During a career spanning a quarter-century, Scots forward Jim Pennycook played on various British teams, winning six national championships, two British and three regional league titles. He was capped for Great Britain in four World Championships.

After two years in an intermediate league with his local Dundee Meteors, Pennycook broke into senior hockey with Dundee Rockets at the age of 16 in 1973-74 and was voted Rookie of the Year in the Northern League.

In the mid-1970s, the Dundee rink management stopped promoting hockey and he was snapped up rival Scots club Murrayfield Racers in 1978-79. He thrived in the capital and was voted onto the league’s All-Star team in his first season.

This was just the start of a golden time in Jim’s hockey career. During his four terms with the all-conquering Racers, they won the national knockout tournament for the Icy Smith Cup and the Northern League title in three successive years.

His best season was 1980-81, when he recorded 50 points (17 goals and 33 assists) in just 18 games, marking him out as one of the game’s finest playmakers.

Back in his home town he played a key role in the glory era of Tom Stewart’s Rockets when they swept the board, winning the British League and Championships in successive seasons, as well as the 1983-84 Autumn Cup.

His personal memorable moment came at Streatham on 23rd April 1983 when he scored in Dundee’s 6-2 victory over Durham Wasps in the first Heineken-sponsored British final.

Jim was snapped up by Fife Flyers for the 1984-85 campaign and appeared in his second British final, this time at Wembley Arena.

Coached by Canadian Ron Plumb, the import-heavy Flyers overwhelmed his old club Murrayfield, 9-4, with Pennycook scoring their final marker.

First selected for the Great Britain in 1977 when he was 20, Pennycook went on to pick up 23 caps, scoring a creditable 19 points (10 goals and nine assists).

During much of his time in the sport, each of Britain’s top teams was allowed a limited number of paid Canadian dual nationals.

Few local players received payment for their services and Jim earned his living first in the Dundee shipyard and then on the North Sea oil rigs (two weeks on and two weeks off). This, of course, substantially reduced the number of games he was able to turn up for.

Nevertheless, his skills were constantly in demand. Known for his resilience and adaptability, he maintained a high level of play well into his late 30s and early 40s.

Playing for a variety of teams in the Midlands and north of England, he accumulated points while providing a steady veteran presence for his younger team-mates.

He wrapped up his career with second tier side, Blackburn Hawks, in 1995-96 and added the coaching role a year later.

With invaluable support from fellow Scots, Neil Abel and Bobby Haig, he created a youth support structure for the rink, and sent two teenagers to play for Great Britain in the 1997 European Junior Championships.

James (Jim or Jimmy) Pennycook was born in Dundee, Scotland on 12th June 1957 and was inducted into the Ice Hockey UK Hall of Fame in 2024.