PREVIEW: Clan v Coventry Blaze THIS SATURDAY
NEXT HOME GAME: Following Saturday’s 8-2 WIN over the Edinburgh Capitals on Saturday, can we make it 5 and 6 WINS in a row NEXT WEEKEND. The Coventry Blaze are the visitors NEXT SATURDAY (7:00pm face-off) and the Nottingham Panthers the visitors NEXT SUNDAY (6:00pm face-off). Tickets are available NOW via TICKETMASTER or by calling 0844 499 1700.
It is a massive weekend of hockey for Glasgow’s Braehead Clan as they gear up for two home games over the weekend. First up, the Clan will welcome the Coventry Blaze to the Braehead Arena on Saturday.
The Blaze will be looking to end their current run of five defeats in a row, whereas John Tripp’s men will be seeking their sixth successive victory in the league.
Our Match Night Live Reporter (@marshalldave38) looks at some of the Blaze player’s who will be looking to light up Braehead on Saturday night:
The man who ties with Brendan Brooks as the league’s top goal scorer. Vallerand has scored 15 goals this season and has also chipped in with 12 assists. He is currently on a three-game scoring streak and scored when the teams met in September, as the Blaze ran out 4-1 winners.
The 28-year-old Canadian right winger is playing his first season in the Elite League. He was signed from Italian side HC Bolzano, who ply their trade in the Austrian League. He was the highest goal scorer in the Italian league, during the 2014/15 season, as he scored 32 goals for the Eppan Pirates.
With major goal threats in both teams, we could be set for a high scoring affair on Saturday.
The veteran Canadian forward has managed to keep his own point tally ticking over even during his team’s slump in form. The 32-year-old has 10 points from his last six games with four goals and six assists.
Robinson is playing his third season with the Blaze and in that time has amassed over 100 points, with 33 goals and 84 assists. An integral part of the team, he was named as a player-coach at the start of the season to assist Danny Stewart.
Robinson’s career highlight undoubtedly came in 2010 when he helped the Cincinnati Cyclones to win the ECHL playoffs. A very dangerous player with immense pedigree and experience to his name.
Someone who will be no stranger to Clan fans as Dingle spent the previous two seasons at the Fife Flyers. The 33-year-old American was an alternate captain and captain during his time in Fife where he helped the Flyers reach the playoffs in both seasons, including a finals weekend appearance in 2016. He scored 50 goals in the Elite League with the Flyers before making the switch to Coventry in the summer.
Another veteran import in the Blaze’s line up, Dingle won the 2005 NCAA National Championship with the University of Denver.
Dingle has so far scored six goals for Coventry, including one against the Clan. He will be hoping to add to that tally as he returns to familiar ground on Saturday night.
