Wet Wall Works Day at Braehead Clan
16th Jul 2018
After 3 months of working at Wet Wall Works and listening to a play-by-play of the weekend’s game every Monday it was time to see what all the hype was about for myself and attend a game. Saturday 3rd February 2018... Braehead Clan vs Fife Flyers, a pretty big deal, so I’m told. I did my research and already knew some of the player names from the sponsors night a few weeks beforehand but thanks to some friendly #PurpleArmy twitter followers I was armed with first hand tips on how make the most of my trip to Braehead Arena. I was advised by a number of followers to “Keep your eye on the puck… at all times” this little inside joke became clear within 5 minutes as the arena announcer bellowed out those exact words and for good reason too! The puck (pucks sponsored by Wet Wall Works) was moving around the ice at great speed while being whacked by the players. A twitter follower had also told me how fans in the infamous "Section N" sing and chant and it really adds to the atmosphere, and they weren’t wrong. I could hear the drums coming from Section N right away and it was great to see supporters being so passionate and enjoying themselves.
Once I was in my seat with my pitcher of cider and blackcurrant (a luxury you just don’t get at the football games I’m accustomed to) it was time to focus and try to work out what was actually going on in the game. My efforts in researching the rules beforehand had went to waste as the players just seemed to move around so quickly, I was lost! Stuarts attempts to try and explain the offside rule to me went as you can imagine but half way through the 1st Period I had started to pick it up and with my new found hockey knowledge and half a pitcher of cider in me, I couldn't help but join in with the clapping, chanting and singing! Especially with some of my favourite songs of all time blaring out… “I don’t wanna rock, DJ!”. It was during the 1st Period that I spotted him across the rink… I had never seen anything so beautiful… a moment I will remember for the rest of my life… it was the one… and only… CLANGUS! What a lovely little Coo. I watched from Clangus to rink, Clangus to rink until the end of the 1st Period, although it was a disappointing 0-0 still it had been so exciting to watch. During the first interval I giggled quite a bit at the boys in the bathtub trying to make their way round the rink and back in record timing and listened as the scores from other games came in and supporters around me discussed what this would mean for the league positions.
The 2nd Period was underway, and the pace was picking up when it happened… GOAL for Braehead Clan! I jumped up and cheered with everyone, later finding out the goal scorer was Christoffer Bjorklund and that everyone was shouting “Sieve” at the opposition’s goalie because he has “holes in him, like a sieve”, not the “S” word I thought they were shouting and was a little confused by, it being a family friendly event after all! The glory was short lived though as Fife Flyers scored just minutes later and leaving it at 1 -1 going in to the 2nd interval.
During the 2nd interval Stuart took us to the sponsors lounge and who did we bump into on the way? Only the best mascot in the world, Clangus! I got a kiss and cuddle and my night was made, a true hero who clearly works hard entertaining the kids (as well as the adults) all night with his famous moooooves!
Back to our seats with Bacardi & coke in hand, 3rd Period, and the tables turned when Fife Flyers scored and went ahead only for Braehead Clan to equalise just minutes later with a shot from Adam Brace! And it wasn’t long until there was another goal from Felix-Antonie Poulin for Braehead Clan making it 3-2! SIEVE, SIEVE, SIEVE! As the klaxon sounded to signal full time we all bounced up and cheered, WIN for BRAEHEAD CLAN! The first league win against Fife Flyers this season!
I really enjoyed myself at my first ever game and by the looks of it I’m a bit of a lucky charm! I don’t think it will be my last time attending a game and seeing the best mascot in the world and the best fans in the world. As long as I remember… “Keep your eye on the puck… at all times” (pucks sponsored by Wet Wall Works).