Hamilton Hawks won the ice hockey Scottish Plate.

May 19 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON HAWKS kept their cool to win the Scottish Plate, despite being taken to the very last-gasp by Paisley Panthers in the final.

The game at Dumfries Ice Bowl was deadlocked following the regulation 30 minutes and was deep into the second period of sudden death when Murray Johnston scored the winner with just 13 seconds remaining.

Chairman Colin Lees says the win was fitting for the club’s 25th anniversary season. They now aim to win the Scottish Cup next season.

Lees said: “It was fantastic. We’ve gone close in recent years and last season we reached the semi-final but tiredness caught up.

“I think this year we put a lot of heart and soul into it and the final was very dramatic, with Murray winning it for us with 13 seconds left on the clock.

“With this being our 25th anniversary year it’s great, and we’re up a division into what is effectively the Premier League of recreational hockey.

“We’ve got a great team of guys and I want us to try to win the Scottish Cup with this squad.

“Things are looking up for the club and it has been a great season.”

Reserve forward Kenny Campbell was delighted with the Plate success.

The 32-year-old, who lives in Hamilton, said: “It’s my first season in the game so to win the Plate was awesome and felt absolutely amazing.

“It was great to get one over on Paisley Panthers too, who beat us in the Winter Cup.

“We’re doing quite well. Amateur ice shockey in Scotland is split into two tiers, the Cup and the Plate.

“If you don’t do so well in the Plate you need to qualify for the next season, but if you win it you move up into the Cup.

“If selected I’ll be over the moon to play in the Cup next season.

“Because I’m in my first season, I’m officially a reserve but the coach takes three of us to every game, which is brilliant, and I think I’ve done quite well.

“I also have to say, coming in fresh, how inclusive the club is, which is absolutely fantastic.”

Hawks wrap up their season with a match against Edinburgh Eagles at Murrayfield Ice Rink, Edinburgh, on Sunday, starting at 6pm.

They then take part in a Best of British tournament in Hull on June 4 and 5, where they will come up against teams from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.