Aviemore Avalanche put village back on the nation’s ice hockey map in debut season
Aviemore and the wider strath has well and truly been put back on the nation’s ice hockey map at the weekend.
The Aviemore Avalanche have been crowned 2025 SIH Scottish Bowl champions in their first season.
They had an emphatic 6–1 win over Dundee Wildcats in the Scottish final after qualifying from the round robin and semi-finals in the prestigious tournament held at the weekend in Dumfries Ice Centre.
The cup win is all the more remarkable as the team - comprising a mixture of young and older players - are unable to play at their home rink because of its small size and instead play out of the at risk Inverness rink.
But the return of ice to the village has proven to be a real catalyst for the sport following the former highs of the Aviemore Blackhawks in the 1980s.
They won the Scottish Division in 1986/87 and travelled onwards to Cardiff to take on three other UK divisional winners beating the home favourites 10-9 in the final after being down by four goals going into the final period.
Now today’s Aviemore players are creating memories of their own.
Skipper Dean Ferguson said: “What a weekend. We had a really strong team and produced the best hockey I’ve ever seen us play.
“We were in control of every game and the Marr brothers were different class.
“Stevie Booth was amazing as were all of the old Blues and Blackhawk players. They are bringing us all along so quickly on our wee rink.
“Winning that tournament with a full squad of local lads was a great feeling and it shows how much everyone has made the most of our rink.
“It also demonstrates what an asset a full ice rink would be to the area.”
Avalanche defender Matthew Orr told the Strathy: “It is insane that we have won the Scottish Bowl against big city teams with big rinks.
“Our club chairman and bench manager Davie Hodge even had a tear in his eye.
“We were all so happy. Not one can believe it. Sunday was a blur. And we did not scrape the wins, they were convincing.
“We have a good mix of enthusiastic newer players with wise fit older players who know the game inside out.
“But even so this is just our first season and has exceeded our wildest expectations.”
Goalscorer Stuart said: “This is Aviemore’s first national ice hockey since 1987 - 38 years ago.
“These lads all from Aviemore did us proud and have put the village back on the ice hockey and winter sports map.”
The Aviemore Avalanches beat the Aberdeen Predators 6-3 in their opening fixture on Saturday with goals from Ross Marr (2), Stuart Gray, Scott Marr, Andrew Stuart and Kenny Macdonald.
In the second game, they drew with Kircaldy’s Highlanders B team 3-3 with goals from Ross Marr and Kenny Macdonald.
They then played the Hamilton Hawks on Sunday morning and despite some heavy heads won 3-0 thanks to Scott Marr (2) and Chris Helik.
Next up was a local derby against the Hurricanes from Inverness with the Avalanche winning 5-0. Ross Marr bagged another two goals and his brother Scott claimed another with Stevie Booth and Darren Ross getting the others.
Glasgow’s Mustangs were then tamed in the semi-final knock-outs with a 5-1 victory.
This time the goals came from Scott Marr, Kenny Macdonald, Chris Helik, Andrew Stuart and Kevin Bremner.
The highly fancied Dundee Wildcats were not able to match the Aviemore visitors who ran out comfortable 6-1 winners.
Ross Marr delivered yet again with a hat-trick, brother Scott chalked up another and Andrew Stuart netted a brace.
The Scottish bowl was not the only accolade picked up by the Aviemore Avalanche.
Sam Wallace was awarded goalie of the tournament and Scott Marr was unsurprisingly named the best forward.
The Avalanche Aviemore squad comprised 18 players and there is lots of young talent coming through.
Orr said: “Lots of the local kids are into the ice hockey now.
“The local rink is a great platform but it would be great not only for the local community but for visitors too if Aviemore could get a larger pad.”