Picture by Ian Coyle
The wintry weather wreaked havoc across Scotland this weekend, with yellow and amber weather warnings leading to travel disruptions. Out of three scheduled senior games, only two managed to go ahead. The matchup between North Ayrshire Wild and Kirkcaldy Kestrels was postponed and is now rescheduled for February 1st.
Edinburgh Capitals 4–3 Paisley Pirates (Scottish Cup)
(Capitals win 9–5 on aggregate)
The Edinburgh Capitals hosted the Paisley Pirates in the second leg of their Scottish Cup quarter-final clash. With a 5–2 victory from the first leg, the Capitals had the advantage, but the Pirates were determined to push back despite battling snowy conditions to reach Edinburgh.
The first period was tightly contested, with both sides creating opportunities. Joe Lynch gave the Capitals an early edge, netting the only goal of the opening 20 minutes.
In the second period, the Pirates responded. Chris Wilson struck five minutes in, leveling the game at 1–1.
The third period brought high drama. Oliver King reclaimed the lead for the Capitals, but Fraser Kerr answered quickly for the Pirates, keeping them in contention. The Pirates briefly took the lead courtesy of Gary Parker, but Lynch found the net again to level the game at 3–3. With just a minute left, Joel Gautschi buried the winning goal for the Capitals, securing their victory.
The Capitals advance to the semi-finals, where they’ll face Kirkcaldy Kestrels, while Aberdeen Lynx prepare for their showdown with Dundee Rockets.
Capitals coach, Steven Lynch said, “Delighted we are through to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. Paisley made us work hard to get there, although taking a three-goal lead in the first leg definitely helped us. The game itself wasn’t a classic—it was a bit flat from both teams, if I’m going to be perfectly honest—but we did enough to get over the line. We look forward to playing the Kestrels in the semi-finals.”
Dundee Rockets 14–0 Kilmarnock Thunder (SNL)
In the SNL, Dundee Rockets hosted Kilmarnock Thunder in a one-sided clash at The Galleon Centre. Every goal matters in the tight race for the top spot, and the Rockets made a statement on Saturday night.
The Rockets wasted no time, opening the scoring just three minutes in through Michel Beca. John Dolan added another in the first period, setting the tone for what would be a challenging evening for Thunder.
The second period saw the Rockets step up their pace, with five unanswered goals. Thunder switched goaltenders, bringing Thomas Mangan in to replace Harry Campbell, but the relentless Rockets attack continued to dominate.
In the third, the Rockets added seven more goals, including three power-play conversions, to seal a commanding 14–0 victory.
The win gives the Rockets two vital points and keeps them in the chase for the league title. They now sit on 15 points, just behind leaders Aberdeen Lynx with two games in hand, keeping the race for the top spot alive and intense.
Looking Ahead
The race for the top of the SNL table is intensifying as the season progresses. While Aberdeen Lynx currently hold the lead, the Dundee Rockets are closing the gap with games in hand, and other teams remain firmly in the hunt.
With every point and goal proving critical, the coming weeks will test the depth, discipline, and determination of all contenders. Fans can expect fierce battles on the ice as teams push to secure their place at the top.
