It was another action-packed weekend in the Scottish Ice Hockey league, with plenty of goals, drama, and close encounters. Aberdeen Lynx continued their nail-biting season, securing a thrilling overtime victory against Edinburgh Capitals—the third time in seven games the Lynx have gone to OT, showcasing just how tight the competition is. Elsewhere, Kirkcaldy Kestrels and Dundee Rockets picked up dominant wins on the road, leaving the league table finely poised as the season progresses. Here’s your full roundup of the weekend’s action.
Aberdeen Lynx 4, Edinburgh Capitals 3 (OT)
Aberdeen Lynx secured a thrilling overtime victory against the Edinburgh Capitals on Saturday night. The Capitals, making the journey north, came out strong, with Joe Lynch netting a first-period hat-trick to give the visitors a 3-1 lead. Aberdeen’s lone response came from captain Ben Edmonds, keeping the Lynx in the game.
The second period saw Lynx claw back into contention, as Brant Saretsky narrowed the gap with a crucial goal. Aberdeen’s determination paid off in the third period when Joshua Purvis found the back of the net to level the game at 3-3. The tension mounted as both sides battled fiercely, but neither could break the deadlock before the final buzzer.
In overtime, it took just under a minute for the Lynx’s player-coach Jordan Leyden to seize the moment, netting the game-winner unassisted and securing the vital two points for the Lynx. After the game, Leyden said, “Obviously pleased with the result but more so the team in how they bounced back after going behind. With missing guys on the back end and having two 16-year-olds playing huge minutes is amazing to see.”
Edinburgh earned a point from the overtime loss, leaving them with mixed emotions as they head home.
Kilmarnock Thunder 1, Kirkcaldy Kestrels 8
Kirkcaldy Kestrels dominated Kilmarnock Thunder with an emphatic 8-1 win at the Galleon Centre. Thunder began the game with promise, quickly responding to George Pitcaithly opening goal with an equaliser from Andy Barr.
But as the second period unfolded, the game slipped away from the home side. The Kestrels’ Joshua Saunders scored unassisted to regain the lead, followed by two power-play goals to extend their advantage.
Heading into the third period with a 4-1 lead, the Kestrels applied even more pressure, firing four additional goals past Thunder’s netminder Thomas Mangan, sealing a comfortable victory.
Dundee Rockets 8, Paisley Pirates 1
Dundee Rockets delivered a commanding 8-1 performance against Paisley Pirates, who started the game with a quick goal from Chris Wilson just 30 seconds in. However, the Pirates’ lead was short-lived as the Rockets responded with three goals in less than five minutes.
The second period saw a change in netminders for the Pirates, with Daniel McGowan replacing Callum Donaghy, but the Rockets continued their relentless attack, adding another three goals. A short-handed goal from John Dolan and Rio Page’s hat-trick goal in the final period rounded off a comprehensive win for the home side.
Table Recap
The top four positions in the standings remain unchanged, but the points race is heating up. Aberdeen Lynx stay atop the table with two points from their overtime win against the Edinburgh Capitals. The Capitals now sit on nine points after collecting one point from the OT loss. Dundee Rockets’ victory brings them level with the Capitals on points, though they trail on goal difference. Kirkcaldy Kestrels are just one point behind in fourth, adding two points from their win.
As we look head at next weekend’s games, all eyes will be on whether the teams in the lower half of the table can make a move and shake things up.
