Hogmanay hockey returned to a sold-out Braehead Arena as Glasgow Clan hosted the Belfast Giants in the final EIHL game day of 2024, the first of three New Year’s Eve fixtures across the league.
Less than 24 hours after Belfast’s 4-3 overtime win at the SSE Arena, which moved the Giants closer to the top three while earning Clan their first point in Belfast this season, the teams renewed hostilities in Scotland at a rink where Glasgow have often lit up New Year’s Eve, scoring five goals in three of their four home games previously on this date.
With officials skating in special tartan-and-fireworks jerseys to mark the occasion, it was a full-barn celebration to close out the year in front of the Purple Army.
With Jackson Whistle starting opposite Sami Aittokallio, Belfast grabbed the early advantage in the first when Ryan Smith finished from Marcus Eriksson to put the Giants 1-0 up. A late delay-of-game minor against Garrett McFadden gave Clan a chance to respond on the power play, but they headed to the break still chasing the game.
Already down a forward after Tristin Langan left with a hand injury in the first, Clan’s night got tougher in the middle frame. A bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, after Rylan Schwartz threw his glove and voiced his displeasure at the officials, preceded Belfast doubling their lead shortly after the powerplay as Reid Irwin finished from McFadden and Smith to make it 2-0 with 78 seconds left in the period.
Schwartz got Clan back into it with just under seven minutes to play in the third period, and the hosts were the better team late on, but they could not find an equaliser for the second night running and the Giants held on for the win.
Photo: Al Goold
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