AS accurate first impressions go, Stefan Della Rovere seems to have sussed out Scotland within a matter of days of touching down as Braehead Clan’s newest star.

“It rains a lot,” said the 26-year-old, the smallest glimmer of surprise coming through his distinctive Canadian brogue. A subdued nod the response.

The gloomy weather of these shores doesn’t appear to be dampening the spirits of the man who will be calling Glasgow his home for the next two months.

Della Rovere scored on his first game for Clan on Wednesday night in a 2-1 win over Manchester Storm, just 24 hours after touching down.

Following a short stint in Italy with Fassa the opportunity to experience a new country, and extend his season, was too good to turn down for the man from Ontario, despite the drookit weather that replaces with white slopes of Trentino.

“My first experience and thought was just how beautiful the rink was,” he told Sport Times. “It’s a nice place here and the fans were great. The hockey was very good and I was excited to get my first game under my belt.

“Italy has a lot of history and where I was it was a very nice ski village.

“There were a lot of tourists.

“The hockey was very fast. It’s a much younger league than over here and guys skate there. It’s good hockey.

“I’ve only really seen Braehead. Everyone is settling me in really well and I’m looking forward to seeing Scotland.”

Della Rovere feels he has much more hockey left in him this campaign.

In the newly formed Alps Hockey League, the Canadian left wing only played 21 games for the team based in the town of Canazei, meaning he is fit and raring to go as Braehead attempt to ascend the Elite League.

“Instead of going home in February I go home mid April. It was a long travel but I’m happy to be here,” he said.

“It was something I thought about that would help me play more hockey.

“I started my season off in November so it was pretty well into the season when I started.

“With Fassa in Italy I had five games left and they weren’t going to make the play-offs, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to extend my season and get more hockey.”

As a former National Hockey League player, Della Rovere is in good company at the Braehead Arena.

Many big names from the world’s highest-profile league have pulled on skates at the Glasgow venue, including current captain Matt Keith and enforcer Jay Rosehill. Stanley Cup winners Drew Miller and Ric Jackman.

Della Rovere, who was drafted by the Washington Capitals and went on to play seven times for the St Louis Blues, is happy to join that elite group.

“It’s definitely a league a lot of people talk about,” he said ahead of Braehead Clan’s game tonight at home to Edinburgh Capitals before Coventry Blaze come to Clyde side tomorrow.

“That’s because it’s very like North American hockey. There are a lot of good players here and a lot of imports.

“In my first game it took me a couple of shifts to get used to it but at the end of the day I felt good out there.

“It’s a good pace and it’s a good league.”