Picture by Richard Wiseman
The Scottish National League’s busiest weekend so far delivered thrilling action, with five games, including three doubleheaders, shaping the league standings.
The Edinburgh Capitals set the tone on Saturday with a dominant 15-0 victory over Kilmarnock Thunder at Murrayfield Ice Arena. The Capitals scored twice in the first period, then added five more in the second, with James Isaacs contributing two goals. In the final period, penalties plagued the Thunder, and the Capitals capitalised with five power-play goals, including a hat trick from Sean Donaldson. The Capitals recorded an impressive 63 shots on goal, highlighting their offensive firepower.
At Fife Ice Arena, the Kirkcaldy Kestrels claimed a decisive 5-1 win over the Aberdeen Lynx. Scott Jamieson opened the scoring for the Kestrels just before the first-period buzzer, and the second period saw them extend their lead with four goals, including two power-play and one short-handed effort. The Lynx found the net early in the third through Joe Durkacz but struggled with penalties throughout the game. League leaders for the majority of the season, the Lynx have now dropped to third in the standings, grappling with injuries and inconsistency.
In North Ayrshire, the Paisley Pirates defeated the Wild with a commanding 9-1 scoreline. The Wild opened the scoring, but the Pirates responded with a dominant display, including great performances from Chris Wilson and Gary Parker, who netted a short-handed goal in the third. Despite their spirited effort, the Wild fell short against a clinical Pirates side.
On Sunday, the Edinburgh Capitals completed a perfect weekend with a 4-1 win over the Paisley Pirates at Braehead Arena. A tight opening period ended scoreless, but Joe Lynch broke the deadlock with a power-play goal in the second. Sean Donaldson added another in the third as the Capitals secured a crucial four points across the weekend, closing the gap on the Rockets at the top of the league.
In Dundee, the Rockets overcame a spirited challenge from North Ayrshire Wild to win 6-3. The Wild stunned the league leaders early, racing to a 2-0 lead in the first period. The Rockets responded with 2 goals from John Dolan who played pivotal role in the comeback. Despite Dylan Murray scoring his second of the game to give the Wild the lead entering the third period, the Rockets finished strong with three unanswered goals. While the Wild fell short, their performance showed resilience and promise.
League Standings Update
The Dundee Rockets remain top with 29 points, three ahead of the Edinburgh Capitals, who sit second on 26 points. The Aberdeen Lynx slip to third with 23 points, while the Kirkcaldy Kestrels close in with 21 points. The Paisley Pirates hold steady mid-table, and Kilmarnock Thunder, still searching for their first win of the season, sit at the bottom.
This weekend’s games underscored the intensity of the league, with each team fighting to secure their place as the race to the top heats up.
