BRAEHEAD Clan have announced that netminder Gary Russell has returned for his second season at the club.
The 26-year-old arrived last summer from Solway Sharks in the NIHL and made eight appearances for the Elite League club.
Russell made a name for himself in December 2015, when Chris Holt's injury gave him the opportunity to contribute man of the match performances against Belfast Giants and Dundee Stars.
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Coach Ryan Finnerty underlined the importance of the club's 11th summer signing after he impressed as a backup to Chris Holt and Travis Fullerton last season.
“For me, it was really important to get Gary back,” Finnerty said.
“Whenever we needed him, he was there for us and he was a huge part of our team.
“Having Gary back in the team is a good security to have. There’s not that many British backups that have his quality and for me, he’s of the best. Being a Glasgow boy, it’s a good fit for both parties.
“He developed a strong bond with Chris Holt and having the two goalies get along is a always really good thing.
“’Holtsy’ showed him a lot and Rusty learned a lot from that in his first year in the league. We had to throw him into the fire a few times and when we did, he played strong for us.
“Getting him back was crucial and I’m glad we were able to work it out with him."
Image via Al Goold
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