Ayr Bruins

The Ayr Bruins were an ice hockey club based in Ayr, Scotland between 1939 and 1992. Established in 1939 under the name Ayr Raiders, the club played their home games at the Ayr Ice Rink (Beresford Terrace) between 1939 and 1972 and at Ayr Ice Rink (Limekiln Road) between 1974 and 1991.

History
The Raiders played in the Scottish National League in 1939-40 and from 1946-1954. They won the regular season championship in 1952 and 1953 and the Anderson Trophy, awarded to the playoff winner, in 1953. In addition, the club won the Scottish Autumn Cup in 1951. The club later joined the newly-founded British National League in 1954-55, but withdrew from the league and went dormant after only one season of play.

The Ayr Rangers were formed in 1963 and played in the amateur Scottish League from 1962-63 to 1964-65, winning the league title in their first season. They also took part in the BBC Grandstand TV Trophy in 1964 and 1966.

The Bruins were created in 1966 and played one season in the Northern League before withdrawing, returning to the league in 1969. They continued to play until the closure of the Ayr Ice Rink in 1972 but again returned in 1974. The side won the Icy Smith Cup (now the British Championship) in 1976 and became a charter member of the British Hockey League's Premier Division in 1983. They made another appearance in the British Championship final in 1989 but were defeated 6-3 by the Nottingham Panthers.

The Bruins changed their name back to the Ayr Raiders in 1989 but were relegated from the Premier Division at the end of the 1991-92 season.

More recently Ayr was represented by the Ayr Scottish Eagles between 1996 and 2002 at the Centrum Arena.