Murrayfield Racers buoyed by potential return of Callum Boyd for Dundee Tigers cup clash

Callum Boyd could return for Murrayfield Racers this weekend. Picture: Ian Coyle

Murrayfield Racers’ winger Callum Boyd has returned to full training and could feature in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup semi-final first leg at Dundee Tigers.

Boyd took a puck to the finger in last month’s 5-4 overtime home loss to Solway Sharks and was originally expected to be sidelined until after next weekend’s highly anticipated National Ice Hockey League North Cup final with Whitley Warriors, but has recovered well and is in with a chance of featuring on Sunday.

It will be a game day decision as to whether the former Edinburgh Capitals and Braehead Clan man will feature tomorrow, but Boyd is clearly itching for a return to action and said: “It’s been healing really well and there’s no pain in it just now, this was my first time practicing with the boys but I’m feeling really good about it.

“Our original aim was to try and get myself ready and be back for next week, so it’s looking good for that and I’m really pleased.”

Racers had a hugely successful debut season winning the Scottish National League and Stuart Robertson Cup, but were irked by their defeat in the Scottish Cup final, after Dundee Comets were victorious in a 6-5 thriller.

Boyd continued: “We’re just trying to win everything, like we tried to last season. We know it’s only ourselves that can hold us back here, we know what we can do and how well we can play, as long as we all buy into the systems that we’ve been practicing we can go on and win this.”

Racers' director of hockey Tony Hand, echoed Boyd’s sentiments but believes his short-benched team could have it tough against Tigers, who currently sit third in the SNL table.

Hand said: “We’ve got a short bench what with injuries and a few guys who have commitments abroad. We just need to go there and make sure we’re still in it for the second leg (at Murrayfield on March 1) and play a smart road game like we’ve been doing recently.

"It will be tough because Tigers have been playing well, but as long as we’re there or there about for the home leg I’ll be happy.”