Picture by FAHX Photography
Five SNL games were played across the weekend, with the top three holding their positions while Edinburgh Capitals moved up to fourth.
One of the standout fixtures came in Dundee, where the Rockets and Whitley Warriors met for the first time this season. With both sides having started strongly, a close contest was expected and that was exactly how it played out.
Rio Page put Dundee ahead before Cameron Ware levelled for Whitley. Ware struck again to give the Warriors the lead, but the Rockets responded through Deniss Kontseus before Sean Beattie found what proved to be the winner. Whitley continued to push in the closing stages, but Dundee held on for a 3–2 victory.
Aberdeen Lynx recorded another convincing result against Kilmarnock Thunder in their second meeting of the season. Five first-period goals put the Lynx in a strong position, although Thunder continued to work and were rewarded with goals from Fraser Turner and Mack Harris. Aberdeen added three more on their way to an 8–2 win, with Conor Duncan completing a hat-trick and Billy Baxter scoring his first goal for the Lynx.
Edinburgh Capitals picked up an 8–0 win over Paisley Pirates in their first home SNL fixture of the season. Four goals in the opening period put the Capitals firmly in control and they continued to apply pressure throughout, keeping Pirates netminder Caiden MacColl busy. Two further goals followed in the second before Edinburgh added another two in the third.
One of the Capitals’ latest signings, Richard Hartmann Jnr, was among the standout performers, completing a hat-trick with his third goal coming in the final period. It was a strong home league performance from Edinburgh and a result that lifted them up the standings.
After their narrow defeat in Dundee, Whitley were back on home ice on Sunday against Kirkcaldy Kestrels and took a 5-0 win. Cameron Ware opened the scoring on the power play before a penalty-heavy second period made life difficult for the visitors. The Warriors pulled further clear in the third to secure a comfortable win and remain at the top of the table, while Kestrels continue their search for their first victory of the season.
Paisley Pirates were back on the road on Sunday, travelling to Dumfries for their second meeting of the season with Solway Sharks SNL. Solway struck first through Lewis Chalmers, but Paisley responded well and turned the game in their favour, building a 4–2 lead by the end of the second period.
The Sharks kept pushing and Chalmers’ second of the night brought them back within one in the third. Solway had slightly more activity around the Pirates’ net as the game went on, but Paisley held firm to take a 4–3 win and the two points.
It meant mixed weekends for both Whitley and Paisley, with each taking two points from their double-headers. The Warriors remain top of the SNL, with Dundee Rockets second and Paisley Pirates third, while Edinburgh’s win moves the Capitals into fourth.
