Sporting Digest: Ice Hockey

Ayr Scottish Eagles came close to becoming the first British team to reach the second round of any European tournament last night. The Eagles led by two goals early in the third period of their European League game at Chemopetrol Litvinov of the Czech Republic, but the home side pulled back to 4-4 in the dying moments before triumphing on penalty shots. Ayr now need a point going into their final Division F match on 1 December at Die Adler Mannheim, who lost 7-2 last night to the Russian champions Kazan.

Bracknell Bees' Barry McKinlay, the top-scoring defenceman in Superleague this season with six goals and 11 assists in 11 games, has quit the club and returned to Canada, citing "personal reasons" for his departure.