Anticipation is rising amongst supporters of the Paisley Pirates following the announcement that the club is now looking for squad members to make up the team for season 2021-22, which in the case of the Pirates will commence, for home games at least, in early November.
Like the Glasgow Clan, Pirates were obliged to delay their season’s start while negotiations were ongoing regarding the ownership of Braehead Arena, but with much of that work now complete, Pirates have been able to finally look for players to bolster their bench for the new season, which will allow them to take to the ice for the first time in 20 months.
“There’s still a few aspects of the new season which are not as yet finalised,” said Off Ice Operations Manager Jackie Turley, “but we have been assured by our new landlords at Braehead that ice will be available so it’s full steam ahead with the job of putting a team together, and which will see us play in the season of our 75th birthday. We know our fans have been patiently waiting for new about the club and it’s really only now that we’ve been able to get the wheels in motion, so now it’s full speed ahead!”
She went on, “There’s one or two aspects regarding the actual formation of the SNL for this season but that doesn’t need to delay us in the task of actually assembling the team. It’s going to be an exciting time with the Clan now owning the arena, and with the Pirates actually hoping to have a junior team on the ice for the first year in a very long time, we’re hoping this will encourage players to snap up a team place quickly and join one of the most successful teams in Scotland at SNL level. They will also play out of a magnificent arena with the best facilities in the country, and receive the best coaching around in the form of Ian Turley and Adam Walker, both of whom are part of the GB and Scotland coaching set ups respectively. Throw in the fact they’ll be playing in front of the best and noisiest supporters who are desperate to cheer on their team after nearly two years of no ice hockey, and you can see that signing for the Paisley Pirates is the best way of improving yourself and enjoying your sport to the utmost.”
Prospective players should contact the club at paisleypirates@gmail.com.