Picture by Ian Coyle
An exciting weekend in the Scottish National League saw tight contests, determined teams, and some changes in the league standings. Here’s the full breakdown:
Edinburgh Capitals 4 – Dundee Rockets 6
This matchup at Murrayfield was a fierce battle, as both the Capitals and the Rockets were pushing to claim second place in the league standings. The Rockets, the SNL’s newest squad, took the initiative, with Rio Page scoring the opener mid way in the first. Capitals soon responded when Kris Phillips took advantage of a power play, tying the game at 1-1. This set the tone for a back-and-forth contest where each team was hungry to dominate the scoreboard.
In the second period, Rockets’ veteran John Dolan made his mark, slipping one past the Capitals’ defense to regain the lead. Yet the Capitals were relentless, showing cohesion in the third period when Rihards Grigors brought it back to level, scoring just 22 seconds into the final period. The teams continued to exchange goals, and with only a few minutes left, the score was tied at 4-4. The Rockets dug deep, with Sam McCluskey breaking the deadlock just two and a half minutes from the end, followed quickly by another from Dolan to seal the game at 6-4. The victory sees Rockets claiming second place and narrowing their gap behind the league leaders, Aberdeen Lynx.
Rockets’ coach Jeff Hutchins was thrilled with the result, commenting, “Obviously it was a good weekend for us to go to Murrayfield and beat the Edinburgh Capitals in their home rink. I thought we played well, although we ran into penalty trouble, and they got back into the game through power play goals. But we overcame some adversity and came up with 6 goals in their rink, which is great. I’m really happy where the team is at the moment; we have put ourselves in a very good position in the league. We’re getting scoring from throughout the lineup, which is awesome, and we just have to continue and focus on one game at a time and take care of what we can control, which is our game.”
Kirkcaldy Kestrels 3 – Aberdeen Lynx 2
In another closely contested game, league leaders Aberdeen Lynx faced off against the Kestrels in Fife, knowing that every game matters with the other teams vying closely behind. Kirkcaldy, eager to claim third place, wasted no time showing their intent. Joshua Saunders opened the scoring in the first, capitalising on a power play opportunity to give Kestrels the early lead.
Aberdeen’s powerhouse Daniel Topping made an impact in his first game for Lynx, netting the equaliser on the power play early in the second. Not long after, Jordan Leyden added a second goal for the Lynx, turning the momentum in their favour. But just before the end of the period, Kestrels’ Chris Wands leveled the score once more, setting up a dramatic final frame with everything still to play for.
As both teams fought for control, it was Kestrels’ Scott Jameson who found the net, securing the winning goal and the two points, bringing Kestrels up two spots in the league. Lynx, despite the loss, retain their top position in the standings but are feeling the pressure from a narrowing lead.
North Ayrshire Wild 4 – Kilmarnock Thunder 3
In North Ayr, Wild faced off against Kilmarnock Thunder in a nail-biter that kept fans engaged until the very last moment. Thunder’s Ross Andreucci drew first blood, scoring early in the first period to give the visitors a head start. However, Wild’s Kyle Howie responded midway through the period, tying the game at 1-1 and fueling the atmosphere for an exciting night.
The second period saw Wild’s Rocco Murray break the deadlock, putting them ahead with his first goal of the night. Wild pushed further, with Luca DeSimone extending their lead to 3-1 early in the third period, seemingly setting up a comfortable finish. But Thunder wasn’t done yet; with just over two minutes remaining, Fraser Turner narrowed the gap, followed by a quick equalizer from Sam Owen only 15 seconds later, setting up a thrilling showdown. With the game deadlocked at 3-3 and time running out, Rocco Murray found the net once more, securing the win for Wild in a game where both teams showed impressive tenacity. The win not only gives Wild two valuable points but also helps them stay above Kilmarnock in the standings.
Paisley Pirates 11 – North Ayrshire Wild 0
Fresh off a thrilling win, Wild faced a significantly tougher opponent in Paisley Pirates the next day at Braehead Arena. The Pirates came out strong, determined to make a statement, and piled on the pressure early. The first period saw them secure a 2-0 lead, with Alex Lane opening the scoring. By the second period, Pirates continued their offensive, netting five more goals as Wild’s defense struggled to contain the onslaught.
Wild made a goalie switch, bringing in Caiden MacColl for Liam Griffin, but even with the change, the Pirates continued to dominate in the third, adding four more goals to cap off the game at 11-0. Six of these goals came from power plays, with Wild spending a significant portion of the game in the penalty box, making it difficult to establish any momentum. Pirates’ win reinforces their mid-table position, while Wild will aim to reset and refocus for upcoming games.
Table Update
This weekend’s results led to a shake-up in the standings. Aberdeen Lynx remains at the top with 13 points, but the Rockets are closing in with 11 points after their victory over the Capitals. Kirkcaldy Kestrels moved up two spots to third with 10 points, while Capitals slipped down. Paisley Pirates and North Ayrshire Wild hold steady in sixth and seventh, respectively, with each team adding points over the weekend. Kilmarnock Thunder remains in eighth, still in pursuit of their first win.
With so many close games and every team hungry for points, it’s clear that the competition in the SNL continues to heat up.
4o
