The Scottish ice hockey season came to a thrilling end as the Aberdeen Lynx were crowned league champions after a nail-biting game against the Edinburgh Capitals. This season was the closest in the history of Scottish ice hockey, with many clubs still recovering from from the impact of the pandemic.

The showdown in Aberdeen was sold out in record time, and due to demand to watch the game Aberdeen put together a live stream on YouTube. With over 4500 views, and 11% of viewers tuning in from overseas it just reinforces what we’ve seen in the stands, the increasing interest in Ice Hockey in Scotland.

Going into the game, no one could have predicted who would win, as both teams were evenly matched. Early in the first period, Chad Sim opened the scoring for the Capitals, but ten minutes later, Aberdeen’s Gary Kelly found the back of the net, levelling the score.

In the second period, it was Lynx’s James Demeo who scored a short-handed goal, putting the Aberdeen side ahead. However, the Capitals were quick to respond, with Joel Gautschi levelling the scoreline less than a minute from the second break.

At 2-2, it was all down to the third period, and the atmosphere in the rink was electric as both teams fought for the win. The Capitals had to win in regulation time as if it went to OT even if the Caps scored Aberdeen would get a point and that would be enough to claim the title. 

The Capitals pulled their net minder, Craig Chalmers, in the dying minutes of the game, hoping to find the winning goal. But a breakaway goal by Lynx’s Ben Edmonds in the empty net with just nine seconds left on the clock had the crowd on their feet!

The Lynx have been celebrating 30 years of ice hockey in Aberdeen this season, and their first-ever league win was the perfect way to cap off the milestone. 

Coach Jordan Leyden said, “To be SNL league champions in what has been arguably, the hardest season to win it with the doubling of the games is unbelievable. 

I’m so proud of the hard work, effort and commitment of the guys, the deserve all the plaudits for everything they put in to it this season. 

As a club it’s a massive achievement as well, on what is our 30 year anniversary of ice hockey in Aberdeen, it feels like all the years that everyone has put in to help build the club and rebuild it after the rink closure has culminated to this. And to the fans that have been behind us from when we started this rebuild journey way back around 2010, their support doesn’t go unnoticed. 

To all involved in this club over the years, we did it! #GOCATS”

On Sunday, the Edinburgh Capitals played against North Ayr with a score of 9-0 in favour of the Capitals. This win helped them secure 2nd place in the league with 39 points.

With a late start to their season due to the delay in Murrayfield opening after the pandemic, it has been nothing short of remarkable the Caps achievements this season.  

Building a competitive team with no home ice when the league started and now attracting large crowds to Murrayfield, has shown how much hard work the Edinburgh team have put in on the ice and behind the scenes.

It was an impressive performance by the Capitals on Sunday, with all nine of their goals being scored by different players. This showcased the depth and versatility of the team’s offensive abilities.

North Ayr finished 8th in the league and will now take on the Lynx in Aberdeen on Saturday for the 1st leg of the Playoff 1/4 final this Saturday in Aberdeen.

The Lynx will be hoping there won’t be a repeat of what happened last year when North Ayr put them out of the playoffs. 

Dundee Comets take up their position in 3rd place even after their 5-2 defeat against Kirkcaldy Kestrels on Saturday. 

Less than two minutes after puck drop the Kestrels’ Richard Rough scores his first of three goals of the game. But the Comets fought back and scored twice.

After the 2nd break the tide changed as the Kestrels managed to slip two more goals past the Comets net minder Toni Tammi. 3-2 going into the last period the Kestrels upped the anti and found the back of the net two more times, adding another victory to their winning streak. 

The Kestrels have finished on 34 points, just 1 point behind the Comets and 6th in the league. 

Paisley Pirates take 4th place with the Dundee Tigers in 5th just one point behind. After their win against Edinburgh Capitals the previous weekend the Tigers’ spirits would have been high going into their last game of the season against the Pirates. 

A very close game until the last period with both sides scoring 4 goals each. But the Tigers moved it up a gear and found the back of the net 3 more times bagging a 7-4 win. 

The Tigers have struggled at times to find their form this season, but after their last 2 wins they will be looking to repeat their recent performances at the playoff 1/4 final when they take on the Pirates. 

There was a chance at the weekend that the Pirates could have clinched the league title so they will be hungry for some silverware as we head into the Playoffs and Scottish Cup. 

Kilmarnock Thunder finished 7th in the league on 16 points, after gaining two more points with a win against North Ayrshire Wild on Saturday. 

The game between Thunder and NA Wild was a heated one, with Kilmarnock coming out on top with a convincing 6-1 victory. It’s always great to see multiple players getting on the score sheet, and the fact that Kilmarnock had six different goal scorers shows a well-rounded team.

Kilmarnock Thunder will be taking on Edinburgh Capitals this weekend in the Playoff 1/4 finals at the Galleon Centre. 

Last weekend just mirrored how the season has been so far with no-one able to predict the outcome of the games, and any one of them able to bag the win on the night.