GERARD HANSON isn't afraid to get stuck in when he's on the ice - and his team-mates love him for it.

Glasgow Clan held onto fourth place in the EIHL by beating fifth-placed Fife Flyers 2-1 in a tight encounter at Braehead Arena that ended with Hanson scrapping with an opponent on the ice.

And it's this aggression that spurs his team on regularly, according to Clan captain Zack Fitzgerald.

"He’s our energy right now and he’s scored a lot of big goals for us," said Fitzgerald.

“He’s playing rough and scrapping a bit - I love it. It’s great to see when guys like him get credit. They’re working hard in every game. He keeps us going and that’s what we need.”

The home side thought they had taken the lead in the first period only for the goal to be ruled out.

Clan then scored the opener via a rebound tucked away by Brendan Connolly in the second period, only for the Flyers to reply with a goal of their own.

With the clock winding down, Matt Stanisz fired an effort from distance that Matt Beca deflected into the net with 28 seconds left of the second period.

Then during the third period, Hanson came to blows with Flyers' Carlo Finucci, much to the delight of the Braehead crowd.

After the game, Clan coach Pete Russell singled out Hanson for praise.

"He’s probably the worse practice player in the team,” Russell laughed.

"But he’s one of the best guys when it comes to games. He buys into it, he works hard, he cares and he’s passionate.

"He’s a lovely guy and a battler on the ice. I saw a lot of him for Manchester last season. He was one of the first guys I tried to sign when I came here - he just fits in.”

Watch the full highlghts of Clan's 2-1 win in the video above, and keep an eye out for Hanson's bust-up at the end.