The Junior Scotland squads are back home after a brilliant week in Finland, where they took part in the world-renowned Lions Cup — one of Europe’s top youth ice hockey tournaments. Since 2003, the event has welcomed teams from across the globe, and this year was no different, with fierce competition and top-level talent on display.

U11s – Battling to the Final Whistle

The U11s played six intense games and came away with a solid record: three wins, one draw, and two narrow losses, one of which came in a tight playoff game that went all the way to penalties. A strong team performance throughout, showing great skill, teamwork, and resilience.

U13s – Fast Start, Tough Finish

The U13s kicked off their campaign with a warm-up win before securing back-to-back victories in the tournament proper. They eventually came up against the tournament’s overall winners and gave a good account of themselves despite the loss. A tough run in the playoffs followed, and they ended the week in 8th place, but with plenty to be proud of.

U15s – Grit, Determination, and a Big Comeback Attempt

The U15s opened with a win in their warm-up game before facing a strong Swiss side in their first tournament match. After a couple of early defeats, they bounced back with a 2–0 win over a tough Finnish team. In their final game, they showed incredible fight — coming back from 4–0 down to 4–3, just falling short after conceding an empty netter late on. They finished 8th overall, but the effort and improvement were clear to see.

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It was a hugely successful trip overall, with all three age groups showing noticeable improvement and competing well against some of Europe’s best. The future of Scottish hockey is definitely heading in the right direction — and this trip was another big step forward.

Great job, team!