SIGNED: Brooks back with Clan as player assistant coach
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Glasgow’s Braehead Clan are delighted to announce the return of Brendan Brooks to the club, who signs back as a player-assistant coach.
Brooks first joined the Clan in 2015 and played for one season, scoring 22 goals and 49 points in total as well as playing in the Champions Hockey League.
He departed Glasgow to take up an offer from Gardiner Conference rivals Fife Flyers last season where he played 62 games, scoring 21 goals.
At the end of last season, Brooks won a gold medal with the Great Britain national team after gaining citizenship and played in all five World Championship Division 1B matches in Belfast.
Now he’s back in Clan purple and ready to work with the new coach, John Tripp, as the team begins to come together for 2017/18.
Hockey & Operations Director Gareth Chalmers spoke of his delight at having Brooks back at the club and believes his experience will be invaluable to Tripp.
“I’m certain the news of Brendan Brooks returning to the club will be welcomed by the Purple Army and we’re certainly glad to have him back,” he said.
“Brendan was immensely popular during his first spell here and scored plenty of goals, so his contribution to this season’s team will be hugely vital.
“We wanted someone with experience of the Elite League and someone who can play as well as act as an assistant to John. When we looked at possible candidates, Brendan stood out.
“It’s a change in our coaching set-up and I’m more than confident Brendan and John will work well together as we chase our aim of winning trophies.
“To that end, I want to extend my thanks to Richard Hartmann, who was assistant coach to Ryan Finnerty for the last two seasons.
“He played a key role for the team over the last couple of years in assisting with Ryan and we wish him well for the future.”
Brooks also spoke of his delight at being back at the club and described as ‘coming home’ as he and his family get ready to return to Glasgow.
He said: “It’s good to be back. We’d been talking about it and it’s where it all started for me in my career in the UK and I’m very happy to be returning.
“I could never say anything bad about my time at Braehead the first time and that’s why it made it hard for me to leave.
“I’m looking forward to working with John. We’ve talked quite a lot on the phone already and we have the same outlook on the game. It’s something that’s very exciting.
“I felt I had a good season individually at Fife last year in a very tough and competitive league. I really enjoyed my time there, but I’m excited to be coming home.”
