Former Devils captain Ryan Finnerty Leaves Braehead Clan

Former Cardiff Devils captain Ryan Finnerty has left Braehead Clan.

Canadian Finnerty’s departure was confirmed by Glasgow-based Clan after they lost 6-1 on aggregate against Dundee Stars in the Elite League ice hockey play-off quarter-finals.

Stars will play Devils in the first semi-final at the finals weekend in Nottingham this weekend (1pm) with Sheffield Steelers facing Belfast Giants in the second semi (5pm).

Finnerty had been Clan coach for four seasons and they have won the Gardiner Conference title three times and finished as Elite League runners-up in 2014-15.

The 36-year-old from Alberta coached Sheffield for two seasons before heading north to take charge of Braehead.

A statement by Clan said: “Braehead can confirm they will be appointing a new head coach for 2017-18.

“We would like to thank Ryan Finnerty for his excellent contribution since he joined the club during the summer of 2013.

“Ryan leaves us on extremely good terms. He has helped to raise the bar in terms of professionalism both on and off the ice. We thank him for all his hard work and commitment over the past four seasons and we wish him and his fiance Emma all the best in their future.

“We will now focus on ensuring we appoint a new head coach that will allow us to progress and to win silverware in the Elite Ice Hockey League.”

While Finnerty ponders his future, Devils’ coach Andrew Lord is focused on his teams play-off hopes this weekend.

Devils have already won the triple crown of League title and Challenge Cup plus the Erhardt Conference championship and they would love to make it a Grand Slam.

Lord has a big decision to make for the semi-final against Stars. They carry an extra import on their roster and one will have to be rested.

American Denny Kearney sat out both of the quarter-final clashes with Manchester Storm when Devils won 6-3 on aggregate.

Lord must decide on the right mix for his play-off top seeds against Dundee and the talented Kearney will be in his thoughts throughout the week.