N-ice one, Charley
Cute toddler Charley Haywood melted the hearts of Clan players and fans as she took to the ice in her fantastic Halloween costume.
The two-year-old wandered onto the rink at the intu Braehead Arena dressed as a Zamboni machine after Clan had beaten Manchester Storm 5-2.
A Zamboni is used to resurface the ice and give it a smooth finish in between periods of an ice hockey match.
Charley’s dad, Matt Haywood, is Clan’s longest-serving player, having played for the team for ten years. He is in his testimonial year.
When Charlie appeared on the ice as the team celebrated their victory, Matt carried her round the rink so the 3,000 fans at the game could get a better look at her amazing costume.
And yesterday, Charley was back at the arena to be given a chance to sit in the driving seat of the real Zamboni.
Matt explained:“We were having a special Halloweenthemed match night and my wife, Jennifer, thought it would be a great idea to make a costume in the shape of a Zamboni machine for Charley to put on.
“Charley loves watching the Zamboni driving round the ice when she’s at the ice rink and says she wants to be a Zamboni driver when she grows up.
“There was a great reaction from the crowd when Charley came on to the ice as a Zamboni with everyone cheering and she absolutely loved it.
“She did very well and we’re very proud of her.”
He added:“All the credit for the costume must go to Jennifer who came up with the idea and made the costume from cardboard boxes, then painted it and added decals to the side.”
Scott Martin, intu Braehead’s leisure general manager, said: “Charley’s costume was fantastic and was just like a miniature version of our own Zamboni machine.
“If we’re ever short of a Zamboni driver sometime in the future, I’ll know exactly who to ask to take over driving the machine.”