It’s another busy weekend for the Paisley Pirates, with engagements on both Saturday and Sunday again, but this time the first of these dates sees the club taking part in an important off ice activity.
“Yes,” explained coach Ian Turley. “We were absolutely delighted to be asked to participate in the parade which precedes the switching on of Paisley’s Christmas lights on Saturday, not to say, extremely proud to receive the invitation. We regard ourselves very much as the local ice hockey club and the fact that we‘ve been asked, once again, to take part is, on our eyes, recognition of the fact that we are very much part of the local community, every bit as much as all the other community groups who’ll be walking round Paisley town centre at the weekend. The team members and supporters will be wearing their tops with pride, and we’re pleased to have the opportunity to return some of the fantastic support we receive year in, year out from Renfrewshire Council, local businesses, and local people. It’s what we’re about, and we’re looking forward to it immensely.”
Turning his attention to the team’s match against the Kirkcaldy Kestrels on Sunday (face off 6.00pm), the coach reflected on the previous weekend. “We were very disappointed to go out at the semifinal stage of the Autumn Cup on a narrow 5-4 aggregate score. In the home leg, we scraped through 3-2, and the narrowness of the win certainly cost us the tie, as we could, and should, have scored more goals. However, it’s done and dusted now, so no point in moaning about it. On the Sunday, we didn’t really get going against a dogged Dundee Tigers till the third period, but when we did we looked a really good team, which I believe we are.”
“However, we’re up against a very good Kirkcaldy side on Sunday in opposition to some guys who have a little Elite League experience, and who are to date the only side to have beaten us in the SNL, winning 4-3 in our first league encounter of the season nearly two months ago-we’ve come on a bit since then, we’ve signed a few more players to give our squad a lot of depth, not to say talent, in the meantime, but we’ll need to show the form we displayed latterly against the Tigers for the whole 60 minutes to take anything out of this one. The Fife boys will be keen to do the double over us, and we’re just as keen to return the defeat they gave us, so I don’t think the fans will be short changed for this one! Our attendances are showing a rise this year, and I like to think that people are realising that ice hockey on Sunday nights at Braehead represents astonishing value for only £7!”