Kyle Ross celebrates his goal. Photo by Charlie Mood.
Whitley Warriors’ excellent run in the Scottish National League’s opening weeks continued with an away win at North Ayrshire Wild and a hard-fought overtime win at home against Kirkcaldy Kestrels.
North Ayrshire Wild 0 – 3 Whitley Warriors
On Saturday night the Warriors and the travelling faithful headed to Ayrshire where Whitley faced off against North Ayrshire Wild. Only thirteen players travelled so it was always going to be a tough contest against a side who’ve enjoyed a competitive start with one win and one loss. The first period was a closely contested twenty minutes of play. Warriors only managed 12 shots on goal in comparison to the Wilds’ 15, but both Caiden MacColl and Tom Brown stood tall to ensure the period would be scoreless. Cam Ware would pick up the only penalty of the period when he received two for slashing at the 13:55 mark.
It was the second period which saw all the action on the scoreboard. Wild captain Luca De Simone would be the one called for slashing just 44 seconds after the puck was dropped. Edgar continued his fine run of form on the road as he opened the scoring on the powerplay at 22:39, with defencemen Ethan Reid and Liam Smedley getting the assists. Not long after, Whitley would find themselves on the powerplay again, when the third slashing penalty of the night saw Jordan McGonigie head to the box, with 25:54 on the clock. The Wild were able to kill this powerplay and it remained a close game until the 34th minute.
At 34:04 Harry Harley would double Whitley’s lead, with Edgar and Smedley getting the assists. Immediately from the restart the Warriors would hit them with both barrels, as Ethan Reid would convert just 48 seconds later, putting Warriors 3-0 up. Queenan and Edgar getting the apples this time round.
Adam Wood would be the next one sent to the box, when he received two minutes for clipping, at 35:59. Warriors would kill the powerplay and hold out the rest of the period. Both sides managed 11 shots on goal, but nothing was getting past Brown.
The final period saw Warriors’ defence shutdown the Wilds’ offence. Dylan Murray received two for tripping, at 44:40, but the Wild were once again able to kill the powerplay. The Wild would find themselves on the powerplay again late in the period when Jamie Ord was called for tripping at 56:39, but fantastic play from Whitley ensured there was no hope of a late comeback. After the powerplay finished, captain De Simone would be called for holding at 59:27, which would see the rest of the game out, with the Wild only managing 9 shots on goal in the final period compared to the Warriors’ 13.
Another strong showing from the lads, who have now won all their opening games in the SNL. Edgar had a fantastic game at Aberdeen and another productive performance is a clear indication of how crucial the new assistant captain will be when the team are on the road. Edgar racked up 5 points in Aberdeen, with 2 goals and 3 assists and was the only Warrior to be involved in every goal last night, notching another goal and a further 2 assists.
Brown earned the Warriors’ Man of the Match, after claiming back-to-back shutouts. Interestingly, Solway were also shutout again on Saturday night in a 5-0 loss to Sunday’s opponents, Kirkcaldy Kestrels, who are starting to find their form. Harry Harley was awarded the Ultimate Warrior belt, after his work in shutting down the Wild, whilst also notching a goal. Queenan grabbing an assist on the third goal is also fantastic to see, after the concerns of potential injury last Sunday. A special shoutout for Liam Smedley and Ethan Reid as well, who were able to ensure the Warriors got another shutout, while also contributing on the scoreboard, showing this season the team has a lot of depth.
Shots
Wild: 35
Warriors: 43
Penalties
Wild: 8
Warriors: 6
Scorers
Warriors: Phil Edgar 1+2, Ethan Reid 1+1, Harry Harley 1+0, Liam Smedley 0+2, Callum Queenan 0+1
Man of the Match
Wild: unknown
Warriors: Thomas Brown
Whitley Warriors 3 – 2 Kirkcaldy Kestrels
Whitley Warriors perfect start to their 2025-26 SNL season continued after a dramatic overtime win over Kirkcaldy Kestrels on Sunday.
Having clinched victory against North Ayrshire with a short bench the night before, the Warriors could welcome back several players against the Kestrels, icing 18 skaters and starting with Josh Crane in goal. Kirkcaldy were making their first visit to Hillheads in 10 years.
Whitley were forced onto the back foot early on after a harsh Cameron Ware penalty for illegal use of equipment was called 19 seconds in. But having killed that off the home side were able to test visiting goalie Craig Holland, Phil Edgar using veteran defender Kyle Horne as a screen before shooting at goal.
The game was open in the early exchanges with both sides creating chances. Kirkcaldy looked particularly dangerous on the break and used that to their advantage to take the lead 12 minutes in. James McLaren fed Joe Somerville, with the latter cutting in from the right wing before banking the puck off Josh Crane and into the net.
The Warriors responded immediately with Edgar dancing through the Kestrels defence before he was denied a certain goal by Holland, who stuck out a right pad to prevent the puck from crossing the line. A Whitley powerplay then saw further opportunities. Adam Wood struck a post with the rebound falling to Edgar, but the Canadian forward was unable to put the puck home.
The home side continued to lay siege to the Kirkcaldy goal as the end of the period ticked closer, outshooting the Kestrels 12-8, and with two seconds left on the clock they finally found their breakthrough. Kyle Ross led a quick breakaway and fired home just before the buzzer sounded to head to the break all square.
The second period was an equally even affair, Whitley edging the shot count 14-12, but Kirkcaldy causing their hosts more problems as they shut them down well.
At the other end Somerville burst through on goal and dangled past the Whitley defence before Crane smothered the puck.
Kyle Ross continued to pull the strings for the Warriors offence and helped set up Lucas Campion for a shot from the low slot before Ethan Reid shot through traffic from a face off.
But it would be Kirkcaldy who would retake the lead with less than 3 minutes remaining in the period, captain Scott Jamieson converting on a powerplay 19 seconds in after wrapping his stick around the puck to rifle home. Moments later Whitley would have a powerplay after Kian Shevlin caught Callum Queenan with a high stick, although the Kestrels were able to kill off the penalty well.
Whitley were still finding it difficult to solve Holland who was in inspired form in the Kestrels goal. However, you sensed if anyone was going to be able to do so it would be Kyle Ross who was again having an excellent game. His shot 5 minutes into the final session rebounded to Queenan who could only watch Holland get across his line well.
But barely a minute later the Warriors were back level and, you guessed it, Kyle Ross was behind it. Following a fast break out, Ross cut in from the right wing boards before unleashing a hard shot that flew into the net, despite Holland getting a piece of it.
Moments later both sides lost a player to the penalty box as Shevlin’s continued overly physical play drew a reaction from Queenan and the pair were handed coincidental minor penalties.
Soon after, Whitley were unable to score from a shorthanded 2-on-0 breakaway but were then penalised for a second penalty meaning they had a 5-on-3 powerplay to kill off.
Having returned to full strength, Edgar had the best chance to win it late on when his fast break out forced another save from Holland and he had to settle for an offensive zone faceoff instead.
Kirkcaldy clearly felt they could return to Scotland with the points and actually outshot the Warriors 16-12 in the third period. One late barrage on the Whitley net led to a skirmish which saw penalties called on both sides, which was perhaps understandable given how much was on the line.
But with no further goals the game went into sudden death 3-on-3 overtime. Whitley dominated the play and were camped in the Kestrels zone for much of the bonus session. Eventually that pressure told when Ross entered the zone with 1:08 remaining. His shot rebounded perfectly to Wood, with the Whitley captain showing great poise and patience to delay his shot and allow Holland to commit himself in the Kirkcaldy goal before firing home the winner and provoke ecstatic scenes.
It would be the only time the Warriors would lead all game, but it was when it counted the most and their 100% record continues for another week.
Shots
Warriors: 38
Kestrels: 36
Penalties
Warriors: 12
Kestrels: 10
Scorers
Warriors: Kyle Ross 2+1, Adam Wood 1+2, Callum Queenan 0+1
Kestrels: Joe Somerville 1+0, Scott Jamieson 1+0, James McLaren 0+1, Allan Anderson 0+1, Kyle Horne 0+1
Man of the Match sponsored by The Turks Head, Tynemouth
Warriors: Adam Wood
Kestrels: Craig Holland
