The Scottish National League (SNL) is set to kick off another thrilling season of ice hockey, with the first puck drop scheduled for the beginning of September. This year promises to be more exciting than ever, with some significant changes to both the league structure and competition format.
New Team on the Ice
We’re delighted to welcome the newly formed Dundee Rockets to the SNL, bringing our team count to seven for the 2023-2024 season. The Rockets are the result of a merger between the Dundee Tigers and Dundee Comets, a move that is expected to intensify competition and raise the overall standard of play in the league.
Stuart Barnett from the Rockets commented: “40 years have passed since the Rockets last iced, and what better way to pay tribute to their legacy than to reinstate the name, as the two SNL teams merge into one.
With the increased demand on ice time and ever-growing costs, it made perfect sense to join forces and create one team. The Rockets‘ blood flows in the team, and Paul Guilcher and Robert Brown will look to skate this team to success.
The bar has been set with the appointment of former elite league player and coach Jeff Hutchins, who will look to mould and guide the team to compete and battle week in, week out.
The roster is shaping up well, and the team has been selected after two weekend camps were held to make sure all Dundee players could showcase their skills, and be given the opportunity to ice for the Rockets.
Exciting times are ahead for SNL hockey in Dundee, so buckle up and prepare for launch!”
Revised Playoff Structure
With the change in the number of teams, we’ve adapted our playoff format to ensure exciting and fair competition:
- After the regular season, the bottom-placed team will not advance to the playoffs.
- The remaining six teams will be divided into two groups:
- Group A: 1st, 3rd, and 5th placed teams
- Group B: 2nd, 4th, and 6th placed teams
- The top 2 teams from each group (Group A and Group B) will advance to the semi-finals. 1st place in Group A will play against 2nd place in Group B. 1st place in Group B will play against 2nd place in Group A
Scottish Cup Updates
The Scottish Cup will also see a slight modification this year. Due to having an uneven number of teams this season, last years cup winners, Aberdeen Lynx have been awarded a bye to the semi final stage.
Get Ready for Action
With these changes in place, we’re anticipating one of the most competitive and exciting seasons in SNL history. We will be announcing the upcoming fixtures VERY SOON!
For information on tickets, season passes, and team-specific news, please visit your team’s official website and social media channels.
Let’s get ready for another unforgettable season of Scottish ice hockey!
