Tag: Ice Hockey

Weekend Preview of the SNL action

Get ready for another action packed weekend of Scottish Ice Hockey with five thrilling games on the agenda. Here’s a closer look at what’s in store:

SATURDAY:

First up, on Saturday, the Dundee Comets will kick off their weekend with a game against the North Ayrshire Wild at Auchenharvie. The Comets are currently sitting on 4 points in the league, while the Wild are still in search of their first win. Their last meeting resulted in a 5-3 victory for the Comets, making this rematch an important one for Domenico De Simone’s young team to chalk up some points on home ice.

Following that, Edinburgh Capitals will play their first SNL game of this season as they face Kilmarnock Thunder. Thunder currently leads the league with an impressive 6 points earned from three consecutive wins. This is the first of two games for the Capitals this weekend, and they will be eager to secure a win and accumulate valuable points whilst Thunder will be digging deep to hold on to pole position.

In another exciting matchup, Dundee Tigers will face off against the Aberdeen Lynx. Lynx, last season’s league champions, will make the short journey south to face the Tigers in a double-point game. Both teams currently have 4 points, with the Tigers having played four games compared to the Lynx’s three. This clash promises to be a fierce battle between the two big cats.

SUNDAY:

The hockey action continues on Sunday as Paisley Pirates host North Ayrshire Wild at the Braehead arena. This matchup will see the young Wild team facing the experienced Pirates. Pirates have only played one league game this season so far with both and teams will be looking to bag the win and get established on the league table.

Finally, Kirkcaldy Kestrels will make a short journey to Murrayfield to take on Edinburgh Capitals. Kestrels have already played one SNL game this season, which they won in a double-point matchup against the Tigers. This contest is sure to provide another exciting chapter in the weekend’s ice hockey action.

With a packed weekend of hockey ahead, fans can look forward to thrilling games and the possibility of significant movement in the league standings. Keep your eyes on your teams social media channels for the latest game updates.

Weekend Fixtures

DateGameTime/ResultsLeagueMatch Day
North Ayrshire Wild vs Dundee TigersScottish National League-
Paisley Pirates vs Dundee CometsScottish National League-
Kirkcaldy Kestrels vs Aberdeen LynxScottish National League-
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New coach and refresher course dates released

Our coach development approach has faced challenges in recent years. Our goal is to transition to a predominantly online approach, focusing on the fundamentals of sports coaching as the foundation. We aim to align as closely as possible across the UK.

However, we acknowledge that this transition has been more challenging than anticipated. Despite this, our long-term vision remains unchanged. In the immediate term, we recognise the need to refresh our courses and qualifications.

To address this, we are offering a selection of one-day courses in Dumfries during June and July 2023. The courses available are as follows:

  • Level 1 Refresher: 10/06/23 Dumfries
  • Level 2 Refresher: 11/06/23 Dumfries
  • Level 1 Coach: 24/06/23 Dumfries
  • Level 2 Coach: 24/06/23 Dumfries
  • Level 1 Refresher: 15/07/23 Dumfries
  • Level 2 Refresher: 16/07/23 Dumfries
  • Level 1 Coach: 29/07/23 Dumfries
  • Level 2 Coach: 30/07/23 Dumfries

These courses will be conducted by our Lead Instructors:

  • Martin Grubb: Current L3, GB U20 Head Coach, Solway NIHL National League Coach
  • Dayle Keen: Current L2 with 15+ years of experience, Coventry Blaze EIHL Coach, GB U20 Assistant Coach

We understand that Dumfries may not be convenient for everyone. To accommodate this, we have designed a new course with a reduced timetable and more specific content.

Participants who started the L1 online course with Martyn King should complete and submit any relevant assignments by 8/6/23. After this date, the submissions will no longer be valid, and attendance at one of the newly planned courses will be required in full.

Registrations should be made by clubs on behalf of Coaches.

Solway Sharks joins Planet Ice NIHL National Division

The Solway Sharks will be joining the Planet Ice NIHL National Division for the 2023/24 season. This addition brings the total number of teams in the division to 11, adding a new level of excitement to the competition.

The Sharks’ new ownership team expressed their happiness and eagerness to compete at the national level. The league’s spokesperson also shared their excitement about the expansion and praised the efforts of the Solway Sharks’ ownership and coaching teams.

The Sharks have a strong record in ice hockey, having won the NIHL Division 1 playoff title the previous year. The league structure will remain the same, with each team playing 27 games home and away, dropping 3 home and 3 away fixtures against different opponents. There will be no conferences in the upcoming season.

The expansion of the league reflects the growing popularity of ice hockey in the country, and the new season is expected to be thrilling for fans.

Read EIHA’s annoucement here.

WEEKEND PREVIEW: Aberdeen Fight for League Victory with Double Header

Get ready for an exciting weekend of ice hockey as four games are set to take place. All eyes will be on the league leaders, Aberdeen Lynx, who are three points ahead at the top of the table and have a double-header ahead of them.

Their first game on Saturday is a home fixture against Dundee Comets, who have won their last four games and will pose stiff competition for the Lynx. Currently sitting fourth in the league with 33 points, the Comets will be looking to climb up the standings and cause an upset against the league leaders.

The last time thee two teams met in Dundee Aberdeen took home a close win on the double point game.

Picture by Craig Chalmers Photography

Comets coach Richard Hartman said,  “It’s going to be hard game. Aberdeen are going to fight for the league win in front of a full house. It’s a smaller rink than Dundee, so it’s going to be more physical. 

We are prepared, we have been playing really well and have a full squad. The only person missing is Mikey Ireland as he is recovering from a concussion. 

We want to win for sure. We lost touch with the top of the table but still want to play well before the playoffs.

We need to do all the little things well and stick together like we did the last five games. We are playing really good, but Aberdeen will do everything to push for the title, so we have to play hard.”

The Lynx’s second game on Sunday is an away fixture against Kirkcaldy Kestrels, who have won their last five games and are in sixth place in the league with 28 points the same as Dundee Tigers. 

On Aberdeen’s last visit to Fife Arena the Kestrels bagged the win in overtime 6-5. But with such close shorelines it’s all to play for.

With only one more league game after this weekend for the Lynx, this is a massive weekend for Aberdeen, and the league title could be won this weekend, depending on how the games play out.

Picture courtesy of Edinburgh Capitals

In other matches, Edinburgh Capitals will be playing Dundee Tigers at Murrayfield. The Capitals are in second place in the league, just three points behind Aberdeen and eight points ahead of the Tigers.

With time running out the Capitals will be looking to secure a win and close the gap on the league leaders.

Capitals coach Stephen Lynch commented on their game ahead, “It’s a must win game that we have to be ready for. We obviously have one eye on other games happening around us but they’re out with our control. We have to focus on ourselves and make sure we have another two points at the end of the night.

Dundee are a tough team to play against who were high up the league for a long period. Recently they’ve slipped a little bit but we can’t underestimate them or they’ll make us pay.”

Kirkcaldy Kestrels will also have a double-header this weekend, with their first game on Saturday with an away game against North Ayrshire Wild.

North Ayrshire are 8th in the league with just eight points. The Kestrels will be hoping to secure a win and boost their position in the league to overtake the Dundee Tigers.

With the playoffs only one month away, the outcome of this weekend’s games could have a significant impact on the placing of the teams. 

The race for the top spot in the league is incredibly close, and with so much at stake, this weekend’s ice hockey matches are sure to be thrilling and unpredictable. Don’t miss out on the action!


SATURDAY
• North Ayrshire Wild v Kirkcaldy Kestrels (6.30pm)
• Edinburgh Capitals v Dundee Tigers (6.30pm)
• Aberdeen Lynx v Dundee Comets (7.15pm)

SUNDAY
•Kirkcaldy Kestrels v Aberdeen Lynx (6pm)

Glenrothes Cougars field experimental side against Edinburgh Knights

Glenrothes Cougars 2 – Edinburgh Knights 3

We caught up with Glenrothes Courgers Coach and Manager, Michael Bease, after the double header against the Edinburgh Knights .

Michael said, “We decided to use the double header against the Knights of Edinbugh as an opportunity to field an experimental side and try out some new systems.

The Knights took advantage in Game 1 at Murrayfield Ice Arena, Edinburgh, comfortably winning 7-3. But after a good week of training and a couple of squad rotations, I was confident we could compete and get the win. But a poor start saw us finish the first period three goals down.

We regrouped and got back to 3-2, but couldn’t find the game levelling goal our performance deserved.

You can’t give away three goals in the first period to teams like the Knights. If guys don’t stick to the system and are not prepared to play for 60 minutes, we won’t compete.

We have a couple of weeks now to get to work and prepare for our next game against the Stirling Wolves. Everyone is playing for their spot on the team now, and I expect there will be some changes to the roster.”

Cougars Point Scorers

#6 – G.Whyte (1 Goal)
#91 K. Millie (1 Assist)
#78 – M. Bease (1 Goal, 1 Assist)

Point Scorers – Knights

#57 – C.Brown (1 Goal)
#69 – P.Lefrank (2 Goals)
#8 – J. Fairley (1 Assist)
#86 – K. Black (2 Assists)

WEEKEND REVIEW: Edinburgh Capitals hot on the heels of the Aberdeen Lynx

The race for the top of the SNL League has never been tighter with only 4 points between the top 5 teams as we get into the business end of the season.

Aberdeen Lynx took home an on the road 10-5 win against Kilmarnock Thunder holding onto the top spot with 28 points.

The Lynx were the first to hit the score sheet with a goal 27 seconds in. The Aberdeen side were looking to return to their winning form after their loss against the Tigers the previous weekend on home ice.

Although Jordan Leyden’s squad were ahead throughout, Kilmarnock didn’t make it easy and kept the pressure on with their first two goals scored by Innes Gallagher.

As the game progressed the Lynx widened the goal difference with Jonathan Hogan finishing the game bagging his third goal of the evening.

Hot on the heels of the Lynx are the Edinburgh Capitals. Moving up from 4th to 2nd in the league , the Caps sit neck and neck on 26 points with the Dundee Tigers even after their 2-3 win against the Dundee side on Saturday.

Capitals Ross Borwick opened the scoring in the 1st assisted by Archie Holmes and Sean Cochrane. By the start of the 2nd the Edinburgh squad were leading 0-2, but the Tigers fought back and levelled the score with goals from Robbie Hill and Robbie Barnett in quick succession.

It was all to play for in the 3rd and with double points up for grabs the stakes were high. 4 mins before the final buzzer the Caps went ahead with a goal by Chad Smith.

With such a close game the Tigers pulled their net minder at 48 second whilst on a power play, but even with 6 on 4 it wasn’t enough to clinch the win.

Picture by Derek Young Photography

Paisley Pirates dropped two places in the table even after their third win in a row, taking home a 3-8 win against the Kirkcaldy Kestrels on Saturday.

At the end of the 1st period the Pirates were leading 3-0. The Kestrels started to claw back the difference early in the 2nd with goals by Graeme Allan and Scott Jamison hoping to turn things around but the Pirates dug deep and found the back of the net with two more goals.

The Kestrels tried to close the gap whilst on a power play at the start of the 3rd, but Kris Phillips and Marty Simpson each added a goal bringing home a comfortable win for the Pirates.

Although securing a win over North Ayrshire Wild, Dundee Comets remain in 5th place.

The experienced Dundee side were quick to kick off the scoring on Saturday with John Dolan bagging the opener just 29 seconds into the game.

Even after their first goal by Ryan Campbell, the young North Ayrshire Wild team were under the pump with the 1st period ending 5-1 to the Dundee side.

5 minutes into the 2nd the Comets increased their lead adding another goal, but even with a power play goal from North Ayrshire Wild’s Adam Kerr it wasn’t enough to turn the tide and Dundee scored again.

With a 5 goal lead going into the 3rd Dundee dominated from the start scoring again 41 seconds in. Adding a further 5 goals the Comets completed the game with the 13-3 win.

 

WEEKEND RESULTS

Saturday

North Ayrshire Wild 3 Dundee Comets 13

Kilmarnock Thunder 5 Aberdeen Lynx 10

Dundee Tigers 2 Edinburgh Capitals 3

Sunday

Kirkcaldy Kestrels 3 Paisley Pirates 8