SIGNING: O’Brien excited for Clan second chance

The Glasgow Clan, sponsored by Aspray Glasgow West, are delighted to announce the signing of Canadian forward Quinn O’Brien.

O’Brien was one of the three players originally announced by the club last year in anticipation for the 2019/20 season, which was cancelled because of Covid.

But the 26-year-old is firmly a believer in second chances after Clan reached out to him to join Malcolm Cameron’s team for the forthcoming season.

“It’s pretty unbelievable to be getting the chance to sign again, after everything that happened last year in the move not panning out,” he said.

“It’s super exciting for me to be able to get over there and finally get to see a different country and play some hockey as well.

“I was thrilled when Gareth (Chalmers) called to tell me they were still interested in me. I was all on board straight away and it all came together in getting things done.

“After what happened last year, seeing the team all coming together makes it all a bit more real. Medric Mercier and I played together in Ottawa so it’ll be good to have him there as well.

“We’re good buddies and really helps to have a familiar face there to share in the experience, but I can’t wait to get over there and make the push in my career.”

O’Brien, like Mercier, will be a first year pro after four years with University of Ottawa Gee-Gees in USports, but had to sit out last season because of the pandemic.

The centreman was their captain in the final year of his four seasons and made 113 appearances all in, scoring 17 goals and making 10 assists between 2016 and 2020.

Prior to that, he played in the QMJHL with Charlottetown Islanders and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, with a combined 227 games under his belt, along with 26 goals and 19 assists.

Head coach Malcolm Cameron talked up his attributes and reckons his size will make him a difficult opponent.

“Quinn is a big six-foot-four centreman who has good speed and is hard to play against,” he said.

“He does a lot of good things in the penalty kill and uses his size effectively on the powerplay and has been a leader everywhere he’s gone in his career.

“We’re not only pleased to add another big player who’s hard to play against, but a guy with good speed and I look forward to seeing him soon.”

O’Brien is Clan’s 18th signing 2021/22 after Shane Starrett, Colin Campbell, Rodney Southam, Matt Haywood, Jordan McLaughlin, Mathieu Roy, Medric Mercier, Nolan LaPorte, Colton Yellow Horn, Jordan Buesa, Cody Sol, Mikko Vainonen, Jamie Crooks, Reece Cochrane, Guillaume Gauthier, Harry Ferguson and Tim Shoup.

He will wear the #14 jersey this season.