Johnny Carlyle, a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, has died aged 87.

The former Falkirk Lions and Edinburgh Royals star also iced for leading British sides including Harringay Racers, Nottingham Panthers and Brighton Tigers.

The Falkirk-born forward and defenceman learned to skate at his local rink and made his senior debut with Lions aged 17.

Carlyle helped his local team win three Scottish National League play-off series before the club folded in 1955.

He also iced in Britain’s side in the World Championships in 1950 and 1951.

Carlyle joined the Harringay Racers in the British National League for the 1955–56 season and became captain.

He then signed for Edinburgh Royals but they failed to see out the season and Carlyle finished the campaign playing for Nottingham Panthers.

The following season was the last of the British National League and Carlyle iced with the Brighton Tigers.

Carlyle also coached Edinburgh Royals, Murrayfield Racers where he was named coach for the All-Star A team on four occasions, and Brighton Tigers.

He was player-coach for the Great Britain team which was unbeaten in the Pool B World Championships. They finished runners-up to Norway on goal difference.

Carlyle, who lived in Falkirk, retired from the game in 1973 and used to attend Edinburgh Capitals matches at Murrayfield until around three years ago.

One of his former players at Edinburgh Royals and Murrayfeld Racers, goaltender Willie Clark, said it was a sad loss.

He added: “Johnny was different class and led by example and he was also instrumental in bringing through a host of local talent including Derek Reilly and Gordon Inglis.”

Website | + posts

Experienced news, business, arts, sport and travel journalist. Food critic and managing editor of a well-established food and travel website. Also a magazine editor of publications with circulations of up to 200,000 and managing director of a long-established PR/marketing company with a string of blue-chip clients in its CV. Former communications lecturer at a Scottish university and social media specialist for a string of successful and busy SMEs.