Aberdeen's premier ice hockey team is celebrating after securing a primary sponsor just in time for its 2016/17 season in the Scottish National League (SNL).

The Aberdeen Lynx Ice Hockey Club, which is the second most-supported sports team in the city after Aberdeen Football Club, has signed an one-year sponsorship deal with data solutions company, Petrolink Services.

The new sponsorship deal comes as a real boost to The Lynx, after it lost its previous main sponsor due to the downturn in oil and gas. As a not-for-profit organisation, the club relies solely on donations, ticket sales and sponsorship from local businesses.

All money generated is invested straight back into The Lynx, to help keep costs down for junior players, fund new equipment and kit, and enable the SNL team to travel and play in games across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The sponsorship also enables the club to continue focusing on the development of its youth teams.

The Lynx provide coaching and facilities to its junior teams, which cater for children from age 12 and up, and its Mini Lynx Learn to Play programme, in a bid to encourage youngsters in the North-east to take up ice hockey.

Martin Hill, chair of The Aberdeen Lynx, said: "The Lynx are absolutely thrilled to have secured a new sponsorship deal with Petrolink. We understand that many businesses in the north-east are struggling in the current climate, so we're very appreciative of all their support.

"Thanks to Petrolink's backing, we're able to focus heavily on the development of young people in the area, as well as providing top-quality training to our SNL team. A large proportion of the money secured through sponsorship is reserved exclusively for our junior teams and allows us to educate and train them to the highest standard".

Andrew Maxwell, regional manager for Petrolink UK & Europe, said: "Petrolink are pleased to sponsor the Aberdeen Lynx, a winning SNL hockey team with strong community ties and a commitment to child development programmes.

"A number of my colleagues are interested in ice hockey and we're keen to promote the benefits of sport to young people, so it made perfect sense to sponsor The Lynx.

"We're fortunate enough to be in the position to be able to sponsor the club and we're very proud to be associated with a winning team. It's great that we're able to give something back to a local organisation that focuses so strongly on developing young talent".