Kilmarnock Storm face Aberdeen Lynx in the SNL on Saturday still looking for their first point of the season.
Rooted to the foot of the table, Kilmarnock have conceded nearly 100 goals this season and are five points adrift of Solway Sharks SNL and Dundee Tigers above them.
Head Coach Myles Watson says changes to his side’s personnel have ravaged his team.
He said: “It’s been a very disappointing season so far. We’ve had six players leave the club and we also have several senior players injured, so our priorities have changed massively.
“It’s frustrating for everyone as we were confident and really positive of being able to compete with the other teams this season and get results.
“However, we are having to rely on juniors to make up our team roster so we have to accept the fact this will now be a learning year for a lot of our players.
“When some players left, a few problems also left so the atmosphere has changed and I would say we’re definitely more of a unit.
“The mood in the dressing room is not too bad considering what’s been happening. Almost my top two lines left and with them a lot of skill left too, but now the rest of the players need to step up and perform.
“Hopefully with hard work and a bit of luck we can sneak a result or two, but injuries are playing their part just now, which isn’t helping.
“Aberdeen will be a tough game for us and they play a nice style of hockey, but we’ll go out and do our best on the night.
“We’ll be working hard to compete and gaining experience for next year. With hard work and a bit of luck, who knows what can happen.”
Paisley Pirates go into Sunday’s home match against Moray Typhoons boosted by their Scottish Cup win at Kirkcaldy Kestrels.
The victory saw Pirates progress to the last four of the competition leaving Player/Coach Ian Turley in buoyant mood.
“It was a terrific performance by the boys who had the game won well before the final whistle,” he said. “We outplayed them in their own rink – something that not many teams have done.
“Other people might consider playing Moray will be an easy two points, but none of us will be thinking along those lines.
“They’re a much better side than they used to be. Virtually every side has improved this year, and they’ve beaten a few good teams, so to underestimate them would be a mistake which we’re not planning to make.
“I want a repeat of the performance we put in against the Kestrels last weekend – anything less and we could be in trouble.”
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday
Dundee Tigers v North Ayrshire Wild
Kilmarnock Storm v Aberdeen Lynx
Sunday
North Ayrshire Wild v Edinburgh Capitals
Paisley Pirates v Moray Typhoons
(Image permission: Kilmarnock Storm)
