Excitement is building as the Northern League kicks off this Sunday. This league brings together three Scottish ice hockey teams – Kilmarnock Thunder, Edinburgh Capitals, and Kirkcaldy Kestrels – along with EIHA team, the Blackburn Hawks.

Borne out of an initial suggestion from Hawks management, this league was met with enthusiasm from the Scottish teams that could make it happen. The relationship between the Blackburn Hawks and Kirkcaldy Kestrels, who share two-way players, adds an extra layer of camaraderie to the mix.

Last season, the SNL (Scottish National League) saw an increase in games, leading to a surge in the sport’s popularity. The Northern League aims to capitalise on this momentum, offering fans and players alike more competitive games that promise to enhance the development of ice hockey in Scotland.

The format is simple yet exciting: each team will play one home game and one away game, with the top team in the league taking home the title.

This weekend, Kirkcaldy Kestrels will travel to Kilmarnock to face off against Kilmarnock Thunder, promising a thrilling showdown. However, it won’t be an easy weekend for Kilmarnock Thunder, as they face North Ayrshire Wild the day before in a SNL game, making for a challenging back-to-back series.

Scottish ice hockey fans, get ready for an action-packed season ahead!