The 2026 SIH Recreational Plate Tournament delivered another excellent weekend of Scottish recreational hockey as ten teams battled across 23 games in Dundee.

With promotion to the 2027 SIH Recreational Cup, relegation battles, and silverware all on the line, the Plate once again proved why it remains one of the most competitive weekends on the SIH recreational calendar.

After two days of hard-fought action, it was The Hawks who emerged as champions, defeating Kirkcaldy Kings 4-1 in Sunday’s final to lift the title and secure promotion alongside the Kings to next season’s Recreational Cup competition.

At the other end of the standings, Dundee Knights and The Distillers will drop into the 2027 Recreational Quaich after finishing bottom of their respective groups.

Strong Competition Across Both Pools

Pool A produced several of the weekend’s closest contests, with Kirkcaldy Kings setting the pace early thanks to a series of composed performances throughout the round-robin stage. Their consistency carried them all the way to the final, while they also picked up the tournament’s Fair Play Award for recording the fewest penalty minutes.

The Hawks recovered from an early defeat to the Kings and steadily built momentum throughout the weekend. Strong victories over Aberdeen North Stars and Dundee Knights secured their place in the semi-finals before producing their best hockey in the knockout rounds.

Paisley Panthers were involved in some of the tournament’s most entertaining games, including a dramatic 5-5 draw with Aberdeen North Stars, while the North Stars narrowly missed out on the semi-finals despite several competitive performances across the weekend.

For Dundee Knights, despite a memorable 5-4 victory over Aberdeen North Stars, results elsewhere ultimately left them bottom of the group.

Pool B saw Stirling Wolves continue the form that earned them the 2025 Quaich title, topping the standings after impressive performances throughout the round robin.

Irvine Flyers, relegated from the Recreational Cup last season, arrived determined to return at the first attempt. Their defensive performances throughout the weekend were among the strongest in the tournament.

Edinburgh Phoenix remained competitive throughout the group stage and narrowly missed out on the knockout rounds, while Coatbridge Coyotes continued to battle hard in every game despite facing a difficult group.

The Distillers showed resilience across the weekend but were unable to avoid relegation to the 2027 Recreational Quaich.

Semi-Finals Deliver Drama

Sunday’s knockout stage produced two very different semi-finals.

Kirkcaldy Kings edged past Irvine Flyers 3-2 in a tense and closely fought contest to secure the first place in the championship game.

The Hawks then delivered arguably the performance of the weekend, shutting out Pool B winners Stirling Wolves with an impressive 5-0 victory to book their place in the final.

The Hawks Crowned Champions

The final brought together two sides who had impressed throughout the weekend, but it was The Hawks who produced a composed and clinical display when it mattered most.

A 4-1 victory over Kirkcaldy Kings secured the SIH Recreational Plate title and completed an outstanding finish to the tournament for the newly crowned champions.

With both finalists reaching the championship game, The Hawks and Kirkcaldy Kings also confirm promotion to the 2027 SIH Recreational Cup.

Tournament Awards

Player of the Tournament – Andy Samuel — Kirkcaldy Kings

Best Netminder – Shaun Goodsir — Kirkcaldy Kings

Best Defence – Brian Taylor — Irvine Flyers

Top Points Scorer – Jamie Reed — The Hawks

Fair Play Award – Kirkcaldy Kings

Another Excellent Weekend for Recreational Hockey

The 2026 SIH Recreational Plate Tournament once again highlighted the quality, competitiveness, and spirit of Scottish recreational hockey.

Across a packed weekend in Dundee, teams delivered entertaining games, standout individual performances, and excellent sportsmanship throughout.

Congratulations to The Hawks on becoming 2026 SIH Recreational Plate Champions, and to both finalists on securing promotion to the 2027 SIH Recreational Cup.