Tag: Blackburn Hawks

Weekend Roundup


Despite the unprecedented weather this weekend, 4 out of the 6 scheduled games were able to take place. The Dundee Tigers vs Dundee Comets and the Edinburgh Capitals vs Aberdeen Lynx games will be rescheduled.

Kirkcaldy Kestrels 10 – North Ayrshire Wild 3
Kirkcaldy Kestrels secured a commanding 10-3 victory against the North Ayr Wild on home ice. The Kestrels wasted no time in making their presence felt, as Rolands Dietlavs initiated the scoring just 6 minutes and 54 seconds into the first period, setting the tone for the entire game.

Although Wild managed to equalise, hope for a closely contested match was quickly extinguished by the relentless Kestrels. George Pitscaithly, Andy Finlay, and Scott Jamiesen added to the Kestrels‘ lead, culminating in a 4-1 advantage at the end of the first period.

The second period saw Tom Morgenthaler narrowing the gap for the North Ayr side, but the Kestrels maintained their unyielding offensive pressure. George Pitscaithly continued to shine with additional goals, while Scott Jamieson and Allan Anderson on a power play further solidified the Kestrels‘ position.

Despite Kyle Howie’s second goal for the North Ayrshire Wild, the Kestrels remained in control, with George Pitscaithly completing a remarkable hat-trick, accumulating a total of four goals.

The final period featured yet another power-play goal from George Pitscaithly and one more from Scott Jamieson, culminating in the 10-3 victory for the Kestrels. This dominant performance propelled them to the league’s top position with 8 points.

Paisley Pirates v Dundee Tigers at Braehead Arena, Renfrew on 22 October 2023. Picture: Al Goold (www.algooldphoto.com) Twitter: @AlGooldPhoto Insta: @Clanphotos

Paisley Pirates v Dundee Tigers
In an intense game at Braehead on Sunday, the Tigers secured a 3-6 win over the Pirates. John Skelly opened the scoring for the Tigers, followed by a goal from Harvey Topen. Pirates fought back with Marcus Murdoch finding the back of the net, making it 2-1 going into the 2nd period. The Pirates equalised, but it wasn’t long before the Tigers scored two more. Taking full advantage of the power plays in the last period, the Dundee side added two more goals. A last-minute goal from Alex Lane for the Pirates narrowed the gap, but time had run out for the Paisley side.

Scottish National League (SNL)

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21284050311916L1
3972039281114W2
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595313738-111L1
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7115602834-610W1
81511403686-502L8

Kirkcaldy Kestrels 5, Edinburgh Capitals 3
The Kirkcaldy Kestrels and the Edinburgh Capitals faced off in a rollercoaster of a game that had the fans roaring with excitement. The Capitals got off to a strong start, notching three goals in the first period, with Ian Blake contributing two of those crucial goals. However, the Kestrels began their comeback in the second period, as Jamie Crawford found the back of the net on a power play, closing the gap. The turning point of the game came in the third period when the Kestrels rallied, scoring four times, with the final goal coming just moments before the final whistle. This remarkable turnaround earned the Kestrels a well-deserved 5-3 victory, leaving both teams and their supporters buzzing.

Kilmarnock Thunder 5, Blackburn Hawks 6 (Penalty Shootout)
The Kilmarnock Thunder and the Blackburn Hawks battled it out in a closely contested match that had spectators on the edge of their seats. The Thunder wasted no time, as Conner McNulty netted a goal just ten seconds into the game. However, the Hawks responded with two goals of their own, leaving the score level at 2-2 at the end of the first period. The Thunder reclaimed the lead with a power play goal in the second period, but the Hawks displayed their resilience by scoring two more goals to take control. The third period added to the excitement, as when the final whistle blew, the score was tied at 5-5. It came down to a penalty shootout, where Hawks‘ assistant captain Jacob Lutwyche sealed the deal with the winning goal, securing a hard-fought 6-5 victory for the Hawks.


Northern League

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Scottish Ice Hockey Weekend Roundup

A thrilling weekend of Scottish Ice Hockey unfolded with a combination of Scottish Cup quarter-finals and a Northern League matchup. Here’s a recap of the action:

Scottish Cup Quarter-Finals Return Leg:

Aberdeen Lynx 6 – North Ayrshire Wild 0
Aberdeen Lynx continued their dominant performance against North Ayrshire Wild, sealing their spot in the Scottish Cup semi-finals. The Lynx had previously won 4-0 against Wild in the first leg and repeated their success this weekend. James Demeo notched two goals on the power play. The Lynx showcased their prowess with goals in each period, finishing with a 6-0 victory. Goalies on both sides faced intense pressure, but it was the Lynx who emerged victorious. They will now face the Dundee Comets in the semi-finals.

Picture by Craig Guthrie Photography

Paisley Pirates 2 – Edinburgh Capitals 5
Edinburgh Capitals secured their semi-final spot in the Scottish Cup with a 5-2 victory over Paisley Pirates. While the previous weekend had seen Capitals win 8-1, this return match proved to be a closer contest. Garry Simpson opened the scoring for the Pirates, but Joel Gautschi levelled the scoreline for the Capitals with his first of his four goals of the evening. With another goal from each side the game was tied at 2-2 heading into the third period, but the Capitals surged ahead, ultimately winning 5-2. They will meet the Kirkcaldy Kestrels in the semi-finals.

Kirkcaldy Kestrels 6 – Kilmarnock Thunder 5
A nail-biting clash at Fife Ice Arena saw the Kirkcaldy Kestrels triumph over Kilmarnock Thunder by a score of 6-5. Thunder got off to a strong start, leading 3-0 after the first period. However, the Kestrels mounted a comeback, with Joe Somerville netting their first goal. The second period remained competitive and the Kestrels closed the gap to 5-2. In the final period, the Kestrels found their stride, scoring four goals and securing a thrilling 6-5 victory.

Dundee Comets 8 – Dundee Tigers 1
In a surprising turn of events, Dundee Comets won 8-1 against their Dundee Counterparts. This outcome was unexpected after such a close game between the two teams the previous weekend. Both sides created numerous scoring opportunities, but the Tigers struggled to find the back of the net against the Comets‘ goaltenders. The Comets capitalised on power plays and secured their place in the Scottish Cup semi-finals, where they will face the Aberdeen Lynx.

Northern League:

Edinburgh Capitals 4 – Kirkcaldy Kestrels 1
In their first game in the Northern League, the Edinburgh Capitals secured a 4-1 victory over the Kirkcaldy Kestrels. Sean Cochrane scored the opening goal for the Capitals on a power play. Both teams scored in the second period, with the Capitals maintaining a 2-1 lead. The Capitals continued their strong performance in the third period, adding two more goals to secure the win. This victory marked an impressive debut in the Northern League for the Capitals. The league table will now be closely watched, with the next Northern League game scheduled for October 21st between Thunder and Hawks.

Northern League

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13210139
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33210108
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It was an action-packed weekend of Scottish ice hockey and teams are now gearing up for the semi-finals in the Scottish Cup and further competition in the Northern League.

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SNL round-up: Four teams in the mix as title race hots up

The Scottish National League (SNL) title race is heating up, with just four points separating the top four teams after the opening round of games in 2019.

Reigning champions Dundee Comets opened up a two point lead at the top of the standings after recording a comfortable 18-1 home victory over Solway Stingrays.

Paisley Pirates remain in second place despite slipping to a 4-3 road defeat against title rivals Murrayfield Racers.

The home side went into the game on the back of a 6-4 defeat at Blackburn Hawks in the NIHL North Cup, but goals against the Pirates by Joel Gautschi (2), Michael Ireland and Callum Boyd ensured the Racers retained their unbeaten league record.

Kirkcaldy Kestrels are also in the mix, although they were pushed hard at North Ayrshire Wild over the weekend. Marty Simpson, Reece Cochrane, Liam Danskin and Allan Anderson were on target for the Kestrels in a narrow 4-3 success.

Aberdeen Lynx are through to the Scottish Cup semi-finals after recording an 11-1 home win against Kilmarnock Thunder. That result completed an 18-7 aggregate win for Lynx, who will face either Dundee Comets or Paisley in the last four.

WEEKEND RESULTS

Aberdeen Lynx 11-1 Kilmarnock Thunder – SC (agg 18-7)
Blackburn Hawks 6-4 Murrayfield Racers – NIHL Cup
Dundee Comets 18-1 Solway Stingrays – SNL
Murrayfield Racers 4-3 Paisley Pirates – SNL
North Ayrshire Wild 3-4 Kirkcaldy Kestrels -SNL

(Image permission: Ian Coyle)

SNL preview: North Ayrshire Wild eyeing further progress in 2019

North Ayrshire Wild player/coach Scott Cowan is pleased with the progress made by his team, but he believes they can improve even more as the season progresses.

Wild booked their place in the final of the Stuart Robertson Cup during the first half of the campaign, finishing above Paisley Pirates in the western group. They are currently sixth in the SNL and Cowan insists they are capable of climbing even higher in 2019.

“Wild are currently having a better season than last campaign, and for a new group of players brought together this season we are still continuing to develop,” he said.

“We have shown in spells against bigger teams that we can compete against them, but just not consistently and for sixty minutes.

“Results have been mixed, partly due to the team not adapting to the new rules and losing discipline and composure against the tougher opponents such as Dundee Comets and Murrayfield Racers.

“When the team does turns up to play hockey, they can do so with some style, so working on systems, discipline and playing for the full sixty minutes with more consistency will be our focus for the second half of the season.”

North Ayrshire return to the ice this weekend with a home game in the league against Kirkcaldy Kestrels. The visitors are currently three places ahead of Wild in the standings and Cowan has challenged his players to kick-off the New Year by showing they can force their way into the top half of the table.

“Realistically we are aiming for fourth in the league,” he added. “This weekend we start the second half of the season with a tough test against Kirkcaldy.

“They are a team we beat during pre-season, but they are well coached and having played all the way through the break will no doubt be the sharper team.

“We will certainly be looking to start the New Year with a solid performance and build on it going forward this year.

“Hopefully we can build some momentum for the final against Murrayfield later in the season. The guys are really excited about it and anything can happen over the two games.”

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday

Aberdeen Lynx v Kilmarnock Thunder – SC
Blackburn Hawks v Murrayfield Racers – NIHL Cup
North Ayrshire Wild v Kirkcaldy Kestrels – SNL

Sunday

Dundee Comets v Solway Stingrays – SNL
Murrayfield Racers v Paisley Pirates – SNL

(Image permission: Stuart Gardiner)

SNL round-up: Dundee Comets off to a winning start against Aberdeen Lynx

Dundee Comets started their season with a narrow 4-3 victory at home to Aberdeen Lynx in the Stuart Robertson Cup on Saturday.

David Pokorny, John Gordon, Lewis Gold and Sam McCluskey were on target for the Comets, with Mark Laing (2) and Mikvlas Novotny replying for the visitors.

North Ayrshire Wild recorded their second victory in the competition, winning 24-3 on home ice against Solways Stingrays.

Adam Kerr and Andrew Barr topped the scoring with four goals apiece on an evening where 13 different players hit the net for the home side.

Stingrays suffered another heavy defeat on Sunday, losing 10-0 at home to Paisley Pirates.

Murrayfield Racers produced a spirited performance in the NIHL North Cup against Blackburn Hawks, leading twice before eventually losing 3-2. Daniel Abercrombie and Joel Gautschi got the goals for the Scottish club.

WEEKEND RESULTS

Dundee Comets 4-3 Aberdeen Lynx – SRC East
Murrayfield Racers 2-3 Blackburn Hawks – NIHL Cup
North Ayrshire Wild 24-3 Solway Stingrays- SRC West
Solway Stingrays 0-10 Paisley Pirates – SRC West

(Image permission: Derek Black)

SNL preview: Dolan aiming to “win it all again” with the Comets this season

Dundee Comets’ player/coach John Dolan has set his sights on sweeping the board again in Scotland this season.

Dolan’s side completed the treble in 2017/18, winning the SNL title, play-offs and Scottish Cup.

The Comets are chasing success on four fronts this time around, with the newly-formed Stuart Robertson Cup introduced into the schedule this term.

They kick-off their 2018/19 campaign with a home game against Aberdeen Lynx in the eastern group of the new competition and Dolan is eager to start with a victory.

“This year I think we are stronger as a squad,” he said. “The young guys I brought in last year are a year older and have the winning feeling and mentality.

“They were able to help us win the lot last year and that has helped us attract new players that I hope also want the winning feeling.

“Hopefully this weekend will be a good one. Aberdeen normally bring a good crowd down with them, but having played the pre-season games against Murrayfield Racers and at the Solway tournament we are in a good place with our preparations.

“I would be love to win it all again this season, but I know that we are the team that everyone else will be aiming to beat.”

Paisley Pirates visit Solway Stingrays in the western section on Sunday hoping to record their second victory in the competition.

The Pirates looked to be heading for defeat at Kilmarnock Thunder last weekend as the home side raced into a 4-1 lead.

However, they recovered in style to win 7-4 and coach Adam Walker admitted he was delighted with the fightback.

“Last week’s opening game at Kilmarnock was a good test to where we were at this stage in the season,” he said.

“We started a little slow, but really found our way in the last two periods. This weekend should be another good test and it’s one we’re looking forward to.”

Murrayfield’s director of hockey, Tony Hand, believes his side are in for another tough encounter in the NIHL North Cup on Saturday.

Racers, who were beaten 8-2 by Billingham Stars last Sunday, entertain Blackburn Hawks this weekend.

The Hawks have started the season disappointingly, losing their opening two league matches, but Hand expects them to raise their game at Murrayfield.

“Blackburn are one of the top NIHL1 teams with a lot of quality players who I used to coach (at Manchester Phoenix), said Hand.

“It will very a very tough match for the Racers.”

Murrayfield worked hard during last week’s match at Bilingham, but the home side’s greater depth proved to be crucial.

Hand was pleased with the effort shown by his players, but admitted there are areas that need to be improved.

“We just have to settle down defensively as team,” he added.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday

Dundee Comets v Aberdeen Lynx – SRC East
Murrayfield Racers v Blackburn Hawks – NIHL Cup
North Ayrshire Wild v Solway Stingrays- SRC West

Sunday

Solway Stingrays v Paisley Pirates – SRC West

(Image permission: Derek Black)