Picture by Andy Keith

A busy weekend lies ahead across Scottish ice hockey, with league points still up for grabs in the Scottish National League and a place in the Scottish Cup Final at stake. The headline fixture comes in Aberdeen on Sunday, where Aberdeen Lynx host Whitley Warriors in the decisive second leg of their Scottish Cup semi-final.

Scottish Cup Semi-Final – Second Leg

Aberdeen Lynx vs Whitley Warriors – Sunday

Sunday’s focus falls on Aberdeen as Lynx host Whitley Warriors with a place in the Scottish Cup Final on the line.

The first meeting between the sides in Whitley Bay on 8 February finished 4–4, leaving the tie level heading into the return leg. It was a game that saw power play goals for both teams, highlighting how important discipline could be in Sunday’s decider.

Warriors have had the stronger record in the league meetings between the sides this season, adding another layer of intrigue to the second leg.

The Lynx Ice Arena has sold out, and a full crowd is expected for what should be one of the biggest atmospheres of the season.

The winners will face Edinburgh Capitals in the Scottish Cup Final, with the date and venue still to be announced.

Kilmarnock Thunder vs Aberdeen Lynx – Saturday

Before Sunday’s semi-final second leg, Aberdeen Lynx are on the road on Saturday with a league trip to Kilmarnock Thunder at the Galleon Centre.

The sides last met in Kilmarnock at the end of January, with Lynx coming away with a 12–4 win. The opening period was closer, finishing 2–1, before the game opened up later on.

The smaller ice surface in Kilmarnock creates a different type of game compared with the wider rink in Aberdeen, often leading to a quicker, more physical contest.

With the cup semi-final to follow on Sunday, Lynx will be mindful of managing the weekend across two games, while Thunder will be looking to make the most of home ice.

North Ayrshire Wild vs Dundee Rockets – Saturday

North Ayrshire Wild host Dundee Rockets in Saturday’s other SNL fixture.

This will be the third meeting between the sides this season, with Rockets winning both previous encounters. Their last visit to Auchenharvie earlier in the campaign ended in an 8–2 win for Dundee.

Wild’s young squad often brings a high-energy style to their games, while Rockets arrive as a well-drilled and experienced side.

For Dundee Rockets, every point remains important as they continue to chase Edinburgh Capitals at the top of the standings.

Edinburgh Capitals vs Kirkcaldy Kestrels – Saturday

Kirkcaldy Kestrels begin a demanding double-header weekend on Saturday with a trip to Murrayfield to face league leaders Edinburgh Capitals.

The last time the sides met in Edinburgh earlier this season it took overtime to separate them, showing how competitive the match-up can be.

With the regular season entering its closing stretch, the importance of every point is increasing. Capitals come into the game on a six-game winning run as they look to strengthen their position at the top of the table, while Kestrels sit five points behind Paisley Pirates and will be looking to make up ground before the schedule runs out.

Saturday will also be Capitals’ final home league game of the campaign, and they will be keen to finish their home schedule on a high in front of their fans.

Solway Sharks vs Kirkcaldy Kestrels – Sunday

After Saturday’s game in Edinburgh, Kestrels travel south to Dumfries on Sunday to face Solway Sharks.

Two of the three meetings between the sides this season have been close, with Kestrels taking the wins in those contests. Their last visit to Dumfries earlier in the year saw a tight game across all three periods, showing how little has separated the teams in their matchups so far.

For Kestrels, it marks the second half of a demanding double-header weekend as they look to push past Paisley Pirates in the standings before the season comes to an end.

Sharks, meanwhile, face a challenging run of fixtures to close the season and will be looking to collect points where possible as they try to maintain some distance between themselves and North Ayrshire Wild.