Joe Guilcher, who played for the Dundee Rockets in the 1970s and 1980s and was a key part of the team that lifted the British Championship in their heyday, has died at the age of 69.
The former Dundee Tigers head coach died at Ninewells Hospital after a long illness.
Once his playing career ended, Joe dedicated his time to coaching young hockey stars all the way through to senior level, and it was thanks to his passion that Tigers were saved from folding in the 1990s following the closure of the Kingsway ice rink.
Ian Carstairs, a senior player and coach with Dundee Tigers, said: “Without his influence, there wouldn’t be a Dundee Tigers and he helped shape Dundee ice hockey as a whole. When the old Kingsway rink closed, he kept the teams together for years and we were pretty nomadic during that time.
“We were playing in Perth, Kirkcaldy and Livingston – but Joe was the constant who gave up his time and kept it going. It’s a sad day for Joe’s family and for generations of hockey players who he has touched in some way through his coaching. He’d been ill for quite some time but he would still come to games and come in the changing room to offer some advice.
“He was a huge influence on me as a player, in his coaching and he definitely made me a better person for it.”
