PLAY OFF MEMORIES: Sting in the tail for Clan

NEXT SEASON: Guarantee your seat NOW for the 2016/17 with a Braehead Clan season ticket. With attendances continuing to rise and regular sell-outs, take the hassle out of purchasing tickets and secure yourself a seat for every single Clan home game and save money. Click HERE for more information.

Last year, Braehead Clan suffered the disappointment of missing out on the Elite League title and were determined to return to the play-off finals.

Standing in their way was Hull Stingrays, who had been inconsistent all season under rookie coach Omar Pacha and were heavy underdogs.

Braehead took the first leg and a victory in their fourth consecutive home leg of the play-off quarter final as they put themselves in the driving seat.

The Clan were first on the scoresheet when a Chris Frank shot from the blue line was tipped in front by Derek Roehl.

It was a great start for the home team, who had thrashed Hull 9-4 just the week before, but as the game went on, Clan were realising this was a different Stingrays they were facing.

Braehead killed a massive five-on-three powerplay in the second period, but Hull levelled just as the home side regained their full compliment of skaters.

Zach Hervato finished off a rebound from close range after Jones had denied Brendan Jamison’s effort.

But Neil Trimm restored Clan’s lead with a deft wrist shot that flew past Brown as the Stingrays found themselves trailing again.

Roehl made it 3-1 early in third period when his angled shot left the Hull netminder helpless as the puck came off him and landed in the net.

Braehead could have made it comfortable for the second leg when Matt Keith was awarded a penalty shot after being impeded, but Brown made an excellent block.

But Hull gave themselves a lifeline in the last minute when Eric Galbraith netted with 16 seconds to go, but Clan have the lead going into the rematch on Humberside.

Hull took the tie overall the following night when Carl Lauzon finished in overtime after both teams were locked at 4-4, ending Clan’s season in disappointment.

Now 12 months on, they’re getting ready to make those steps into play-off hockey again.