puck.

However, regardless of the result and indeed any of the future results, I know this will be a season to remember. The players, the fans and the urgency are a there to make season 2 a success. Whether we are in the Arena, The Puck Stop or The SnoBar or coaxing others to join us for games, we believe that our team can make an impact this year.

A Trophy at the end of it would be a good memento to remind us of the season as well....

Mon The Clan!

Clan Match Report: Braehead Clan 6 - Dundee Stars 0 24/09/2011

Braehead Clan 6 - Dundee Stars 0

The Clan made a magnificent return the Braehead Arena with a comprehensive 6 goal whitewash of Dundee Stars.

Goals from Jordan Krestanovich, Vince Connon, Jimmy Jorgensen, Adam Walker and Ryan Campbell, as well as a debut shut out for Jaakko Suomalainen, meant that the Clan's new season was opened in style. The new look squad took to the ice in forn of just over 2500 of Bannister's Purple Army, and the treated the fans to a competent display of hockey.

Decked out in this season's new white home kit, the new players were introduced to the crowd to cheers along side first season returnees such as Kyle Bruce, Tim Wedderburn and Captain Krestanovich. With the franchise's debut season a relative success under Bruce Richardson, Drew Bannister knew that the bar for this season would be set high, one of the first things needing doing would be to start the season with a bang.

After a cagey opening, Clan clicked in to gear as Connon scooped the puck past Whitley on 8:40. It was a deserved lead and one that the home crowd raised the roof for. Key to continued success this season was the retention of former Colorado Avalanche forward Jordan Krestanovich, and he started this season as he ended last with a clinical second goal of the night. Picking up a loose puck around centre ice, he drove down the right hand side before blasting high beyond the Stars nettie at 16:58.

The second period was played much more defensively by Bannister's charges, almost as if to see what Clan's new number 1 Suomalainen could bring to the table. The Finn had an impressive period, keeping out all comers with a string of glove, stick and pad stops. "Sumo" had a great debut, which his team mates built upon in the 3rd.

Krestanovich got his second of the night 5 minutes in to the 3rd, with Jorgensen netting off the back pipe for a debut goal less than a minute later. the blades had come off Dundee and their puck retention got poorer and poorer as the game continued, which didn't do much to stop the waves of Clan attack.

The final goals were scored by a pair of players who chose to return to The Clan for Season 2. Adam Walker's strike forced Dundee to bring in McGill for the defenceless Whitley, and his first task was to pick the 6th goal of the night, from Ryan Campbell out of his net.

It was an emphatic, confident and professional performance from both the old and the new guys. Jade Galbraith played his part with 2 assists, while Matty Haywood showed his tough side with a few spells in the box, as did Coach Bannister. Jorgensen and the behemoth that is Brock McPherson made astute debuts, with the latter striking the post with a great strike.

The game ended 6-0 to Braehead with Krestanovich pipping Suomalainen to the MVP award. Stars minder Whitley picked up his side's gong, giving the small Dundee crowd who had travelled down something to cheer. The performance bodes well for the season, and the crowd can look forward to another exciting season at Braehead Arena, with Cardiff visiting next Saturday night.

KJ WellCast with BLJ and Flemi

KJ WellCast with BLJ and Flemi by krisjack. Uploaded with SoundCloud iPhone

THE BRAEHEAD BLOG: HERE’S TO SEASON 2!

Last weekend, I drove through to Braehead for the first time, having only just passed my test. At 26, I’m a late bloomer in the driving world, but shopping needed doing and I needed to learn the road. Walking in through the revolving doors, myself and Elaine were greeted by last years posters, adorned with the faces of the players who excited, dazzled and fought for the Clan last season. Tehn I realised most of them on the walls would not be back this season.

It feels like an ice age since I last took my seat in the Arena for a Clan game. The playoff first leg against Nottingham was to be the last time I would see Brendan Cook, Dominic Noel, Bobby Chaumont, JFP and Brucie in the purple of Braehead Clan. Had I known this would be the case, I would have made sure I’d enjoyed the game more from a fan’s point of view, than that of a fledgling Hockey writer.

The reporting I was doing on last season’s games definitely helped me to understand more about the game that I have come to love, but on occasion it alos kept my eye off the things that made me a fan in the first place. I have noticed this as well in my role as online match reporter for Motherwell FC. The enjoyment of being at the games is still there, but on a different level to that of a straightforward fan.

Analysis comes in where blind optimism once inhabited. You find yourself watching the opposition just as much as your own team, while trying to maintain some dechorum while all around are hollering and hounding the players on the ice. There’s a fine line that needs to be kept to stop yourself becoming jaded though and that is evident when the puck leaves the stick and nestles between the red pipes.

You can act as professional as you like, but when your team scores a goal, you can not help but celebrate it. And that is why I can’t wait for Season 2 to begin for the Clan. The buzz from Braehead last term was amazing and I have my fingers crossed that this season will not disappoint. Yes, this season will be very different based on a change of clientele, but who is to say that Bannister’s Purple Army won’t outshine Richardson’s?

It was a huge shock on the day that the news broke that Brucie would not be returning. At his stage in his career though, the opportunity to coach in a better quality league, in his homeland, after spending so much time in the UK, is something that none of us Clan Fans would begrudge him. I’ve realised that there is definitely limited loyalty in UK Hockey, as players don’t necessarily grow up as fans of the EIHL teams or stick around for too long of a time. Seasonal change is as inevitable as , well seasonal change.

Clan’s inaugural season was as good as anyone could have hoped it could be. Finishing in the upper echelons of the table as an unfancied team, winning silverware and having a good stab at the playoffs, meanwhile garnering cult like status for certain members of the 1^st ever squad, is no mean feat. To carry that momentum in to Season 2 may have meant keeping the likes of Cookie, Dom, JFP and especially Richardson.

But those men are gone. This season we will look to Drew Bannister, a man of the NHL and of vast knowledge of the EIHL. A man charged with carrying on the good work that Richardson began. A man who despite knowing the budgetary limitations of our Purple franchise, is hopeful of repeating some of the first season successes. This will be helped by the number of last yea’rs men who have stayed. Krestanovich, Campbell, Haywood, Will, Kyle Bruce, Walker, Connon, Wedderburn, Phillips, hav all signed on for season 2, joined by new boys Sam Zajac, Brock McPherson, Callum Adamson, James Jorgensen and probably biggest of all Jade Galbraith.

Known throughout the EIHL as a bit of a goon and a troublemaker, Galbraith comes to the Clan with a bit of a rep. He hit’s hard and parties hard but also scores hard and an offensive line with him and Krestanovich, backed up by Kyle Bruce could be the key tosuccess for this season. As we saw on many an occasion last year, Bruce was none too shy in getting involved where he could if fists were flying, more often than not as Hauners for his Coach. This year he has a new set of players to look out for and I’m hoping for more of the same from him.

One man Bannister has yet to pin down is a replacement for JF Perras. While Mike Will has signed on to be back up, he could very well be thrown in as starting minder for the first few games if no one is in place by then. JFP is going to be a hard act to follow as last years Road MVP earned the Clan a decent amount of Ws with his performances. While erratic on occasion, he typified last season’s success. When he announced via Facebook last week that he was hanging up his skates for good, I wished him well with a tinge of sadness.

I’ve always had a soft spot for goalies form football and moreso in hockey this year. Having been in Canada during the NHL Playoffs this year, the somewhat epic displays of the likes of Niemi, Luongo and the amazing Bruins goalie Tim Thomas proved that having the right goalie can be the difference between trophies and bugger all. Whoever Bannister brings in has a big glove to fill.

Hopefully, some of us will be able to meet JFP’s replacement at the Jersey Launch next Friday night, which was announced today by the club. The ever hospitable SNObar is hosting the event and is looking to continue the tradition of making the Clan one of the most approachable sports teams in the UK. The amount of fan/player interaction on offer is staggering compared with other sports. At one of the Skate With The Clan events last year, my mum was so bowled over by meeting most of the team that she fell over and broke her elbow!

One man we spoke a lot with that night is the one man I am really hoping to see back in the Purple come the 24^th. Jon Landry was immense last season, putting up points and shutting up shop at the back in formidable fashion. If we don’t have him back then I see him as big a loss as Perras.

The new lads will definitely come under some scrutiny form the core of the fan base, purely because of how well the team performed last year. It is important not to get on their backs early though, if it is not quite clicking straight away. During the abysmal run the team had around November last year, it would have been all too easy to harangue the players for under-performing, but we didn’t. Instead we backed them to the hilt and eventually they steered themselves sout of the funk they were in and went on to having a cracking run in.

Hopes of a repeat performance this year may be hindered by the loss of last year’s key men, but there’s only 2 weeks to wait until we see what the new breed will bring . I for one, can not wait.

Mon The Clan!