Ryan Finnerty is delighted that his 'diamond in the rough' Zach Sullivan has signed up again at Braehead Clan on a two-year deal.

The 21-year-old defenceman first joined the club in 2014 from Basingstoke Bison and has come on leaps and bounds with Scotland's top team.

Head Coach Finnerty couldn't praise the Englishman any higher as he welcomed back a player who he believes is knocking on the door of the Great Britain team.

"Sully's been with us a few years and you forget how young he is," said the Clan coach. "I'm hard on him, but I want him to improve and get better and his next step is to get into the GB team.

"He's knocking on the door and Sully's a guy you have to watch to appreciate what he does. You have to watch what he does with the puck in tight situations.

"When he plays, he plays a lot and always steps up to the plate. We think we've got a real diamond in the rough and should be on that GB team.

"Zach is very defensively minded and gets a nose bleed if he crosses the red line. He gets better year after year and we're excited to work with him another season."

Sullivan has made 118 appearances for Clan in the last two seasons, winning the Gardiner Conference twice and featured in last year's Champions Hockey League campaign.

He was also voted Young British Player of the Year in both seasons by the IHJUK, the ice hockey journalists association.

The man himself said: "I'm delighted to be back up for a third season in Glasgow.

"That's mainly because of the awesome Purple Army. I can't wait to get back up in August."

Sullivan joins Scott Aarssen, Cody Carlson, Matt Keith, Bari McKenzie, Matt Haywood, Daniel Ahsberg, Scott Pitt, Craig Peacock and Callum Boyd on the roster for 2016/17.