NEWS: Braehead Clan 2017/18 fixtures released

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Glasgow’s Braehead Clan will come up against former coach Ryan Finnerty and his Manchester Storm team in the opening weekend of the 2017/18 season.

The double header will take place in the Challenge Cup in the opening weekend in September as the curtain is raised on another campaign.

It’s a fixture that will get the fans excited as the game also sees the return of former Clan players Jay Rosehill, Mike Hammond and Matt Beca.

However it will be the only home game of September due to Disney on Ice taking up residence at Braehead Arena throughout the month.

The following weekend sees the Clan take on Gardiner Conference rivals Dundee Stars, Fife Flyers and hosts Edinburgh Capitals in the first Scottish Elite Cup.

Then the Clan get their Elite League campaign underway on Saturday 16th September with a first ever visit to Milton Keynes Lightning, one of two new teams to join the league.

After seven straight road games, Clan return home to Glasgow on Saturday 7th October to renew hostilities with Conference rivals Fife Flyers.

For the first time, the Elite Ice Hockey League will consist of 12 teams, split into three Conferences of four.

Clan will contest the Gardiner Conference with Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals and Fife Flyers, playing each other four times at home and four times away.

John Tripp’s men will play against teams in the other conferences twice home and twice away, making it a 56-game schedule, up four games from last season.

The Challenge Cup has also been reformatted as a result of the increased number of teams and will now have three groups of four.

Braehead will now contest Group A with Manchester, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers and will play each other once at home and once away.

The top two in each group will advance to the quarter final stage of the competition, with two wild card teams completing the quarter final line up.

Dates and seeding information regarding the play-off finals weekend 2018 will follow in due course.

Clan Hockey & Operations Director Gareth Chalmers is anticipating a tough, but competitive season as coach Tripp prepares for his first experience of the Elite League.

“Starting with a double header against Manchester Storm, after what’s happened over the summer will instantly get the fans excited over the new season,” Chalmers said.

“It’s the start of a new format in both the league and Challenge Cup and will provide something different, not to mention the addition of Milton Keynes and Guildford Flames.

“We already know it’s going to be a very tough campaign, but it will be the same for every team and I’m more than looking forward to what lies ahead.

“I can’t wait to see and hear the Purple Army back in the stands at Braehead Arena to give all their support to John Tripp and the team for this season.”

Clan fixtures for 2017-18 season can be found HERE.