REPORT: Glasgow Clan 4 Fife Flyers 0

By Craig Anderson; photos by Al Goold

Goals from Nate Kallen, Dyson Stevenson, Gary Haden and Darien Craighead gave Aspray Glasgow West sponsored Glasgow Clan the perfect start the new season with a shutout 4-0 victory over Fife Flyers.

It was a noisy Braehead Arena that greeted the teams as the new season officially got underway in the guise of this Challenge Cup tie.

For the Clan, it was a first win in this competition since December 2019 – a total of eight games in total and one that’s really got the fans excited for the campaign ahead.

Shane Owen was tested in the Fife goal by a couple of Ryan Harrison efforts, with Mike Pelech going close shortly after.

Clan were on a powerplay when the Flyers had arguably their best chance of the game, when Troy Lajeunesse broke forward, but his shot was diverted away by Jake Kielly’s leg pad.

VIDEO: Post game reaction from Clan head coach Jason Morgan

 

The home side were exerting a period of dominance at one stage in the first period, culminating in Owen standing up to efforts from Robert Lachowicz, Cody Sol and Bryce Reddick.

A Dyson Stevenson chance in the second period went agonisingly wide after Ryan Harrison had fed him with a pass from the left, but it wasn’t to be for Clan’s captain.

Zach Vinnell was the player on the assist, as he drove the puck from the blue line, where Nate Kallen managed to squeeze it in from close range to finally break the deadlock.

Kielly pulled off a magnificent glove save to deny Ben Hawerchuk then a couple of minutes, was in the right spot to divert Adam Holwell’s blue line effort.

Clan almost added a second shorthanded when Rob Lachowicz broke forward, teeing up Gary Haden, but Owen reacted well to make the block.

As the game moved into the third period, there was the feeling that the one goal just wouldn’t be enough.

Thankfully, Stevenson was on hand to make sure any nerves would be alleviated, coming down the inside right, dragging inside and finishing low past Owen.

Then to make things a little more safer, Stevenson set up Haden with a pass to his left, from where the Clan forward drove the puck home.

Fife pushed on a five-on-three penalty, but couldn’t find a way past a determined Clan defence, spearheaded by Kielly.

Darien Craighead rounded off the night with the fourth to make a great night’s work for the home side.

VIDEO: Post game with Jake Kielly