Sirant began last season as Assistant Coach before being promoted midway through the campaign, going on to guide Clan to only their second appearance at Playoff Finals Weekend.

Before preparations began for 2026/27, Sirant was able to spend the summer back home in Winnipeg with his family. “We were able to go back to Winnipeg and it was a great summer to reconnect with our kids,” said Sirant. “We have a cabin on the lake and were able to spend some time there. We’re still building it, so it’s very much a work in progress. I’m pretty handy. I’m not a professional, but I can usually figure things out!”

Attention soon turned back to hockey, with Sirant working closely alongside newly appointed General Manager Zach Vinnell throughout the summer. Vinnell joined the Clan after previously playing for Glasgow and Sheffield, and working as an Assistant Coach with Coventry Blaze.

“Zach did a great job in assembling a Glasgow team that will be very competitive this season,” he said. “We have an excellent working relationship and a very collaborative approach. Zach looks after the contract negotiations and the logistics involved in getting players here, and we worked closely together throughout the summer, watching a lot of video and identifying the players we wanted to bring into the Clan organisation.

“We wanted good players and good people who play the right way. Zach also takes care of a lot of the administration and scheduling, and of course he is our representative to the league, making sure registrations are completed and that players meet all of the eligibility requirements. Myself and our Assistant Coaches Steve and Adam then focus on the on-ice hockey performance and the identity we want to put out there.”

With a number of players retiring following last season, Sirant and the Clan staff had a clear idea of the type of players they wanted to add to the group.

“We had a lot of players retire after last season, so we were looking for players who fit the identity of how we want to play as the Clan,” he explained. “We wanted players who are a little younger, driven to get better and hungry to win. We were looking for players who can play fast, have skill and grit, are relentless and compete hard.

“But equally importantly, we wanted good people who would be a good fit for this organisation. We watched video to assess their on-ice ability and then carried out reference checks to make sure they were good teammates, put the team first, were unselfish and professional, and were still excited about continuing their development and motivated to win.

“We wanted players who were willing to sacrifice for each other.”

With the new group now together, Sirant believes training camp provides an important opportunity to establish the team’s identity both on and off the ice.

“Training camp is a time to do some really important things off the ice, in terms of setting our goals for the season, creating the right culture within our locker room and establishing our identity,” he said. “We need to establish how we want to play in order to be successful in the Elite League.

“These games are also an excellent opportunity to evaluate the group, experiment with different combinations and roles, and see which players are best suited to certain situations. It’s also about teaching our team systems and setting those foundations for the year. We will continuously look to refine how we execute throughout the season, but these next three weeks are a really important period, both on and off the ice, to learn more about our players.

“We want to develop positive personal relationships with each player, understand what motivates them and learn what we, as coaches, need to do to help each individual develop and achieve success on the ice.”

After taking Clan to Playoff Finals Weekend last season, Sirant is determined to see the organisation build on that achievement rather than be satisfied with what has already been accomplished.

“I’m really excited about the upcoming season,” said the Head Coach. “We all spent a lot of time watching video and working throughout the summer, and we’re really excited about the team we’ve put together to represent the Clan organisation. We were pleased with how last season ended and, of course, with the success we had in the Playoffs, but we’re motivated by the challenge of taking the next step.

“Last year was a great finish for us, but our whole organisation isn’t satisfied. The challenge for us, organisation-wide, is to take that next step in the League and Cup; to return to the final four at the end of the season and do everything we can to advance to the Final and give ourselves a chance to win it.

“We’re really excited for that challenge. It’s not going to be easy. It’s difficult to win in this league, with excellent teams, outstanding coaching and high-quality opposition. There are no easy games.

“We’re prepared for that grind and ready to meet the challenge by taking things one practice and one game at a time, while continuing to work towards our goals.”

Photo: Al Goold Camp Photos: Ryan Fleming