The second period had everything. Manchester Storm led, were pegged back, led again, were pegged back again - and then Glasgow Clan snatched the decisive goal with just over two minutes remaining in the frame. After that, it was a matter of holding on. And hold on they did.

Glasgow Clan finished third at the 2026 EIHL Playoff Finals Weekend with a 3-2 win over Manchester Storm on Sunday afternoon, the Motorpoint Arena providing the backdrop for a game that swung back and forth before the Clan finally took control.

Storm strike first, Clan level quickly

It was a Storm youngster who broke the deadlock. Connor Lee opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game, his wrist shot from the hashmarks beating Liam Soulière over the blocker to make it 1-0. Post-match, Lee reflected with obvious pride: "To see where we got to at the end of this season, it's been good to prove the haters wrong."

Glasgow weren't behind for long. Mick Messner restored parity at 15:10 with a snapshot from the high slot, assisted by Rylan Schwartz and Steven Seigo, and the teams went into the first intermission level at one apiece.

A frantic middle period decides it

The second period was where this game was won and lost. Manchester moved back in front just before the midpoint of the match - Harrison Caines snapping a shot under Soulière's glove, assisted by Rais Francis and Joseph Nardi. The Clan trailed again, but they weren't finished

Hugo Roy brought the game level at 36:37, converting from a Daniel Tedesco feed. Then, with barely two minutes left in the period, Brady Risk tipped home a Rylan Schwartz point shot to put Glasgow in front for the first time - 3-2, Schwartz and Joe Hazeldine with the assists.

The Clan went into the final frame with the lead, and crucially, with momentum.

Storm can't find a way back

Manchester made a tactical change between periods, sending on Tyler De La Bertouche in goal for Evan Weninger. De La Bertouche was solid - he faced 14 shots in the final frame and kept the Clan off the scoresheet EIHL - but despite a late timeout and pulling the goalkeeper for an extra attacker in the final minute, the Storm couldn't find the equaliser.

The final buzzer confirmed it: Glasgow Clan 3-2 Manchester Storm, and a third-place finish to cap what had been a remarkable playoff run for the Scottish side.

A season to be proud of for both sides

Roy was emotional after the final whistle: "We wanted to rally and get this last win together as a group. Sometimes when it was a bit hard for us on the ice, they kept pushing us and believing in us. Getting to the Final Four, it was for them mostly." 

For the Clan, the context matters. They arrived at Finals Weekend as the eighth seed, having knocked out league champions Belfast Giants in a dramatic shootout in the quarter-finals Pro Hockey News - one of the most striking upsets of the EIHL play-off era. To then reach the last four and come away with a medal is a result the club and its supporters can be genuinely proud of.

For Manchester Storm, this was the club's first Finals Weekend appearance since joining the EIHL in 2015 Manchesterstorm, and despite the semi-final defeat to Sheffield Steelers and this third-place loss, the season represents real progress. They've shown they belong at this level.
The 2025/26 EIHL season ended later on Sunday with Cardiff Devils defeating Sheffield Steelers in the Playoff Final. Glasgow Clan close out the campaign in third place - a result few would have predicted when the play-off bracket was drawn.

Result: Manchester Storm 2–3 Glasgow Clan
Scorers:
MAN - Connor Lee (Dudek) 04:15; Harrison Caines (Francis, Nardi) 35:06
GLA - Mick Messner (Schwartz, Seigo) 15:10; Hugo Roy (Tedesco, Mitchell-King) 36:37; Brady Risk (Schwartz, Hazeldine) 38:07
Goalkeepers:
MAN - Evan Weninger (starter); Tyler De La Bertouche (third period, 40:00)
GLA - Liam Soulière