Paisley Pirates marked the beginning of their landmark 80th anniversary season with a special celebration night at Shuttle in Paisley, bringing together supporters, players, coaches and members of the wider Pirates family ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
The event celebrated both the history of one of Scottish ice hockey’s most recognisable clubs and the team preparing to write the next chapter of that history.
Supporters were given the chance to hear directly from Head Coach Ian Turley and Assistant Coach Rab Henderson, reflecting on the previous campaign and looking ahead to the new season. The night carried added significance for Henderson, with the 2026/27 campaign marking 30 years since his debut season with the Pirates, while Turley continues a relationship with the club stretching back almost two decades.
Head Coach – Ian Turley.
Attention then turned to the players, with returning netminder Callum Donaghy joined by new signing Caiden MacColl to discuss the Pirates’ goaltending setup and the arrival of former Paisley netminder John Russell as Goaltending Coach.
Fans were also formally introduced to a host of new faces joining Paisley for the anniversary campaign, including Caiden MacColl, Jack Malcolm, Taylor McCormick, Mylo Wylie, Cameron “Cammy” Wilkie and Liam Danskin, giving supporters an opportunity to learn more about their careers and what they hope to bring to the club.
However, the Pirates had kept one major announcement hidden.
Following the interval, former Elite League forward Cale Tanaka was unveiled as the club’s surprise signing for the 2026/27 season.
The British-Canadian forward brings considerable experience to the Pirates, having played four seasons of NCAA Division I hockey before making 236 Elite League regular-season appearances with Hull Stingrays, Coventry Blaze, Dundee Stars and Braehead Clan. Tanaka was also part of Coventry’s 2015 Elite League Playoff Championship-winning side and most recently recorded 59 points in 47 league games for MK Lightning.
The full 2026/27 Pirates squad was then presented to the room, with the evening also recognising several significant individual milestones within the club, with Chris Turley entering the season celebrating 20 years with the Pirates.
The evening concluded with one of its biggest reveals as the club unveiled its new jerseys for the anniversary season.
Inspired by the Pirates’ original jerseys from the 1940s, the new home and away designs pay tribute to the club’s beginnings while incorporating the newly created Paisley Pirates tartan around the collar, produced with the support of Houston Kiltmakers of Paisley.
A special limited-edition retro jersey was also revealed in the Pirates’ original blue. Designed purely as a collectors’ piece, each jersey is individually numbered and stripped back to reflect the club’s earliest identity — no sponsors, player names or modern branding, simply the number on the back and Pirates across the front.
Most importantly, the night provided an opportunity for generations of Pirates supporters to come together in Paisley and celebrate a club that has remained part of the town’s sporting story since 1946.
The Pirates would like to extend a huge thank you to Wictoria and the team at Shuttle for hosting the celebration, as well as Stevie and Dylan at Vienna’s for their continued support and assistance surrounding the event. Vienna’s remain part of the Pirates family throughout the anniversary season.
The club would also like to thank every supporter, sponsor, volunteer, player, former player and family member who attended and helped create an incredible atmosphere throughout the evening.
Team management said: “This season is about much more than celebrating a number. Eighty years represents generations of players, volunteers, supporters and families who have all played their part in keeping the Paisley Pirates in Paisley, from long-time supporters to families and people experiencing the Pirates for the first time, was exactly what we wanted the night to be about. We cannot thank everyone enough for being part of it.”
The Pirates now turn their attention fully towards the 2026/27 season, with the club entering its 80th year determined to create some new memories to sit alongside eight decades of history.
Photos by Ross McLaren Photography
