Clan are Scottish champs
Ice warriors collar the crown after fiery encounter with Fife Flyers
Craig Ritchie Braehead Clan have been crowned the champions of Scotland after beating Fife Flyers in the final of the Scottish Elite Cup.
In the competition’s first year, the rivalry between the nation’s oldest and newest club’s was reignited ahead of the competitive league action.
In a fiery encounter, it was one for the neutrals to enjoy at Murrayfield Ice Rink.
Braehead Clan keeper Ryan Nie had to be at his best in the opening exchanges as he made a string of key saves in the first period. Chase Schaber, Ian Young and Carlo Finucci all went close but Nie was on hand to block their advances.
But John Tripp’s side looked just as determined at the other end of the ice, and soon took a deserved lead. Summer signing Tyler Shattock was on hand to tee up Brendan Brooks and the player/coach needed no invitation to fire low past Andy Iles in the Fife goal. Braehead quickly added a second on the powerplay in the early goings of the second period, with Landon Oslanski getting the final touch on Cameron Burt’s drive on goal.
Another powerplay saw Clan cement their advantage, with Craig Peacock adding a third for Tripp’s men.
Frustrations from the Flyers were evident throughout and there was always the danger of them boiling over as the game entered the third period.
Oslanski and Danick Gauthier were the first to get to grips with each other first before Clan were given a penalty shot.
Mike Embach was the man to step up to the plate but his effort was fantastically saved by Iles in goal.
But more scraps followed involving Craig Cescon, Shattock, Brooks and Oslanski as frustrations boiled over to set up an entertaining ending.
Fife clawed one back, with Ian Young finishing a well worked passing move, but it was all Todd Dutiaume’s side could muster in the closing stages.
And as the buzzer went, Braehead Clan were crowned the Scottish Elite Cup winners with the tournament set to take place in Kirkcaldy next season.