Ryan looks past rough stuff as Jay joins Clan
BRAEHEAD CLAN have unveiled former National Ice Hockey league enforcer Jay Rosehill for the new season.
The 31-year-old arrives from AHL side Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and is set to add much-needed physicality to the Glasgow club’s line-up that was dearly missing during their previous campaign.
However, Ryan Finnerty, the Braehead head coach, is instead focusing on the other benefits that the man from Olds in Canada can bring to the EIHL side.
He said: “I think everybody looks at Jay Rosehill in one way and we look at him in another. I know a lot of guys that know him and he brings a physical element.
“At the end of the day, he can provide space, skates well and can make plays and we expect him to play big minutes for us.
“We believe he’s a guy who can make a difference on the night and we’re delighted we were able to bring him in.
“I see him being the sort of player that can thrive in this league.”
Rosehill has a wealth of experience in North America and has played over 100 games in the NHL, where he iced for Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers.
And although the left-sided winger was in the NHL just three years ago with the Flyers, Finnerty said selling the Elite League to him didn’t take a lot of effort.
He added: “With us having 14 imports here this here, the best way to recruit is using guys past and present and they know the league is improving.
“There’s a lot of good hockey players coming here so it didn’t take a lot for me to sell it to Jay. Players do their own homework and he was keen to come here.
“We truly believe we’re getting a good hockey player that can fill a role. I think he’s a player that can go into the dirty areas and fish pucks out and provide space for guys to create.
“He’s a piece of the puzzle that we wanted and we feel like we have a lot of skill and talent up front.
“He’s a bit different, but he can play with anybody and make a line better.”
Rosehill’s arrival comes just a day after right winger Matt Beca signed up for the forthcoming campaign after a spell in Slovakia with HK Nitra.