Picture by Maria Dempsy
The Scottish National League playoffs got underway with a full weekend of quarter-final action, and there was plenty to take from the opening double-headers.
Paisley Pirates and Whitley Warriors have already done enough to move on, booking their place at Finals Weekend in Dundee, while the remaining two ties will be decided next weekend.
The tie between Kirkcaldy Kestrels and the Pirates had everything you expect from playoff hockey — tight, physical, and never fully settled.
Saturday’s first leg saw Paisley take a 2–0 win, striking early with two first-period goals from Marty Simpson to put them in control. The middle stages were hard fought, with very little between the sides, and in the third, Andy Little kept Kirkcaldy in contention with a series of stops as Paisley pushed for more.
Sunday in Kirkcaldy saw the Kestrels respond, taking the game 2–2 on the night but falling short on aggregate. Once again Paisley found the early breakthrough to stretch their advantage across the tie, with Ryan Parkin adding another in the second. The Kestrels kept coming, with Ross Henderson pulling one back late in the second period before Scott Jamieson added another inside the final five minutes to level the game on the night.
Paisley held on to progress 4–2 on aggregate, but it was far from straightforward, with both sides fully committed and nothing left in reserve.
In Aberdeen, Aberdeen Lynx and the Whitley Warriors met once again, continuing a run of fixtures between the sides this season.
Saturday’s first leg never really settled for the Lynx. Dean Holland opened the scoring for Whitley in the first, but it was the second period that shaped the game, with three goals putting the visitors firmly in control. Aberdeen pushed more in the third, but struggled to break down a well-organised Whitley side.
That left a big task on Sunday, and to their credit, the Lynx made the start they needed. Jaydn Baxter’s early goal gave them a lift, but the response came quickly. A penalty proved costly, with Callum Queenan levelling on the power play before Kyle Ross edged Whitley back in front.
From there, the Warriors took control. They stepped up the pressure through the second period, testing Rory Wood consistently, and added another late in the frame. Two more in the third put it to bed, with Whitley Warriors through 10–1 on aggregate.
Elsewhere, Edinburgh Capitals made a strong start to their tie against North Ayrshire Wild in the first leg at Murrayfield.
Goals from Gary Simpson, Kris Phillips and Justin Finnigan in the first period set the tone, with the Capitals in control and limiting the Wild to very little in the opening stages. The Wild settled as the game went on, but Edinburgh stayed on top throughout, adding further goals in the second and third, with Sean Stewart and Joe Lynch on the scoresheet.
That tie will be completed next weekend, with the return leg also at Murrayfield, while the final semi-final place will be decided across the double-header between Dundee Rockets and Solway Sharks.
With two places already secured and two still to be decided, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape — but there is more to come next weekend.
All roads now lead to Dundee on April 18th and 19th, where the Scottish National League season will be decided. Semi-finals, final, and a full weekend of hockey — it is set up to be a standout event in the calendar. Tickets are available now, with online pricing offering the best value, so booking in advance is strongly recommended.
