Picture by Ian Coyle

The Scottish National League heads into its second weekend with four games across Saturday and Sunday, as Edinburgh Capitals and Kirkcaldy Kestrels join the league action for the first time this season.

There may only be one weekend in the books, but already there are plenty of talking points. Some teams will be looking to build early momentum, others are chasing their first points, while this weekend gives us our first competitive look at two more sides.

It is still far too early to predict how the league will shape up, but that is exactly what makes these opening weeks interesting.

Saturday starts at Dumfries Ice Bowl as Solway Sharks SNL take on North Ayrshire Wild, two sides separated by just a single point in last season’s final standings.

Solway opened with a 3–1 defeat to Paisley Pirates last Sunday in a game that remained close, and now return home for the first of two fixtures this weekend.

Wild had a very different opening assignment, facing two teams from the opposite end of last season’s table. They showed plenty of determination across the weekend, particularly on Sunday when a short-benched Wild side kept working against Whitley Warriors.

North Ayrshire Wild have continued to improve year on year, and this is a very different match-up. With so little separating Wild and Solway last season, both will see Saturday as an opportunity to get points on the board.

Later on Saturday, Aberdeen Lynx host Edinburgh Capitals at the Linx Ice Arena.

Aberdeen started with an 11–3 win over Kilmarnock Thunder, but Saturday brings a very different opponent.

Edinburgh have recruited heavily over the summer and arrive with several pre-season games behind them. Now the points count, and the Capitals will be looking to make an early mark on the league table.

Aberdeen have a younger roster this season, with a number of talented young players establishing themselves at senior level in the SNL alongside the club’s more experienced players. With Edinburgh bringing plenty of experience, Saturday should be an interesting test for both sides, with the potential for a fast-paced, intense and physical encounter.

Solway are straight back into action on Sunday when Whitley Warriors visit Dumfries.

Whitley put their first two points on the board in emphatic fashion last weekend with a 7–0 victory over North Ayrshire Wild. With Edinburgh also beginning their league campaign this weekend, the Warriors will be looking to add another two and keep their early momentum going.

Solway will have Saturday’s game against North Ayrshire in their legs, but they have home-ice advantage and will be looking to build on a competitive opening performance against Paisley. Whitley, meanwhile, arrive in Dumfries with confidence after their opening win. The Warriors will be looking to keep that momentum going, while the Sharks will be aiming to make home ice count against one of last season’s stronger sides.

The weekend finishes at Fife Ice Arena, where Kirkcaldy Kestrels open their league campaign against Paisley Pirates.

There was little separating these sides in last season’s standings, with Paisley finishing just one place ahead of Kestrels. They have already met during pre-season this year, with Kirkcaldy taking a 4–0 win.

Sunday brings league points into the equation. Paisley already have two on the board following their 3–1 win over Solway last weekend, while Kestrels will be looking to make a strong start to their league campaign.

Kirkcaldy will take confidence from that pre-season result, while Paisley arrive with two league points already on the board. With only one place separating the sides last season and both having already had a look at each other this year, Sunday sets up a good early-season contest.

Four more games across the weekend will give everyone a little more to go on. With teams still sizing up the opposition and keeping a close eye on each other’s early form, Week 2 offers another chance to see how each side is looking in the opening stages of the season.