Edinburgh Capitals
Encyclopedia
The Edinburgh Capitals are a Scottish
ice hockey
club, playing in the UK-wide Elite Ice Hockey League
.
They are based in the Scottish
capital, Edinburgh
. The team play at the Murrayfield Ice Rink
, close to Murrayfield Rugby stadium
.
The team are owned by Scott Neil
- who saved ice hockey in Edinburgh after the collapse of the Murrayfield Racers
and Murrayfield Royals - and local businessman, Matthew Tailford.
defeated the Capitals at the Quarter Final stage of the competition 4-2 on aggregate.
The Capitals struggled near the foot of the table at the start of the 2008/9 season, but showed dramatic improvement in the latter stages and qualified for a playoff position in the EIHL by finishing 8th. Sheffield Steelers
defeated the Capitals 8-2 in the Quarter Final first leg, with the Capitals defeating the Steelers 5-4 in the return leg (12-7 on aggregate).
Christiansen's 3rd season in charge was injury plagued, losing key players throughout the season, including himself with a shattered kneecap. But the Capitals showed their battling qualities and set a new franchise record for amount of points in a season (52). They finished 6th in league setting another franchise record. This led to Christiansen being awarded Coach of the Year by the IHJUK. They played the Nottingham Panthers in the playoffs and got a respectable 4-4 draw at home in the first leg but were defeated 5-0 in the second leg (9-4 on aggregate).
Following the departure of Steve Thornton
as coach, the Belfast Giants
swiftly appointed Christiansen as coach for the 2010/11 season. On 1st July 2010, it was announced that Brad Gratton would replace Christiansen as head coach of the Edinburgh Capitals.
The 2010/11 season was a difficult one for the Capitals, which saw Gratton resign from his role as head coach after only four months in the job. It was announced that club owner and general manager, Scott Neil, would take over as head coach for the remainder of the season. This was, however, followed by a string of eight import players leaving the Capitals over the course of the season due to club financial difficulties. The Capitals finished the season bottom of the Elite League, recording only 6 wins and 15 points.
It was announced on 5th June 2011 that after nine seasons with the Edinburgh Capitals, club captain Martin Cingel was moving on to the Manchester Phoenix
of the English Premier Ice Hockey League
.
On the 16th August 2011 it was announced that experienced, Slovakian
forward, Richard Hartmann, had signed for the Capitals. It was confirmed on the 24th of August that he would be the new player/coach for the club, becoming the Edinburgh Capitals' first European coach.
, Keith Butland.
On 26th September 2011, it was announced that Scott Neil would be stepping down as General Manager of the Edinburgh Capitals, and would be replaced by business advisor, Len Wilcox. It was revealed that Neil would remain at the club as co-owner and Hockey Director. It later transpired that negotiations with Wilcox and Lumsden had broken down and that neither would be involved with the club.
On 5th October 2011 it was announced that Matthew Tailford, would be taking over the role of General Manager.
Hall Of Fame
2000/01
2001/02
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
club, playing in the UK-wide Elite Ice Hockey League
Elite Ice Hockey League
Several competitions fall under the jurisdiction of the Elite League. In 2006–07, the EIHL ran a total of four competitions: the league, playoffs, Challenge Cup and Knockout Cup. The league consists of a single division, each team playing three home games and three away games against the other...
.
They are based in the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
capital, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The team play at the Murrayfield Ice Rink
Murrayfield Ice Rink
Murrayfield Ice Rink is a 3,800-seat multi-purpose arena in the Murrayfield area of Edinburgh, Scotland, right next door to Murrayfield Stadium. It was built between 1938 and 1939. It is home to the Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey team...
, close to Murrayfield Rugby stadium
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
.
The team are owned by Scott Neil
Scott Neil
Andrew Scott Neil, known as Scott Neil, is a retired British ice hockey player who played in the United Kingdom between 1985 and 2002. He also played for the Great Britain national team between 1989 and 1994...
- who saved ice hockey in Edinburgh after the collapse of the Murrayfield Racers
Murrayfield Racers
The Murrayfield Racers were an ice hockey team in Edinburgh, Scotland, founded in 1952 changing their name to the Racers in 1966. The team won the British Championship 4 times in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972...
and Murrayfield Royals - and local businessman, Matthew Tailford.
Elite League era
Under player/coach, Doug Christiansen, the Capitals qualified for the Elite League Playoffs for the first time in 2007/08. Coventry BlazeCoventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:...
defeated the Capitals at the Quarter Final stage of the competition 4-2 on aggregate.
The Capitals struggled near the foot of the table at the start of the 2008/9 season, but showed dramatic improvement in the latter stages and qualified for a playoff position in the EIHL by finishing 8th. Sheffield Steelers
Sheffield Steelers
The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
defeated the Capitals 8-2 in the Quarter Final first leg, with the Capitals defeating the Steelers 5-4 in the return leg (12-7 on aggregate).
Christiansen's 3rd season in charge was injury plagued, losing key players throughout the season, including himself with a shattered kneecap. But the Capitals showed their battling qualities and set a new franchise record for amount of points in a season (52). They finished 6th in league setting another franchise record. This led to Christiansen being awarded Coach of the Year by the IHJUK. They played the Nottingham Panthers in the playoffs and got a respectable 4-4 draw at home in the first leg but were defeated 5-0 in the second leg (9-4 on aggregate).
Following the departure of Steve Thornton
Steve Thornton
Steve Thornton is a Canadian ice hockey player.- Career :Apart from playing junior hockey with the Gloucester Rangers, college hockey with Boston University and one season in the International Hockey League with the Peoria Rivermen, Thornton's career has been played in Europe...
as coach, the Belfast Giants
Belfast Giants
The Belfast Giants are an ice hockey team from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Home games are played at the 7,100-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast....
swiftly appointed Christiansen as coach for the 2010/11 season. On 1st July 2010, it was announced that Brad Gratton would replace Christiansen as head coach of the Edinburgh Capitals.
The 2010/11 season was a difficult one for the Capitals, which saw Gratton resign from his role as head coach after only four months in the job. It was announced that club owner and general manager, Scott Neil, would take over as head coach for the remainder of the season. This was, however, followed by a string of eight import players leaving the Capitals over the course of the season due to club financial difficulties. The Capitals finished the season bottom of the Elite League, recording only 6 wins and 15 points.
It was announced on 5th June 2011 that after nine seasons with the Edinburgh Capitals, club captain Martin Cingel was moving on to the Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix are a professional ice hockey team from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in...
of the English Premier Ice Hockey League
English Premier Ice Hockey League
The English Premier Ice Hockey League commonly abbreviated to EPIHL, or simply EPL, is a senior ice hockey league in England, and is run and administered by the English Ice Hockey Association...
.
On the 16th August 2011 it was announced that experienced, Slovakian
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
forward, Richard Hartmann, had signed for the Capitals. It was confirmed on the 24th of August that he would be the new player/coach for the club, becoming the Edinburgh Capitals' first European coach.
Management restructure
After 13 years as sole owner of the Edinburgh Capitals, it was announced that there would be a restructuring of management. Local businessmen Raymond Lumsden and Matthew Tailford would be joining Scott Neil as co-owners - forming a management team which would also include the Capitals WebmasterWebmaster
A webmaster , also called a web architect, web developer, site author, or website administrator is a person responsible for maintaining one or many websites...
, Keith Butland.
On 26th September 2011, it was announced that Scott Neil would be stepping down as General Manager of the Edinburgh Capitals, and would be replaced by business advisor, Len Wilcox. It was revealed that Neil would remain at the club as co-owner and Hockey Director. It later transpired that negotiations with Wilcox and Lumsden had broken down and that neither would be involved with the club.
On 5th October 2011 it was announced that Matthew Tailford, would be taking over the role of General Manager.
Club Roster 2011/12
| Goaltenders | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | |Player | Catches | Acquired | Place of Birth | |
| 1 | Nathan Craze Nathan Craze Nathan Craze is a professional ice hockey netminder currently playing for the Edinburgh Capitals in the Elite Ice Hockey League. He has also played for the Great Britain Under-18 and Under-20 national team.... |
L | 2011 | Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of... , Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
|
| 33 | Craig Holland | L | 2009 | Buckhaven Buckhaven Buckhaven is a coastal town on the east coast of Fife, Scotland, on the Firth of Forth between East Wemyss and Methil. Its inhabitants sometimes refer to it as Buckhind or Buckhine... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
|
| 34 | Kevin Forshall | 2000 | Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
| Defencemen | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | |Player | Shoots | Acquired | Place of Birth | |
| 14 | Daniel McIntyre - A | R | 2010 | Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
|
| 18 | Joel Gautschi - Two-way contract Two-way contract A two-way contract is a professional sports contract which stipulates that an athlete’s salary is dependent upon the league in which the athlete is assigned to play in... |
2011 | Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
||
| 24 |  |
Jan Safar - C Captain (ice hockey) In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey... |
L | 2010 | Prague Prague Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million... , Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... |
| 44 | Frazer Goldie - Two-way contract Two-way contract A two-way contract is a professional sports contract which stipulates that an athlete’s salary is dependent upon the league in which the athlete is assigned to play in... |
L | 2011 | Irvine Irvine, North Ayrshire Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire.... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
|
| 55 |  |
Tomas Valecko | L | 2011 | Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
| 76 | |
Martin Petrina | R | 2011 | Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
| 98 | |
Jozef Sladok | L | 2011 | Zvolen Zvolen Zvolen |Slatina]] rivers, close to Banská Bystrica. With its ancient castle, the town has a historical center, which represents the seat of an okres .-History:... , Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
| Forwards | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | |Player | Shoots | Position | Acquired | Place of Birth | |
| 8 | |
Jiri Hanzal | L | C | 2011 | Ceské Budejovice Ceské Budejovice České Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences... , Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... |
| 9 | Bari McKenzie - A | R | F | 2010 | Dumfries Dumfries Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
|
| 10 | Ian Blake | F | 2010 | Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
||
| 11 | Jordan Steel | R | F | 2007 | Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
|
| 13 | |
Peter Holecko | L | RW | 2011 | Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
| 17 | |
Richard Hartmann | L | C | 2011 | Bratislava Bratislava Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava... , Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
| 19 | Iain Beattie - Two-way contract Two-way contract A two-way contract is a professional sports contract which stipulates that an athlete’s salary is dependent upon the league in which the athlete is assigned to play in... |
L | F | 2011 | Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
|
| 27 |  |
Marcis Zembergs | R | LW/RW | 2011 | Riga Riga Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,... , Latvia Latvia Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden... |
| 35 | |
René Jarolin | L | F | 2011 | Skalica Skalica Skalica is the largest city in Skalica District in western Slovakia in the Záhorie region. Located near the Czech border, Skalica has a population of 14,963 .-History:... , Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
| 91 |  |
Sean Menton | R | RW | 2011 | Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... , U.S.A. |
Honours and awards
Retired Jerseys- Number 21 worn by Chris KellandChris KellandChris Kelland is a retired Canadian ice hockey defender who played his entire professional career in the United Kingdom. He also played for the Great Britain national team between 1991 and 1994. He was inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002...
. On 15 December 2007, Kelland became the first player to have his jersey retired at Murrayfield after playing for the RacersMurrayfield RacersThe Murrayfield Racers were an ice hockey team in Edinburgh, Scotland, founded in 1952 changing their name to the Racers in 1966. The team won the British Championship 4 times in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972...
for 10 seasons, totaling 676 points in 310 games.
Hall Of Fame
- Owner of the Capitals Scott NeilScott NeilAndrew Scott Neil, known as Scott Neil, is a retired British ice hockey player who played in the United Kingdom between 1985 and 2002. He also played for the Great Britain national team between 1989 and 1994...
was inducted into British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.
2000/01
- FBNL All-Star 2nd Team - Steven Lynch
2001/02
- FBNL All-Star 2nd Team - Jason LafreniereJason LafreniereJason Lafreniere is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 146 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, and Quebec Nordiques....
2002/03
- FBNL All-Star Team - Jan Krajicek
2003/04
- FBNL Player of The Year - Tony HandPlayer of the Year Trophy (IHJUK)The Player of the Year Trophy is an award given by Ice Hockey Journalists UK to the MVP in the Elite League and the English Premier League at the end of each season. In previous seasons it has been awarded to players in the British Hockey League's Premier and First Divisions, the Super League and...
- FBNL All-Star Team - Tony Hand & Adrian Saul
- FBNL All-Star 2nd Team - Ladislav KudrnaLadislav KudrnaLadislav Kudrna is a professional ice hockey player. He played for the Hull Stingrays in the 07/08 season, and has recently signed a contract with the Swindon Wildcats of the EPL for the 08/09 campaign. He ended the 06/07 season by playing in two playoff games for Newcastle Vipers against the...
, Jan Krajicek & Steven Kaye
2004/05
- FBNL All-Star Team - Dino Bauba
2005/06
- EIHL Second Team All-Star - Tony Hand
- Best British Forward - Tony Hand
- Ice Hockey Annual Trophy - Tony Hand
2006/07
- British Netminder of the Year - Stephen Murphy
2007/08
- Vic Batchelder Memorial Award - Mark Garside
2008/09
- EIHL All-Star Team - Mark Hurtubise
2009/10
- EIHL Second Team All-Star - Owen Fussey
- EIHL Newcomer of the Year - Owen FusseyOwen FusseyOwen Fussey is a Canadian ice hockey forward, currently playing for the Coventry Blaze of the British Elite Ice Hockey League.He was selected 90th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals....
- Coach of the Year - Doug ChristiansenCoach of the Year Trophy (IHJUK)The Coach of the Year Trophy is an award given by Ice Hockey Journalists UK to the best coach in the Elite League and the English Premier League at the end of each season. In previous seasons it has been awarded to coaches in the British Hockey League's Premier and First Divisions, the Super League...