Defenceman Darien Kielb has completed a spectacular return to the Glasgow Clan.
The 26-year-old put pen-to-paper on a one-year contract with the Elite League side on Friday [3 October], just five months after he left the team as a free agent.
“Darien is a big, skilled guy with fantastic mobility,” said Clan head coach Corey Neilson.
“He knows the league, our systems, and tactics, which means he can jump right in seamlessly and do what we do. He’s also a high-quality person who is well liked by his teammates and knows our expectations for him.”
Kielb made 46 regular-season appearances for the Clan last season, recording 12 points (two goals, ten assists) from a third pair role.
The Canadian initially signed with the ECHL’s Worcester Railers for 2025-26, but returns to the Elite League without making an appearance in North America.
Who is Glasgow Clan defenceman Darien Kielb?
Kielb is a product of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, in which he played 249 games and registered 104 points (26 goals, 78 assists).
Darien Kielb, Glasgow Clan (Image: Elite League)
Dalhousie University was the Hamilton-born defenceman’s next stop, recording 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 16 USports appearances.
Kielb entered the professional ranks in 2021-22, splitting the season between the ECHL and AHL.
He recorded 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists) in 63 appearances for ECHL Fort Wayne and Maine, before taking his talents across the pond to Europe after three seasons in North America’s third tier.
Kielb made 11 appearances and recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in a brief Slovak Extraliga stint to finish 2023-24 and signed with the Clan for the following season.
Why have the Glasgow Clan re-signed defenceman Darien Kielb?
The Clan have re-signed Kielb because injuries and illnesses have disrupted their start to the season.
Colton Poolman, Miihaki Teppo, and Steven Seigo have all missed time this season, leaving Glasgow short and lacking in quality on the blueline.
Kielb addresses both needs — he’s fit, firing, and likely to debut on 10 October versus the Manchester Storm.
The 6-foot-3 blueliner established himself as a firm fan favourite during his first spell in Glasgow, playing a physical, defensive game from the back-end.
Kielb is a safe bet with the puck: he rarely makes risky plays and is relatively error-free as a result.
Physically gifted, he is adept at clearing the net-front and won’t be pushed around in his own end.
Occasionally a shot threat from the blueline, he returns to Glasgow as a floor-raiser for the Clan.
There’s nothing to dislike about this deal.
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