From Clan fan to leading charge on rink for Buesa
skating since I was two and as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a stick in my hand, so it seems I was destined to do that.
I first became involved with the club when I had really good contact with Kevin Bergin, who was Ryan Finnerty’s assistant coach, and asked if could train with them for a few sessions.
I was 14 and playing at North Ayrshire, my local team and Ryan was seemingly impressed with me so asked me to join them a few more times.
After I was signed as an apprentice in 2016, I got my first taste of action in the pre-season Aladdin Cup game at Nottingham Panthers.
There were nerves there, but it was more excitement I was feeling at getting the chance to finally play for Braehead Clan, and playing in a big arena like that was incredible.
I think back to when I was a mascot, skating out with Bruce Richardson in that first season as a fan to now, standing on the same blue line before a game, I do wonder how I got there. I nearly got my first goal a few weeks ago when it was announced I’d scored the opener against Milton Keynes Lightning.
My team-mate, Ryan Potulny, actually scored it... but the crowd went crazy and I’d never heard anything like it. I hope I can get that first goal and hear that again.
I had to own up and tell the off-ice guys it wasn’t my goal as I wasn’t even on the ice at the time. It would have been some goal from the bench, right enough.
But going back to Sunday, I used to be on the other side of that table as a boy, getting the signatures and feeling real excitement about meeting the players.
Seeing the young guys coming up, it’s nice to give something back because I appreciated what the former players did for me as a kid.
I hope that by starting out as a fan, it can show young players it is possible.