Due to the Boston Bruins game taking place in Belfast on Sat 2nd October between the Boston Bruins and an Elite League All Stars Team, the Braehead Clans first home game will now be Friday 1st October 2010, Face Off 7.30pm. The Clan will play against the Newcastle Vipers and you can guarantee that both teams will be out to impress! This will be an entertaining and all to play for opening game at the Braehead Arena, tickets will go on sale soon, so keep an eye on the website for more details.
The Clan will start their 2010/2011 campaign on the road in the month of September. Their first game of the season will be away to the Nottingham Panthers. The Clan will play the Panthers at the National Ice Centre on Saturday 11th September and then they will go on to play Coventry the following evening. It should be a fun opening game for player coach Bruce Richardson, who will be looking to impress his former club and the fans with his new team!
The 2010/2011 Fixture Card will be uploaded to the web site in due course.
Tickets now on sale - book now!!
Belfast Giants Selects To Take on NHLs Boston Bruins in October 2010
The world famous Boston Bruins will play an exhibition game at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland on October 2nd at 7 p.m. local time as part of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere™ Challenge. The Bruins will play the Belfast Giants Selects, a unified team comprised of an All-Star selection of the best of the UK Elite League players from each team. Ticket sales and broadcast information for this game will be released at a later date.
Giants General Manager Todd Kelman was in Boston on Monday to make the announcement.
This is a big day for the Giants and a big day for the entire league, said Kelman, we are really looking forward to welcoming the Bruins over to Belfast to see our great city and to let our fans see one of the best teams in the world.
The Bruins President is former superstar forward and NHL Hall of Famer Cam Neely who stated that he would be making the trip to Belfast with his team. Neely believes that this trip to Europe to start their season will be an excellent bonding experience for the Bruins players.
Bruins forward Shawn Thornton, who recently signed with the Bruins for another two years, said that the game in Northern Ireland was another reason he wanted to re-sign with the Bruins. "It'll be awesome ... It'll be unbelievable," he told the Boston Herald. "My mom is from Belfast. I'm excited about this. I've been talking about it since we first heard about it. I've never been over there. ... I know the (Bruins' Czech players) are really excited about Prague, but I'm more excited about Belfast."
The Boston Bruins are one of the most storied hockey teams in the NHL. They are one of the Original Six Teams, officially forming back in 1924. They have won five Stanley Cups in their team history, and last season, the Bruins made it all the way to the semi-finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, eventually bowing out to the Philadelphia Flyers in the final match of their seven game series.
The Boston Bruins will officially open their 2010-11 NHL® regular season one week after facing off against the Belfast Giants Selects by playing the Phoenix Coyotes in two games at Pragues O2 Arena on Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10.
Latest Clan Signings
Clan Sign Vince Connon
Braehead Clan are happy to announce that Dundee native Vince Connon will be joining the Clan Roster this season. Connon has been playing in Canada for the last season but is looking forward to returning the Scotland and playing for the Clan in their inaugural season. The young forward will be a welcome addition to the Clan roster. Coach Richardson had the following to say "I am happy to announce that we have signed Vince Connon. He has been playing with the Ontario Hockey Academy for the last couple of seasons, and he is a good kid, with great potential. I like the fact that we can bring local players back to their native country and help them to progress and succeed and make a full time career out of a sport that they love. It is amazing to watch these young guys train hard and learn new skills, then put them to the test in live games. I have high hopes for all the local kids that i have signed and I look forward to working with them this season."
Clans Latest Signings News
Following on from the news that we have released Sam Bullas and Shaun Thompson, the Clan are happy to announce 2 new signings to the 2010/2011 roster.
Lead Netminder for the 2010/2011 season, as announced last week, will be JF Perras and his back-up for the 2010/2011 season will be Brighton born Michael Will. 6ft 4 Will has spent the last 2 years as back-up at the Morrisville State College in the NCAA div 3. Will has also played with the Bradford Rattlers in the GOJHL and with Slough in the EPL prior to that.
Some additional signing news is that of local D-man Steven Chalmers. Chalmers from Fife has been playing in Canada at the Ontario Hockey Academy for the last 2 years. Last season he recorded 17 points in 28 games. The left handed 6ft D-man started his junior hockey campaign in Fife, playing at U12s, 14s, U16s and at U20s level before heading off to Canada to further his hockey career prospects. Chalmers has also represented Scotland at U14s and U19s level and is looking forward to coming home to Scotland to play in the EIHL.
He will join the Clan roster as a depth player and coach Richardson had the following to say I think that it is extremely important to have a roster that includes local depth players. Ice Hockey is a sport that should sit well with the Scottish nation, and there are definitely some good players that just need to access the sport at the right level in order to increase their potential. I hope that our mix of local depth players, Brits and imports will please the fans and through their on ice ability and skill they will help raise the profile of Ice Hockey in both Scotland and the UK in general.
Kyle Bruce
Clan Sign Kyle Bruce
The Braehead Clan are happy to announce that their latest signing is Right Wing Kyle Bruce. The 27 year old Canadian is no stranger to the EIHL, as he played with Manchester Phoenix in the 2008/2009 season. Bruce played with the Wichita Thunder in the CHL last season and in the 2007/2008 season. He also won a championship with the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL 2006/2007 season.
Coach Richardson had the following to say on signing Bruce: Kyle Bruce represents the kind of team I am trying to put together and the game will be passionate, gritty, professional and in your face hockey. A couple of years ago I played with Kyle and I always told him that if I became a coach he would be the type of player that I would be looking to sign, so I signed him. Kyle is player that gives his all at practice and on game night. He hits like a train and can fight when needed. He can also bring some offensive play to the game. Kyle and I have been talking for over 3 months now. I wanted to take my time and make sure he was 100% fit before I made a final decision. I am all about giving chances when I know the player is 100% committed and wants to succeed.
Richardson added Kyle is very excited about coming to play for me and the Clan and coming back to the league. I think he will become a fan favourite in Braehead. With Kyle signing it gives me 10 imports and I have 2 left to sign. 1 of them will be a skill forward and my last one will be my goalie. I want a goalie that has played in Europe and it would be a big bonus if he has previously played in the EIHL.
Frank Morris
Meet the Clans Bench Coach 2010/2011
After months of speculation we can now confirm that Player Coach Bruce Richardson has come to a decision regarding who will assist him on the bench for the Clans Inaugural season. After months of calls, emails and interviews player/coach Richardson has chosen his Bench Coach for the forthcoming season, and he is no stranger to ice hockey in Scotland. Frank Morris will assume the role of Bench Coach and will assist Player/Coach Richardson both on the bench and in training.
The name should be familiar to all you avid Scottish hockey fans out there as Frank has played for Fife Flyers for ten years and was captain for 8 years. He is heavily involved in the Junior team at Kirkcaldy Ice Hockey Club as Coaching Co-Coordinator and he has been involved with the junior system for over 15 years. Frank has also coached the Under 13 Scotland Conference squad for the last 6 years, so he is no stranger to the sport of Ice Hockey at both Youth and Professional level. To his credit, Frank will also be inducted into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame on the 18th of August, back home in his native Canada. Frank has lived in Scotland now for many years and currently lives in Fife with his family.
Player/Coach Richardson had the following to say about Morris: I am really happy that Frank has accepted the role of Bench Coach for the 2010/2011 season. I had some great conversations with him and after every conversation I felt even more positive about the potential partnership. I knew he was the right guy to support and assist me in this new venture. Frank has been involved in junior hockey in Scotland for many years and he will be able to help me out with the home grown talent. Frank has played the game in Britain but also in top leagues in North America and that was something important for me. Frank is also really excited about this opportunity and I feel we will make a good team
Frank added "Following several conversations with Bruce, I had no hesitation in accepting the role of Bench Coach with the Braehead Clan and assisting Bruce with the team. His passion and drive is second to none and I felt that I really wanted to assist him in achieving the success that he is aiming for with the team. The Clan is destined for success both on and off the ice and I am extremely excited about being a part of it. I would like to thank Braehead Clan for the opportunity they have given me"
Dominic Noel
Latest Signing – Dominic Noel
The Braehead Clan are happy to confirm that their latest signing is 29 year old Canadian Dominic Noel. The 6ft 2 left handed forward started the 2009/2010 season playing for Lorenskog in the top Norwegian league before going on to play in the Swedish Division 1 League with Hudiksvalls. Prior to that Noel played in France for 2 seasons and has also played in the AHL, CHL and ECHL. Coach Richardson said on the signing I am really pleased to announce the signing of forward Dominic Noel. Dominic is a forward that sees the ice really well and skates really well. He can play either on the wings or center. After signing 2 goal getters in Cook and Chaumont I needed somebody that was able to give them the puck and Dominic is that type of player. He is looking to rebound from an average season and hes eager to show off his offensive abilities in the EIHL. I will be looking for some good point production from him. Throughout his professional career Dominic has managed to average 1 point per game. Again this signing came to fruition thanks to the great relationship we are building with our partner University in Glasgow.
Jon Landry
Final D spot filled
The Braehead Clan are happy to announce that their final D spot goes to 6ft 3" Montreal native Jon Landry. The 27 year old defenseman has a wealth of experience in professional hockey having played in the AHL, ECHL, CHL and DEL. Landry has played with the Arizona Sundogs in the CHL for the last 4 seasons, leaving just before the end of the 2009/2010 season to go on and play for the Cologne Sharks in the DEL. During his stint with Arizona Jon won a championship with them and was named in the All Star Team line up last year. Coach Richardson said " Jon is going to be a great asset to this organization.
He's a proven champion and an all-star defenseman at the AA level in North America. As a defenseman, it can be difficult to rack up points, but Jon has been at the forefront of gathering points over the last few seasons and thats what I expect of him for the Clan. He skates well and one of his strengths is to lead the power play, and he is a very versatile player. In emergency situations, Jon can also spot in as a forward."
Coach Richardson also added "Again I would like to thank our partner University for making this signing happen as John will also be studying for an MBA whilst he is here. The MBA package is very interesting to many of the North American players and combined with the chance to play for a new team in an amazing part of Scotland, it has been a great pull in helping us sign some top class players
Brendan Cook
Brendan Cook signs for the Clan
Recognise the name? 27 year old Brendan Cook from Reston Manitoba may be new to the Clan, but he has is no stranger to the Elite League. The 5ft 10" forward played alongside coach Richardson at the Nottingham Panthers in season 2008/09, where he was top goal scorer and one of the chosen All Star Star players. He spent last season with the Championship winning Rapid City Rush in the CHL, again wearing the crown of Top Goal Scorer, with 29 goals, 38 assists and 32 PIMs in 62 games. Coach Richardson said on the signing "I am delighted to have Brendan Cook on board and be part of the Clan this season. Cook is a quality player and off the ice he is a great guy too. Brendan can play in every situation of the game and he will bring his winning resume to Braehead. Having played with Cookie I know what he will bring to my team: GOALS, SPEED and LEADERSHIP. I will also be able to count on Brendans help for our off-ice training. During the off-season he runs his own training center specific for hockey players. Brendan and his family had other options in Europe but wanted to make Braehead their home for the 2010-2011 hockey season!"
Richardson added "More signings will be announced soon, but none of these are as important as our star player.... the FANS!! Tickets go on sale at the end of this week, and I can guarantee you an entertaining season, so get your tickets asap!!
Cedric Bernier
Latest Signing - Beware of Bernier!
After a bit of a dry spell, the Clan are extremely happy to announce their latest signing, Cedric Bernier. The 25 year old, 6ft 2", 215lbs Forward will take no prisoners this season. Averaging at least 190 PIMs per season, since he started his professional campaign in 2004, Bernier will be one of the toughest guys on the ice this season. Bernier joins the Clan from the Arizona Sundogs and prior to that in the 2008/09 season he split his time between the ECHLs Wheeling Nailers and Charlotte Checkers. Having played in the CHL, ECHL, SPHL and QSCHL, Bernier has a wealth of playing experience and will be one to watch.
Coach Richardson said "Signing this type of player was a must for me, we need this kind of guy on the team. When you sign a tough guy it's not about signing the toughest guy in the world, it 's about finding a player that wants to take on this role and that loves the role, and Cedric is that kind of guy. With him in the line up his team mates will know that Bernier's got their back. Also, I can promise the Clan fans that Cedric will entertain them at every game. The thing that I really like about Cedric is that he wants to be in Braehead and he wants to prove to everybody that he will be the toughest in the EIHL!"
Coach Richardson also indicated that there will be more signings announced in the forthcoming days.
John Connolly
Mathieu Wathier
Tim Wedderburn
The latest signing for the Braehead Clan is 28 year old Tim Wedderburn from Okotoks, Alberta Canada. The left handed, 218lbs, 6ft 2" defenseman is a huge bonus to the Clan roster. Wedderburn played in both the ECHL and AHL last season with the Victoria Salmon Kings in the ECHL and Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL. Player/coach Bruce Richardson said: "Tim is a former teammate of mine, having played together at the Hershey Bears. I know what type of player he is and I know what he will bring to the table; leadership and consistency. He can play in any situation and he will use his vast experience which he has gained from playing in higher leagues in North America. Tim has also played in the top Italian league so he is no stranger to Europe. Tim is excited about this new challenge and with his experience he will be a great asset to our D core"
Mathieu Wathier signing
The Clans newest signing is 26 year old Mathieu Wathier! The 6ft 1 left handed defenseman has played in the top French League for the last 2 years. Originally from Les Coteaux, Quebec, Wathier has played in various leagues including the UHL and CHL. Player/Coach Richardson said Mathieu knows what kind of person I am and knows what I will demand from my team. When you are a player/coach you need guys that will respect you and work hard for you and I know that Mathieu will do that for me. He will be really solid defensively and be a big asset on the Penalty Kill. I expect Mathieu to come here and be a great leader on and off the ice for the Clan.
Local player signs for Clan
Paisley born defenceman John Connolly has signed for the Braehead Clan. The 19 year old 5ft 8 Paisley local is a product of the Paisley Junior Development, starting as an U10 and working his way up through the age groups before going on to captain the U19 Scotland team. John iced in 22 games for the Edinburgh Capitals in season 2009/2010 and is looking to make a big impact in the 2010/2011 season with the Clan. Player/coach Bruce Richardson said It is great to get some home grown local talent on the roster, and we hope that his presence in the squad will give local players something to aspire to.
Kevin Phillips
Phillips joins the Clan
The Braehead Clan are happy to announce the signing of GB International Kevin Phillips. The 24 year old defenceman joins the Clan for their inaugural season, having played with the play off winning Belfast Giants in season 2009/2010. Player coach Bruce Richardson had the following to say, "I said that I want Braehead to be a winning environment and by bringing in a player like Kevin we are bringing in one of the 5 best British defencemen in the country and somebody that was a part of the Elite League play off winning team. I had a really good recommendation from former Belfast coach Steve Thornton. Kevin will be a big asset for the Clan thanks to his on ice and off ice qualities. Off ice he is a great person to be around. When you build a team you want great people on your team and Kevin is one of them!
Glynhill Leisure Hotel Joins the Braehead Ice Hockey Clan!
The Braehead Clan are delighted to announce that the Glynhill Leisure Hotel based in Renfrewshire will be the club's official hotel partner for the inaugural 2010/2011 season which starts in September 2010.
The Glynhill Hotel is a family run business which is celebrating its 40th year of service this year. Owner Maroulla Nicholas and her team are happy to be a part of this exciting inaugural season and are looking forward to coming along to the first home game as well as many other games throughout the season.
The Glynhill Hotel is ideally situated, just 5 minutes from Braehead Arena and Glasgow Airport. The hotel prides itself on offering guests a unique experience. The hotel offers 145 elegantly appointed bedrooms, state of the art conference and banqueting facilities, a range of restaurants and bars and a luxurious leisure club, free WIFI and free Car parking are also available. The hotel is proud of the personal service that it provides to each and every guest, and as they say Personal service that can only come from a family-run hotel that greets every guest as a friend.
Braehead Clan business manager Kirsty Longmuir said We are delighted to announce that the Glynhill will be our official hotel partner in our inaugural season and we look forward to working closely with them. Maroulla and the team are extremely dedicated and we are proud to welcome them to the Clan. So far the off season has been busy for the off ice team and we hope to announce further corporate partnerships within the next few weeks.
Maroulla and her team will ensure that each and every guest has a pleasant and enjoyable stay and they are on hand to assist wherever they can. Fans looking to find comfortable accommodation when they come to see the Clan play should contact the hotel to discuss rates and availability. Log on to www.glynhill.com for more info.
If you are interested in becoming an official corporate partner of the Clan please contact us onoffice@braeheadclan.com or call us on 0141 314 3558
