BRAEHEAD CLAN’S European debut got off to a tough but encouraging start despite going down 10-2 defeat to Vaxjo Lakers.

A small handful of fans from Scotland had travelled to Sweden for what was the opening game of their team’s Champions Hockey League campaign.

Given that Braehead have only been in existence for five years, it was always going to be a harsh introduction to continental hockey, especially when their opponents made it the semi-finals last year.

And within five minutes Clan were on the backfoot as Patrik Lundh opened the scoring, and just four minutes later it was two as Ilkka Heikkenen punished the visitors.

There was a brief glimmer of hope for the Scots as they hit back almost instantly as Stefan Meyer slammed a shot into the net at the back post bang on 10 minutes.

However, any optimism would turn out to be short lived as the game started to race away from the European debutants. Heikkenen soon added a third before Robin Soderqvist and Lundh joined in.

The 5-1 scoreline at the first intermission did little to dampen the noise coming from a loud and proud travelling support among an attendance of 2816 at the Vida Arena.

And while the Lakers went on to bag another two through Alexander Johansson and Linus Frberg in the second period, Ryan Finnerty’s men steadied the ship and more than matched their opponents.

There was a strong physicality to Clan’s play and they continued their impressive form into the final period as Meyer grabbed his second.

The former Calgary Flames forward was played in on goal and the left-hander guided a high shot into the net just three minutes after the restart.

While any chat of a comeback was never on the cards, Finnerty will be annoyed at how any momentum was squandered exactly three minutes with the concession of a powerplay goal, their third of the night.

With Chris Bruton off for slashing, it left the visitors short-handed and unable to keep out Alexander Johansson.

The goals were to keep coming as Braehead began to tire in what was their first competitive game of the season, a great solo effort Joakim Hilding before Mikael Johannson took the tally to double figures.

Next up for Braehead is a trip to Germany on Saturday where they will face Ingolstadt before they they play host to both sides later this month.

The top two teams will progress.