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Connon the destroyer becomes a Tiger
by Craig Anderson of Slapshot Scotland: http://slapshotscotland.wordpress.com.
VINCE CONNON revealed he was frustrated at being denied some much needed ice time at Braehead Clan – but admits coach Drew Bannister was protecting him.
Connon left the Purple Army on Thursday to sign for English Premier League side Telford Tigers, but hopes to be back one day.
He said: “The frustration was starting to get to me a little at not playing as often as I would like. I’m a young guy and I’ve got plenty of energy so I wanted to play.
“Drew took account of the fact that I’m young, but didn’t want to throw me into certain situations and lose my confidence.
“To be honest, there were times when I thought he was right, but there were times I felt I could have played. In the end, it’s the coach’s call and I respect that.
“As I look at it, it’s probably the right time for me to move on and playing in the English League allows me to do that. I think it’s a good move.
“I want to come back to the Elite League and play more regular shifts and Tom (Watkins) has offered me a slot in the team and a chance to play regularly.
“You never know, I could be back next year or the year after. You never know how things might go.”
Connon’s new team need all the help they can get as they currently sit bottom of the English Premier League with only eight wins from their 36 matches so far.
Their current form has improved winning two out of their last three, including Sunday’s shock 5-4 penalty shots win over Guildford Flames, after losing their six matches prior to that.
When the news broke that Connon was ending his 18-month association with Braehead to join the Tigers, the 20-year-old was inundated with messages of good luck from both sets of fans on Twitter and Facebook.
And he says he appreciated the gestures of goodwill as he embarks on the next stage of his career and admits it’s a wrench to go.
He added: “I always appreciated what the fans did for me and I enjoyed speaking to them and meeting them and without them, there wouldn’t be a hockey club.
“But I got some nice messages from appreciation it came out that I was going. It’s a great place to play and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my two years there.”
Connon goes straight into a big weekend when his new team take on eighth place Bracknell Bees on Saturday then Peterborough Phantoms in ninth place, one place above the Tigers, on Sunday.
But it ends a 91-game career for the Isle of Man born forward, who was brought in by Bruce Richardson in the Clan’s inaugural season.
Vince scored five goals and provided five assists during his time in Scotland and he follows Kyle Bruce out of Braehead’s exit, after the enforcer left for Dundee Stars this week.
The club though wished him all the best in a statement on the website on Thursday when a club spokesperson said: “It has been a pleasure having Vinnie on the team over the last season and a half.
“He has been a real fan favourite both on and off the ice. We wish Vinnie all the best for the remainder of the season and we know that Clan fans will do the same.”
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-3 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-5 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-4 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
2-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
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5-8 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-2 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
3-7 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|
- Adam Walker
- Alex Birch
- Andy Pierce
- Chris Gent
- Christopher Beal
- Craig Simpson
- Dave Simms
- Elliott Stanley
- Gareth Chalmers
- James Broughton
- James Gordon
- Katy Madgwick
- Luke Catterson
- Mark Briggs
- Mark Duell
- Mat Young
- Patrick Smyth
- Promotion
- Russ Morrell
- Seanna Murdock
- Stephen Dowson
- Stewart Roberts
- Tom Forster
- Vicki Smart
- William Lyon
