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!

The Braehead Blog: Chapter 4 Oh Canadaaaaa!!!

Greetings readers! It has been a while since the season ended now and while most Clan Fans have either been speculating over next seasons signings or gearing up for the big barbecue thing at Strathy Park, I have journeyed to the land of the sport we adore, Canada. It wasn't a hockey intentional trip, but rather for my future sister in laws wedding. That's not to say that a fair amount of Playoff action wasn't consumed, but it wasn't the reason for going.

Much like football is in central Scotland, the NHL is inescapable over there. If you thought us Scot's were daft for our game, the Canadians ramp it up for their skates and pucks. Unfortunately, the Maple Leafs hadn't made it as far as the 7 game series lottery of the Stanley Cup, but there were 2 Canadian teams who were backed to some degree by the people in the various parts of Ontario we visited.

The Montreal Canadiens, the Leafs' arch rivals, put on some fine showings versus the Boston Bruins, but failed to get past them losing game 7. D-Man, PK Subban, had a decent series for them, scoring some important goals, but also mucked up a line change that cost one of the games. This is the same Subban who a year earlier had faced off against Edinburgh and Belfast at Murrayfield for the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Going from playing in a frozen shed to the Stanley Cup must have been some gear shift and is probably the closest I'll get to seeing an NHLer live. When you have no allegiance to a team in a competition, it can be hard to pick one to follow. After much contemplation during the first round of playoff series, I settled for the Vancouver Canucks. The reasons are thus:

They have a goalie who is a bit dodgy, like myself.

They are the only Canadian team left in the competition.

I had to pick a different team to my in laws to keep up our opposing team rivalries.

They put out the current holders, the Chicago Blackhawks.

That's enough reasons, but they also have a fairly decent squad. As dodgy as Luongo is in goal, he's kept them in the playoffs, the Sedin twins do a good hustle job and Ryan Kesler has hit good form in the series with Tampa.

All in I'd say I've latched on to a decent team. Having beaten both the Blackhawks and Predators, I wouldn't bet against them and Boston having a cracker of a final.

A trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame was on the agenda when we visited Toronto, and despite not knowing a lot about the history of the sport, I got a bit of an education. Seeing Gretzky's 802 goal display with the net he got his record breaking score in and 802 spelled in pucks was a sight to see. Honouring the greatest plyer the sport has seen was done in a fitting and intelligent way, like most of the HoF memorabilia on display. We then went on to have our picture taken with the Stanley Cup itself. It's prettay, prettay big.

The interactive zone was awesome as it was where my training came in to play. I say training, a large amount of playing mini-sticks with Elaine's little cousins James and Connor in their basements is more accurate.

While being outscored on shooting by Elaine, I kept a clean sheet on All Star setting as a video Gretzky fired pucks at me from point blank range.Apparently I looked like I was taking it too seriously, and I suppose I was after being beaten at snapshots by my fiancée. Still, a clean sheet is a clean sheet!

As well as submerging myself in the NHL, I kept my ear to the ground and finger to my phone by keeping up to date with the signings The Clan were making.

Brucie has had a busy off season, resigning Wedderburn, Kyle Bruce, Haywood, Connon and himself, as we as signing 2 up and coming Brits in Hutchison and Zajac. I'm sure there are more to come, and hopefully all the rumours that are flying about will bring some solid signings. There's been much talk of the likes of Voth and Galbraith coming north, which split opinions on how you look at big players being committed or being goons.

Also while I was away, Team GB had a good showing at the Worlds, getting Silver. Belfast's Stephen Murphy gained alot of plaudits from the games, a man whose name has been on the tips of the rumourists since last season ended.

He would be a fantastic signing but has apparently agreed terms with the Giants again for next season. Maybe Brucie boy can work his magic and wangle him out of contract and give me something to rib my Giant in laws over.

The post season has thrown up some good signings so far, and hopefully that will continue, leading to a good amount of momentum for the start of season 2011-12. The loss of Newcastle Vipers from the EIHL has probably deprived the local fans of Elite hockey as well as depriving the travelling fans of a night on the Toon.

It's sad to see any team fall out a league through off-ice reasons but hopefully, if there is a replacement, the EIHL won't suffer for it. With a strong first season behind Braehead, season 2 should be a set to be a cracker...if only the Clan office would give me a job....

Mon The Clan!!!

Alternative Match Report: Panthers @ Clan

Alternative Match Report: Panthers @ Clan

An enthralling first leg of the EIHL 2010/2012 Play Off Quarter Final saw Nottingham Panthers gain the upper hand with a win by the odd goal in 9.

In front of a packed Braehead crowd, both teams set their intent to go for the jugular early on. Buoyed by the noisy spectators, both teams created half chances in the opening exchanges before Nottingham drew first blood.

Meyers scored the all important first goal of the game, bringing cheers from their travelling support and jeers from the Purple Army. Clan dominated most of the period as indiscipline by the Panthers left them men down on more than one occasion. However, Braehead huffed and puffed but couldn't break Kowalski, until Chaumont finished from Cook's lay off to tie the game.

Soon after, a 3 on 3 brawl ensued, spilling over to Clarke and Noel having a joust. Noel was at disadvantage for most of the spar as Clarke pulled on his visor as refs failed to attend the 2. All 6 men picked up penalty minutes, allowing Panthers coach Corey Neilson to score from distance. The period ended with some more argy bargy, setting up a tense 2nd 20.

Within 22 seconds of the restart, Panthers increased their lead in fortuitous circumstances. A high shot from Bellamy should have been comfortable for Perras, but the puck spun off his glove, over his head and slid over the line. 3-1 and Panthers were cruising. The game of hockey is a fickle mistress though and 2 penalties 10 seconds apart swung the game in Braeheads favour.

Clan made no mistake on making the PPs count in the 2nd as with 5v3, Cook pulled it back to 3-2, before Krestanovich had the home fans on their feet with Clan's second leveller of the night. Momentum was now with the home side as Richardson tried to play mind games with Beauregard as the clock ticked down.

The final period could have swung either way as both teams looked to get a foothold on this quarter final. Just when it seemed each side would cancel each other out, Richardson was put through on Kowalski after Panthers lost the puck on their blue line. The Coach of The Year Nominee made no mistake as Braehead Arena erupted. Chants of Richardson's Purple Army and You're Not Singing Anymore echoed around as the Clan lapped up their comeback efforts. But, just as Panthers capitulated in the second, the same fate befell Braehead.

Phillips and Bruce were binned for holding and slashing respectively, giving Nottingham a 5 on 3 then 5 on 4 advantage where Clarke and Ryan contributed a goal a piece.

5-4 Panthers with just over 10 minutes left, and only some heroics from Perras, making up for his earlier gaffe, kept it at that. At the opposite end, Kowalski and his D- Men did well to shut Clan out on the powerplay. Both coaches called time outs but no masterplans were hatched by either team.

In the end, Panthers ran out 5-4 victors, taking a 1 goal lead in to tomorrows crucial second leg. Neilson and Wedderburn picked up the MOTMs.

Upon leaving the Arena, fans trooped past Braehead's newly acquired Aladdin Cup. Upon entering the arena next season, there may be 2 shiny trophies greeting the supporters.

Nottingham were only just worthy of their win, but if Braehead can play to their potential, they should make it to next weekends Play Off Finals.

Alternative Match Report: Steelers @ Clan 19/03/2011

Sheffield put one hand firmly on the Elite League Championship with a competent and powerful display against Braehead. After a tight opening period, Steelers took control and delivered a 5-1 victory for their large travelling support.

Before the match, both teams were recognised for having players in the League All Star team and Bruce Richardson picked up Hockey Journalist UK Coach of the Year award, to a rapturous ovation.

Play raged from end to end in the first 5 minutes, with neither Mustukovs or Perras being tested too much. Clan were the first to get a decent chance when Richardson's shot cannoned back to Bruce, whose follow up went wide. Tait had an effort that went in to the Clan's side netting before Mustukovs prevented Cook from opening the scoring.

Perras became the busier of the 2 minders as he stopped Legue on a 1 on 1 and then stopped Thomas and 2 efforts from Hewitt to keep Braehead in it. Munn then served 2 penalties in quick succession, giving the ref absolute pelters for the second. It would soon become a game full of bewildering ref's decisions that incensed both teams.

Cook then had a great chance to put Clan ahead but hit the side net from Chaumont's cut back. Much like the previous meeting at Braehead, the game showcased a lot of niggle. Kyle Bruce spent the first of a few penalty minutes in the bin for roughing, after a tussle with Simon. Simon was sat atop Bruce and wouldn't let him up, getting the expected response that Clan's EIHL Entertainer of the Year nominee would give.

When he returned to the ice, he almost instantly gave Clan the lead, but Mustukovs again stood firm. Perras then made a great one handed save from Globke, before Steelers took the lead. Phillips prodded home from close range after good net work from Globke at 19:08

The second period descended in to a farce for Clan as Steelers spent much of the 20 on the powerplay. The numerical advantages were too strong for Braehead as Legue, Talbot, Clark and Tait put Sheffield 5-0 up. However the turning point of the game were Darnells penalty calls.

Firstly, Jon Landry decked Ben Simon after Steelers number 8 had been slashing at him. He pounced like a tiger, almost giving him a Lou Thesz Press ( one for the wrestling fans), resulting in a bit of a rammy in the Clan goalmouth. The antagonising Munn then got involved but was soon contained. Both Landry and Simon were given penalties.However, Steelers already had Phillips in the box for hooking, but were allowed to still have 4 v4 on the ice.

Munn then took out Richardson's legs from under him on a break, which Kyle Bruce didn't take too kindly to. An epic brawl erupted at the boards between the 2, with both men landing some heavy blows before Munn hit the deck first. As they skated away, Bruce threw up his arms in celebration at getting 5 for fighting plus 2 for charging. Richardson also got box time and Munn was called for roughing. Again, Steelers were allowed their full compliment of players on the ice as Clan were down to 3, conceding twice as a result.

If Richardson's men want to play with the big boys next season, then they need to work on their discipline. Too many times this year, games have been thrown away for silly penalties and players guilty of losing the head. As entertaining as it is to see the fisticuffs, and as good as Sheffield were at instigating indiscipline, keeping the head could be the difference between 5th and 1st next year.

Both Richardson and Bruce had words with the ref as they left the ice, with Munn again winding up Bruce at the close of the period. The 3rd began with Sheffield content to sit back and absorb pressure, while attacking on the break.Clan had more urgency in the 3rd, but found it hard to break down the Steelers backline. Bruce and Noel both had half chances stopped, while Hewitt forced a blind save from Perras.

Mustukovs then plucked a rifled shot from Krestanovich out of the air before Noel hit the post. Bolibruck then received a penalty for holding, which Clan finally took advantage of. Chaumont pulled 1 back from Cook's set up at 51:15, but Steelers held out til the end.

Legue and Krestanovich picked up the Man of the Match awards in what was a fast paced, entertaining game. The performance of Darnell in the stripes played a major part in the outcome, but Sheffield deserved their win. Unless Braehead can stop their momentum, Steelers will be league champions come Sunday evening.

Clan's season isn't over just yet though, as the playoffs begin next week. Their first match is against Challenge Cup winners Nottingham. Discipline will be key in progressing.

Final score at Braehead Arena, Steelers 5-1 Clan.

The Braehead Blog; Chapter 4 - The Frustration Of Missing A Game: LIVE!

Tonight's Blog is written "as live". I've not been able to make it to the Arena tonight as A) I'm skinto, and B) getting from Paisley to Lanark on a school night would be horrific. Instead, I'm going to blog during the game thanks to the mediums of Twitter, www.eliteleague.co.uk and www.clanfans.net.

I'm just in from work and have devoured a curry made by my currently baking better half. the blog will be timestamped in accordance with what is happening in the game and will give as much interesting and/or banal comments as I go along...enjoy!

19:43 Logging in to the sites above to see what I have missed so far....and I've missed a goal already! 1-0 up after 3:57, HockeyBurst UK tweeting that Coach Richardson got it, while EIHL site claims it was Kyle Bruce. Have gone to seek clarification at ClanChat, but I'm the only one in the room. If a hockey blogger is alone in a chatroom, and no one is there to see him type, does his keyboard make a noise?

19:48 Whether it's Kyle Bruce or Coach Bruce, we are 1-0 to the good against our challengers for 5th place. Both men seemed to enjoy the skate with the Clan event after the Edinburgh game at the weekend. Kyle was getting in amongst the fans, getting his photo taken with pretty much everyone on the ice, and I even spotted him cutting some shapes as he went. Coach Bruce, post shower and clean up, spent a fair amount of time on the ice too, signing my mum's shirt before ignoring her plea for help as she decked it...

19:52 2-0 Clan! Ryan "Soupy" Campbell doubles the lead at 10:02. I don't know if "Soupy" is his actual nickname, but I've heard a few rabid female fans shouting it at him. An undeniably Scottish nickname nonetheless. He's been getting amongst the goals quite often, but seems to get less adulation than Cook, Krestanovich et al. So, as I was saying, Ishbel sent herself sprawling at the heels of Brucie, but the rink staff were quick to help her up. Despite her fall, she had a good night, as did many others, mixing with the players, an opportunity no other sport in Scotland affords itself.

19:57 CO DEEEEEE BOSSSSS TOCKKKKKKK (Cody Bostock) makes it 3-0! My cooking Mrs and I had a good wee chat with Cody on Saturday night, where he made an honest assessment of the 7-1 win over The Caps. "It was a bit boring." he told us. And to be honest, it sort of was. A 7-1 win over anyone BUT Edinburgh would have been lauded as a season highlight, but the plight of our east coast neighbours made it more of a formality than an exciting game.

20:00 4-0!!!! Of all the games to be blogging about rather than being at! Brendan Cook, Cookie, The Cook-Meister...he's added yet another goal to his impressive season with us. Although, HockeyBurst Twitter is claiming it's Adam Walker's goal. Who to believe? Looks like 5th place could be in the bag and it's not even the end of the 1st. This is the kind of horsing that surely won't be boring for Mr Bostock. He cuts an intimidating figure from afar. He reminds me of ex WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, minus the homicidal and suicidal tendencies the Rabid Wolverine exhibited before his demise. (I've used rabid twice in this blog and both uses could not be further apart in context.) As we regaled him with chat of our upcoming trip to Canada, he seemed to be happy to let us talk to him, not giving up his game face just yet.

20:05 End of the first period, 4-0 Clan! I'm off to eat some cookies and wonder what the heck my downstairs neighbour is up to tonight. It sounds as if he is trying to move the heaviest furniture in the world with a hammer and trumpet.

20:19 As the Zamboni presumably prepares the ice for the 2nd period, I am being treated to the delights of "Ouch! Sextuplets!" on the box. A reality show about a woman who dropped 6 babies at once. That's one for each Caps players who will be icing on the last game of the season. They also have a massive pram. (Secto Parents, not Edinburgh.) As the second period looms, I'm still the only one in ClanChat...

20:27 Irn Bru and Laney's Cookies now dispatched, Twitter informs me of a 5th Clan goal. No name on it, so a quick dash to www.eliteleague.co.uk tells me it's Jon Landry who has netted. I was about to write that he is probably our most important D-man, but that would be a disservice to Tim Wedderburn and Cody. Landry's points tally for the season is now over the half century mark though, so I'll stand by my plaudits. He was another who took the time to chat with Laney and me on Saturday night.

One thing I took from meeting the guys is that while they are sportsmen, and famous to a certain extent, I wasn't overawed by them, like I was when I met Motherwell FC cult icon Eliphas Shivute in ASDA in Motherwell when I was about 13. As a youngster, seeing one of my sporting idols up close filled me with wonder and amazement, like my nephew Aiden gets when he's down at Fir Park. Now I'm older, I respect them for making something of their lives and taking the opportunities that have come there way. Jon is a year older than me and a professional sportsman in a foreign country. He's gotten there through hard graft andrealised potential which I salute him and the rest of the team for. Our conversation was just shooting the breeze, like you would in any other situation, which grounded the team for me. Top bloke!

20:39 Ohup. (That's the noise I just made...) apparently the Blaze are clawing back in to the game, 5-2 according to Twitter, 5-1 says EIHL site. Cowley has definitely scored though. In fact it's now 6-2 according to HockeyBurst! Goalarama! No scorers for the second Blaze and 6th Clan goal to report, despite many refreshes of the page. As great as the modern world we live in is, with tweets and texts and whatnot, I'm gutted I'm missing this game as it has now gone 6-3 to the Clan! Flip Me! Owen got Blazes 2nd, Krestanovich with Clan's 6th and Farmer with Cov's 3rd.

20:50 Now it's 6-4! What is going on? During the barren spell of November, it was not a strange site to see Richardson's Purple Army surrender a 2 or maybe 3 goal lead, but surely not a 5-0 deficit????Owen has his second of the night. What a mad 11 minutes that has been. Knowing nothing of the way the game is being played, I say Coach Bruce should call a time out ala the Cardiff game 2 weeks a go and get them told to cut out the nonsense! Squeaky bum time is coinciding with the lesbians on Coronation street having a rammy.

20:56 7-4! Maybe, somehow, I've channelled my thoughts (and more likely everyone inside Braehead Arena's) to Bruce and he's got them kicking arse and taking names. The 2nd period has just ended, Cookie getting the 7th for us. 6 goals in that period, Blaze outscoring 4-2. Third period should be dynamite! It's nights like these that I regret pulling out too quickly and making that Volkswagen Polo stop as I made the final turn of my driving test all those years ago. Had it not been for that, I could have driven to work, then on to Braehead, and witnessed what seems to be an epic game. Drat and Blast!

21:19 3rd underway and according to the newly revived @clanfans on Twitter, Campbell has got himself in the bad books for a "high stick double minor". During the break I saw James Nesbitt pull a catheter out of a man's penis. Spoiled by the evening's television tonight! FYI, I won't be doing this on Saturday during the Aladdin Cup. Sofa shopping instead. I like the idea of this mini tournament, akin to 20:20 Cricket. Opens up the game to something more dynamic as a one off, promoting tactic, guile and speed. Also gives us a crack at some silverware before the Playoffs...

21:26 No further scoring as yet. Speaking of the Playoffs, if we win tonight, then it looks like Nottingham would be our first round opponents. The Panthers have succumbed to the Clan a few times this season, and no doubt Brucie and Cook would love to get one over their old team. Any decent Playoff efforts will be a great end to a great first season in the league. Getting past the first hurdle is paramount though, and having had Nottingham's number a few times already this season, it shouldn't be too arduous a task. In other news, I have now left Clan Chat empty.

21:30 They say that no news is good news, and by far the most frustrating part of relying on second hand information, is the impatient wait that one has to endure before being told what is actually going on. Hopefully I've kept you interested to this point. I've just been reprimanded by @laneyferg , "you're no' writing a book".

21:35 Just as I started following Olly Murs on Twitter to tell him how bored I am of hearing his cockney lilt each time I call Mumbai at work, I get confirmation that it is now 8-4 Clan! My "celeb" abuse will quell until I find out who scored it. "Goooooooooooalllllllllll Clan!" screams/shouts/elongates @clanfans. Still no idea who the scorer is. Surely that's the game wrapped up now? It's Matty Haywood, assisted by Landry. 7 and a half minutes to go...

21:47 YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! Clan clinch 5th place in what was probably an end to end, action packed game. A big well done to Bruce and the boys on the ice, as well as Kirsty and co off the ice in making the season a success. A double triumph in the Aladdin and the PlayOffs would be too greedy to ask for, but it's not beyond our means. Richardson's Purple Army, we salute you!

And I salute you as well for sticking with me all the way through this long winded and slightly egotistical blog. Quite why you would want to know every nuance of my night I do not know, but I've enjoyed my experiment.Would much rather have been at the game though...

NaNight!

Mon The Clan!!!

Alternative Match Report: Capitals @ Clan 05/03/2011

Alternative Match Report: Capitals @ Clan 05/03/2011

Braehead stretched their unbeaten run to 5 games with a thumping 7-1 win over Edinburgh. Had it not been for Jens van Poucke (wearing Reid 33) in the Caps goal, a repeat of February's 15-0 embarrassment or last nights 16-0 mauling at Nottingham would have been likely.

In a game that resembled a drill practice more than a league match, Clan rested EIHL Player of the Week JF Perras and Dominic Noel for the visit of their Scottish rivals, the kind of luxury Edinburgh could only dream of.

Van Poucke's goal took a battering from the off and made some stunning reflex saves from Cook, Krestanovich and Chaumont, who seemed to have an ongoing battle with the Caps' keeper for the duration.

Some lapses at the back almost caught out Clan in the early exchanges but Michael Will stood firm. At 11:19, Tim Wedderburn scored the first of the night and his first of the season after good net work by Bruce and Richardson.

Clan looked to build on the 1 goal advantage but van Poucke made a double save from Chaumont and kept out Cook after the speedy number 18, sprinted through. A fizzer from Cook was also well stopped by the badly exposed minder.

To the Capitals' credit, they plugged away but most attempts on Will were well blocked by Bostock and Wedderburn. With just over a minute left in the first, Wathier succeeded where the front line couldn't, smacking a shot through Reid from the point. 2-0 at the end of the first and It could have been so much more.

The second period followed the same pattern, Clan teasing and toying with their opponents. Richardson thought he'd extended the lead to 3 but had his close range goal disallowed. McKenzie then had a gilt edged chance to pull 1 back but Will's pad stop roused a chant in his honour.

Landry then had 2 shots on Will, before Chalmers brought yet another reflex stop from the Caps star man. A quick break carved open the Clan defence, but Hutchins couldn't connect at the back pipe from Cingel's delivery.

Haywood then made it 3-0 from close in just before the halfway point. Cingel and Bowie tried in vain to pull 1 back but couldn't beat Will. The subdued Krestanovich then brought out a tremendous split legged stop from Reid, his best of the night. It was to be the last reprieve for Edinburgh as Campbell made it 4-0 from Cook's rebound. At the buzzer, Clan had outshot Caps 40-15.

Cook added a 5th after great individual play on the right and it seemed like Clan would go on to get double figures. The Capitals D started to pack itself tighter, but couldn't stop Campbell and Cook getting their 2nd of the night, making it a magnificent 7. Edinburgh pulled 1 back with 44 seconds remaining, Hutchins netting through a crowd of bodies, denying Will the shutout.

Van Poucke rightfully earned the MOTM while Cook picked up the gong for Clan. Edinburgh skated off without acknowledging the half dozen or so fans who had travelled through, which seemed harsh on their support, as the game ended Edinburgh Capitals 1 Braehead Clan 7.

The Braehead Blog: Chapter 3 - Hero Worship

For the first time in any blog I've written, I'm going to apply a bit of the knowledge I gained as a Media Student to the opening of this chapter. I will get to the hockey eventually, but any opportunity to use my education these days is welcomed and I promise it will make sense... I hope.

I'm going to write for a bit about Propp's "Theory of Narrative". Propp, whose first name I forget, might be Ian, can't remember, looked at stories, tales, anecdotes and came up with a theory that everything that entertains us, very roughly follows the same patterns in the way things play out.

(Having begun writing this, I realise that I may butcher "Ian" Propp here by paraphrasing him, but what the hell.)

Everything we consume, whether a movie, a soap, an advert, a music video and even songs to that matter, contain the same or similar mixture of elements to one another. Propp devised a list of all of these functions used in the myriad of storytelling mediums that we absorb.

These include: An underdog, a problem or problematic situation, a goal to be achieved, a villain, love, obstacles caused by the villain/ preventing the achievement of love, love being in danger, a show down between lead and villain,positive or negative resolution.

There are more aspects in Propp's list, as obviously not every story ever told has these components explicitly, but these themes are the most commonly used and are the ones that engage us the most. That is why you could be contorversial and say that the genius film "There's Something About Mary", is technically the same as something as awful as "The Notebook" for the sake of a loose argument.

Both centre around a troubled male lead who, having initially made embarrassing advances towards his prospective love, has a fleeting romance, that come to an end through bad choices. Both then go on to attempt to win their women back but are thwarted by villainous new lovers, only for everything to be reconciled in the end.

In terms of audience, both of these films could not be further apart, but the sentiment of both is still the same. They seem like polar opposites, but only the presence of testicles caught in flies and semen in the hair really set them apart in narrative terms.

(I realise that I have just admitted to knowing a lot about the least manliest film ever on a board dedicated to one of the manliest sports in the world. Please be considerate in your abuse.)

I'll try and reel it in now. Propp's "Theory of Narrative" can also translate in to the ever pantomime becoming world of sports. With increased media coverage on all athletic performance, being good at the sport is giving way to the controversy and misdemeanours involved. We as Clan fans are enjoying the determination and effort of the boys in purple week in week out. But at the back of our minds, any time we see the Bruces get checked or high sticked, we want a fight. There's nothing wrong with that as it is a part of the game which is allowed.

And in part, we can credit this to the things outlined in Propp's theory. Our leading men are trying to achieve their goal and are thwarted by villainous opposition and, due to what we are used to costuming in films, TV etc, we expect a battle. Occasionally we get it, but more often than not, the high ground is taken and the battle is won by netting the puck more than the adversary.

By doing this, the Clan become Heroes in their 60 minute battles. Heroes who have expectation from the puck drop to the buzzer. No one that frequents Braehead Arena of a weekend can say that the Clan haven't played like Heroes this season. You can even use Propp's narrative to tell the season's story for Richardson and his Purple Army. Go, try it, I'm not lying.

This FINALLY brings me to the point of this Blog. To a man, Clan have exceeded any expectations we had at the start of the season. The PlayOffs, wins over the top teams in the league, a likely midtable finish, an ever increasing crowd and most importantly, a product of quality.

All this has been made possible by players who have performed heroics all season long. I'm not going to give a stat attack here, but rather my own take on the players who have been imperative to our season. I may miss out your personal favourites, but the beauty of Propp's narrative is that, for your own story, you get to pick the characters.

JF Perras: Netminder and in my eyes, the one man who is capable of keeping us in the mix come the PlayOffs. The current EIHL Player of the Week and a contender for Player of the Year at the upcoming Awards Dinner, JFP has been outstanding all season, with last weeks displays against Cardiff and Coventry amongst his best games for us. Keeping him for next season will go a long way to determining how our second season goes.

Jordan Krestanovich: After what I felt was a dodgy start, Jordan has been very influential in the recent good run of form. I think his fitness or lack of was key to begin with, but once he found his groove, he stuck in it. It's very rare he fails to find the net and he even travelled halfway round the world to play for us when his Visa expired! His turn around in form was also augmented by the return of...

Kyle Bruce: His influence since returning from injury has been phenomenal. Without him, the squad lacked confidence and bite when under the cosh, but with him Clan have looked stronger and harder. The fact that so many games were lost in November and December while he was absent is mirrored by our playoff berth and midtable certainty while on the ice. The fact that he'll throw down where Bernier wouldn't also adds a bit of character to him. If Perras has been our most solid man, Bruce has been our most inspiring.

Bruce Richardson: The Coach clearly loves it up here and has become a player who others would love to have but hate to have him against. An antagoniser he may be, but his style of play and his diminutive stature make him the perfect coach for us. His terrier like aggression on the ice and his manner off it seem poles apart, but Coach Bruce is a man who knows how to get what he wants from his men.

Brendan Cook: Cookie is the flair player, the speedster and the spearhead of most attacks, feeding off of Krestanovich and vice versa. His points tally this season will surely grow in the final weeks of the season and he will be pivotal come the PlayOffs.

My lunch break is soon to end, but honourable mentions go to Bostock, Landry, Chaumont, Wathier, Campbell, Walker and Will for his shut out v Edinburgh.

Perhaps he'll get another outing tomorrow night to make it 2 from 2 v the Caps.

All of the above have become our heroes in the story of our season, the wins in the small battles are aiding us towards winning the war of the PlayOffs. I wonder how Propp would have told the story?

Mon The Clan!