A TOP professional NHL ice-hockey player from North America has been attracted to the Braehead Clan thanks to a new partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU).

The new deal between the university and Glasgow’s only professional ice hockey team has resulted in players from across the pond choosing to combine their sporting ambitions with advancing their education.

In a bid to secure top flight players with competitive packages, the partnership has secured two elite ice hockey professionals Ryan Potulny and Adam Brace to the Clan.

Fourteen members of its current squad hail from the United States.

Braehead Clan, part of the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) which is affiliated to the US/Canada National Hockey League, described it as a “landmark partnership”.

American professional player Ryan Potulny joined the Clan this season from EHC Linz in Austria.

Ryan, a former Philadelphia Flyers, has played for more than a decade at the top of his game and is combining his love for sport in Scotland with a postgraduate qualification in BA (Hons) in International Marketing at GCU’s Glasgow School for Business and Society.

He said: “It’s a huge advantage to be able to complete my education and play hockey, as you can’t play forever.

“One of the things that brought me here is the city of Glasgow, its people, and the university, which looked excellent.

"That was a big factor in coming here to the Clan as well as the team, which has been great with us.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for players though it can be tough at times with games and classes each demanding a significant amount of time - it’s a balancing act to make sure you can do both aspects, and do it right, but I’ve had great support from teaching staff and our coaches.”

Ryan is joined by fellow professional Adam Brace, who hails from Ontario, Canada. He is studying an MSc in International Business Management, following what he describes as a ‘seven-year hiatus in his education’ to focus on his playing career.

Adam, a graduate of the Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, said: “I came to Glasgow as I had the opportunity to study at GCU as well as further my playing career with the Braehead Clan.

"The university is very welcoming to international students, it’s accessible, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t come to Glasgow to continue your education and continue to play."

Clan Commercial Director Andy McLaughlin said: “This partnership is a massive step forward for the Clan organisation and will provide huge assistance to Coach John Tripp as he looks to recruit in the future."

The Club approached the university initially and, as the relationship has evolved, students from across the university will be offered work experience opportunities.