Dundee’s two amateur ice hockey teams took advantage of the big freeze in a rare outdoor match at the Swannie Ponds at the weekend.
Players from the Dundee Comets and the Dundee Tigers teams donned their hockey gear, put their portable goals down and got on with bashing the puck around the ice-covered pond, watched by fans and intrigued passers-by.
Tigers coach Ian Carstairs said, “Dundee has a good ice hockey community and it goes right back to our roots to play a game at the ponds.
“The two teams are big rivals but good friends and we’ve got a couple of crunch derby matches coming up against each other the next two Sundays January 2 and 9 so we thought it would be a good way to drum up some support for the games.”
Comets coach Barry Carnegie said, “There were about a dozen or so and it was great fun. The keepers were all kitted up but there was no real contact and we didn’t really keep score.
“There were a few interested spectators there as well quite a few from the ice rink community who had heard about it.
“With the Stars being away in Nottingham next weekend we’re hoping some of their fans will come along to our game on Sunday. The first one is Comets’ home game and we’re doing a deal where kids get in free when an adult buys a ticket.”
Face-off on Sunday is at 6.30pm at Dundee Ice Arena.