Murrayfield Racers look all set to hand a debut to new signing Rolands Dietlavs

Thin ice: Racers are running Solway Sharks close but need the help of others in the title race. Photo: Ian Coyle

Murrayfield Racers’ boss Tony Hand will give a debut to recent signing Rolands Dietlavs against Paisley Pirates at Murrayfield tomorrow, because he believes the 28-year-old Latvian, picked up by the club after being recommended by Racers’ defenceman Rihards Grigors, could be the “perfect fit” for injured star right-winger Callum Boyd.

Boyd, already on 45 goals for the season, picked up a nasty looking hand injury after taking a puck to the finger in last weekend’s 5-4 overtime loss to Scottish National League leaders Solway Sharks, and faces a race against time to be fit for the club’s National Ice Hockey League North cup final against Whitley Warriors to be played in three weeks’ time.

Hand said: “We’re also missing Lewis Gold who has been a responsible player for us and Callum who’s been fantastic and had been playing his best hockey over the last month or so. We have some ideas as how to accommodate that and get the balance right.”

Racers will also be without injured defenceman Scott Geddes and utility player Alex Christian who is back home in Germany on business, and Hand continued: “Things can obviously be tweaked but I think we’ll bring Rolands in for Callum, they are both right wingers so it could be a perfect fit. He’s got good vision and good hands, but he needs to be playing in game situations and have some match fitness.”

The loss to Solway last time out, maintains the Dumfries outfit’s 100 per cent league record, and even if Murrayfield win their three games in hand, Sharks will hold a three-point advantage at the top of the table.

Hand said: “I think tomorrow could be tough, Paisley have picked up a few good results of late and we need to keep up any pressure we can on Solway.

“We’ve got to be realistic; I’d be surprised if we didn’t finish in the top two, especially once we get everybody back, but without them things are going to be tougher. This year we have depth in our squad, so it gives us that little bit of leeway if we do have some guys missing.”