SIGNING: Clan secure Rylan signing

The Glasgow Clan are delighted to announce the signing of Canadian Rylan Schwartz, who will join for the 2024/25 season.

The left-handed forward comes to the Elite League, ending an eight year stay in Germany where he played in the top two tiers.

And Schwartz has already been briefed on what to expect as he prepares to explore a new part of the world while in purple.

“I’m looking forward to a new experience, with a new team, in a new league and in a new city so I’m excited to see what that’s all about,” he said.

“I know a few of the guys already signed up for the team and the coach, so the roster looks promising and I’m hoping we can compete near the top of the league.

“It’ll be a fun year and with Glasgow being a bigger city, it will make life outside the rink more enjoyable and what I hear of the fans has been positive, with their passion and energy.

“I know it’s a loud arena with the support from the city so I’m looking forward to be back playing hockey after a good summer and meeting everyone.”

The 34-year-old signs from DEL 2 side Kassel Huskies, with whom he played 18 times last season after joining them from top flight side Löwen Frankfurt in January.

He played alongside another recent Clan recruit Steven Seigo in Kassel as he took his DEL 2 appearances to 198, scoring 78 times and making 122 appearances, totalling 200 points.

Schwartz’s top flight experience saw him take in stays with Fischtown Pinguins, Nurnburg Ice Tigers and in Frankfurt, where he played a combined 222 games, netting 35 games and 54 assists.

In fact, Schwartz has previous experience of playing at Braehead Arena, when he scored the first goal for Fischtown in a 3-0 pre-season win for them over the Clan in August 2018.

On top of that, he’s played 128 games in the AHL and won an ECHL Kelly Cup with the Allen Americans in 2015.

Clan coach Corey Neilson was pleased to add another piece of the jigsaw in a player he knows well from his own time in Germany.

He said: “Rylan played for me in Germany during the 2020-21 season and I really loved his game.

“He’s obviously had a great career to date playing in North America and moving to Germany when he secured his German passport, plus he’s scored a ton of points over his career, but what I love most about him is his competitiveness.

“Rylan was looking for a change from Germany and when the opportunity came with Glasgow, he checked out the organisation and the city and from there, it was easy to get him to sign with us.

“He’s seen the talent we’ve secured already and is excited to join the group.”

Schwartz will wear the #71 jersey in the new season.