New boy Stef breaks ice with debut strike
STEFAN DELLA ROVERE grabbed a debut goal for Braehead Clan as the Glasgow club returned to winning ways with a 4-1 victory over Manchester Storm.
Ryan Finnerty’s team blew away their opponents from Altrincham as they halted a twogame losing streak, meaning they now climb level with Fife Flyers in joint fifth in the Elite League.
Mike Hammond and Craig Peacock put the hosts 2-0 up in front of around 2000 at the Braehead Arena, but the night belonged to Della Rovere on his maiden outing in the purple of Braehead. Hammond later added a fourth.
Former Washington Capitals forward Della Rovere put pen to paper on a move to Glasgow on Sunday night and only arrived in Scotland the day before the game. Not that you could tell.
He more than contributed to this convincing win and demonstrated great skill to turn the puck beyond Mike Clemente in the Manchester goal to make it three after just 28 minutes.
“He was good,” said head coach Finnerty. “We got exactly what we were expecting from him. He plays up and down. The goal he scored came off a two-man four check and he did well.
“I think he will be good for Matt Keith. If we are playing more direct the chances will come.
“He only had one practice with the guys so for him to come in and play as he did and get a goal was ideal. He slotted right into the game, did a good job and we are expecting big things out of him.
“It’s good to mix things up and change the team around a bit and that freshness definitely worked tonight.”
MANCHESTER may have pushed Braehead to a close 2-1 win when they met here last month, but in truth they never really landed a glove on a Clan side that were in front after seven minutes and 42 seconds.
Harry Quast played a tempting pass into the path of Clemente who failed to deal with the puck, and Hammond was on hand at the crease to hook it in.
Five minutes later it was two. This time the Storm goalkeeper had little chance on a Braehead three on one breakaway, with Peacock flicking a neat shot high beyond the keeper after unselfish play from Alex Leavitt.
Della Rovere got his strike to make it three before Manchester pulled one back on 33 minutes, with Darian Dziurztnski demon-strating great composure on a counter-attack to fire beyond Michal Zajkowski.
Hammond grabbed a second late on to put the result beyond doubt, with Clan now going into the weekend with a home double header against Edinburgh Capitals and Coventry Blaze.
Elsewhere, Fife Flyers were hammered 6-1 by the Sheffield Steelers and Cardiff Devils beat the Belfast Giants 5-1 in the Challenge Cup.