Paisley Pirates got their first taste of competitive action ahead of the 2026/27 season on Sunday evening, falling to a 4-0 pre-season defeat against Kirkcaldy Kestrels at Fife Ice Arena.
The fixture gave the Pirates their first opportunity to get back on the ice together ahead of the new campaign.
The coaching team used the evening to experiment with different lines, give the squad game time and begin assessing combinations ahead of the competitive season.
Every available player was given time on the ice, including members of the Pirates’ Under-19 setup, while both netminders shared the workload with half a game each.
With a number of new faces joining the squad this summer, the game also gave the group an opportunity to begin developing chemistry in a match environment.
New signing Mylo Wylie was named the Pirates’ Man of the Match following his first appearance in a Paisley jersey.
Head coach Ian Turley said: “Naturally, nobody likes losing 4–0, but this is exactly what pre-season games are there for.
“It gave us the opportunity to get every player on the ice, try different lines and combinations, and make sure the whole squad got meaningful minutes. Our Under-19 players were involved and both goalies were able to play half of the game.
“There are plenty of positives to take from the evening, as well as things we know we need to tweak and work on. That is the value of getting these games under our belts before the competitive season begins.
“A special mention has to go to Mylo Wylie for his Man of the Match award. He certainly impressed in his first game wearing a Pirates jersey and showed exactly why we’re so pleased to have him as part of this squad.”
Paisley now turn their attention to three away fixtures as the 2026/27 season gets underway.
The Pirates travel to Dumfries Ice Bowl to face Solway Sharks on Sunday, 6th September, with a 5.15pm face-off.
They return to Fife for another meeting with Kirkcaldy Kestrels on Sunday, 13th September, this time in competitive action. The game at Kirkcaldy Ice Arena faces off at 6.30pm.
Paisley then travel to Auchenharvie Leisure Centre to face North Ayrshire Wild on Saturday, 26th September, with a 6.30pm face-off.
Headline photo: Mylo Wylie was named Paisley Pirates’ Man of the Match against Kirkcaldy Kestrels.
Photo Credit: Al Goold