Ice hockey – Tripp out after Clan miss play-offs

Braehead Clan’s 40-year-old, Canadian-born coach John Tripp has parted company with the team only two days after the Glasgow side failed to qualify for the end-of-season play-offs.

They also lost the Gardiner Conference title to Fife Flyers and finished out of the top eight.

Clan are now looking world-wide for a new playcaller but Tripp was recruited from a German Division Two club Eispiraten Crimmitshau last summer after Braehead bosses sacked Ryan Finnerty.

Fiesty Finnerty was snapped-up by Manchester Storm who finished second in the 12-strong Elite League.

Tripp’s misfiring Clan won 24 of their 56 regular season games in regulation time. They lost six games in overtime or penalty shots and 26 in regulation time.

Clan, Scotland’s best supported team, finished the season in a disappointing ninth position with 54 points, one position out of the play-offs which are contested by the top eight teams.

And Braehead completed their season with back-to-back defeats to Nottingham Panthers in Glasgow and at Guildford Flames.

Fans were quick to voice their disappointment on social media and Gareth Chambers, Clan’s hockey and operations director, said: “John leaves the club on very good terms and with our utmost respect.

“We thank him for all his hard work and commitment over the past ten months.”

But he added: “It has been bitterly disappointing for this organisation to finish ninth in the league, miss out on the play-offs and not retain the Gardiner Conference title.

“Our aspirations are for Clan to be competing for silverware and not battling for a play-off spot.”