BRAEHEAD CLAN’S summer plans have been handed a massive boost with the news talisman captain Matt Keith is returning for a third season.

The Canadian won player of the year last season and was a heroic figure in purple as Ryan Finnerty’s men sealed the Gardiner Conference and mounted a late rally in the league.

He first arrived in 2014 after spells in Austria with Dornbirn and Red Bull Salzburg and has played in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Islanders.

To date, he’s played 117 games, scored 43 goals and assisted in 83, scoring 126 points in his time at the club and head coach Ryan Finnerty was delighted to bring his skipper back again.

The head coach said: "Bring ‘Keither’ back was a no-brainer and he’s a guy that commands respect in the dressing room.

"He’s played a massive part in this team over the last couple of years, in helping us win the Gardiner Conference the last two seasons and leading us in the Champions Hockey League last year.

"As I’ve said before, when he was out injured in February, we missed what he brought to the team and you could see how much of an absence he was.

"I’m delighted to bring him back to the team and continue to work with him. Like me, he’s a player who’s striving to bring success to Braehead Clan and that desire is as strong as it’s ever been with him.

"The fans will be delighted to have him back here for another year and we can’t wait to see him again."

The news that the 33-year-old will be icing at the Braehead Arena for a third term will be a blow Clan’s EIHL rivals who were also vying for the forward’s signature.

SportTimes revealed earlier this month that Sheffield Steelers and Belfast Giants were looking to acquire his services.

It caused mass panic among the Purple Army, who took to social media to try and keep one of the club’s most influential players in Glasgow.

But instead of migrating elsewhere in the UK, he will be the man leading the Braehead charge as Finnerty endeavours to bring Clan their first ever league title.

Hockey & operations director Gareth Chalmers added: “We’re delighted to welcome Matt and his family back to Braehead for 2016/17.

"Matt is a credit to the organisation on and off the ice and has become an integral member of the team over the past two seasons.

"He is part of the core we want to continue building around, he’s had a lot of interest from elsewhere so we are very happy to see him return."

The 2016/17 season could also see Keith pull on a Great Britain jersey for the first time, with the Edmonton native now eligible to play for the national team after two consecutive years in the EIHL.

Meanwhile, Braehead have announced that Tracy Ross has joined the club as administration and community executive, while Sean Kelly will take up the role of marketing and operations executive.