Elite Ice Hockey League Play Off Quarter Final Preview:
Nottingham Panthers v Braehead Clan
Braehead clan were given a boost ahead of tonight's EIHL Play Off
Quarter Final first leg away to Nottingham Panthers, as head coach Ryan
Finnerty committed to leading the Purple Army in next season's battles.
He confirmed he would return for a second season at the Clan's
Player of the Year awards dinner on Tuesday night. The announcement was the
ideal appetiser ahead of their tasty, two legged clash with last year's Play Off
champions.
"I'm excited to be returning for next
season and I think we've brought through some good hockey players and exceeded
everyone's expectations," the former Sheffield Steelers coach said.
"We're
looking to build on that and it's not something we want to gut and cut up then
have to bring in a new raft of imports and British players.
"I'm
looking forward to getting back some of my guys that we want and build on
something here."
A victory in Nottingham tonight, would go some way to helping him
with the foundations of building his side for next season, more so if they can
follow that up with a victory in Saturday night's second leg at Braehead Arena.
A swell in the Clan's support this season has seen the four year old side
average crowds of around the 3000 mark all term, which Finnerty says has been
instrumental and indicative of the Clan's performances on and off the ice this
year.
"The
support from the fans has been tremendous all season, even when things haven't
gone well and you won't find that in many places," he said.
"For the
guys it's been great to play in front of and for me, it's been great to coach
in front of it as the crowds have grown each week.
"It's
putting pressure on us to compete and give something back and my aim is to
bring a trophy to Braehead. We're
knocking on the door, but there are steps we have to take.
"It's going
to take time, but we've taken a massive leap already this year both on and off
the ice and I want to continue that."
The Clan know that reaching the Play Off final weekend next
Saturday and Sunday won't be an easy task, as the Panthers have got great
pedigree in the competition. Indeed, they showed great battling qualities on
Tuesday night to claim the Challenge Cup in dramatic style against Belfast
Giants.
Having lost the first leg of the cup final 5-2 in Northern
Ireland, a 4-1 regulation time victory in the midlands took the game to a goalless
round of overtime, with Petre Kalus netting the winner in the penalty shootout.
The Clan will be hoping those exertions will have tired the
Panthers out for their first leg encounter, but having been bitten by Corey
Neilson's team at the same stage two seasons ago, the players and fans are wary
of their rivals.
