Edinburgh Capitals
The Edinburgh Capitals are a Scottish ice hockey club, playing in the Scottish National League. They are based in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. The team play at the Murrayfield Ice Rink, close to Murrayfield Rugby stadium.
In April 2018, a consortium led by David Hand won the contract for ice time at Murrayfield, effectively rendering the Capitals homeless.
The newly formed Murrayfield Racers applied to join the EIHL and take the Capitals' place but were rejected, plunging the future of top level ice hockey in the city into jeopardy.
The Racers were subsequently accepted into the Scottish National League instead, where they remained until 2022.
However, in July 2022, four years after the Capitals had folded, it was announced that Murrayfield Ice Rink had new management and that the Edinburgh Capitals would return to play in the Scottish National League.
History
BNL years
The Edinburgh Capitals were founded in 1998, following the collapse of the Murrayfield Royals, replacing them in the British National League.The first three seasons for the new Edinburgh team were largely unsuccessful, finishing 8th out of 9 in their inaugural season, 8th out of 10 in their second season, and 9th out of 10 in their third season.
The Capitals would receive a massive boost for the 2001–02 season, with the signings of former NHLer, Jason Lafreniere, and SM-Liiga player, Roland Carlsson. That year the club finished seventh out of 12, with Lafreniere amassing 88 points in 44 games. The following summer saw Lafreniere leave the Capitals to join league rivals, the Guildford Flames.
Over the following three seasons, the club developed a European style of hockey, recruiting most of their imports from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Among those included fan favourites, Jan Krajíček, Ladislav Kudrna, Peter Konder and long-serving captain, Martin Cingel. The 2002–03 season also marked the arrival of the popular, Elmira College graduates, Steven Kaye and Adrian Saul. The club once again made a mid-table finish, ending the season in 6th place out of 10.
The 2003–04 season saw the Capitals make a blockbuster signing. Former Murrayfield Racers legend and league winning player and coach, Tony Hand, would be returning to Edinburgh after leaving the Dundee Stars. Under Hand, the Capitals would accomplish their best ever league position, finishing third out of seven and for the first time, make the playoff semi-finals. The forward line of Hand, Saul and Kaye would top the scoring charts, with the trio finishing as first, second and third top point scorers in the league. Adrian Saul would also finish as the league's top goal scorer, with 31 goals in 35 games.
The 2004–05 season was a very disappointing one for the club. During the summer, the league's deadliest line from the previous season was split up, with Hand signing for the Elite League's Belfast Giants, Steven Kaye moving to French side Morzine-Avoriaz, and Adrian Saul moving to the club's biggest rivals, the Fife Flyers. Ladislav Kudrna, the team's goalie from the previous two seasons would also switch teams, moving to Yorkshire based Hull Stingrays. The Capitals would finish this season in last place, recording only six wins, making it the club's worst season in the league.
The step up to the EIHL
Early EIHL seasons
Following the 2004–05 British National League season, the Capitals and Newcastle Vipers applied to join the Elite Ice Hockey League, however both clubs withdrew their offers to make a joint application with the other remaining BNL clubs. Terms could not be reached between the Elite League and the BNL teams, so the Capitals and Vipers returned to their initial offers. Both clubs were accepted into the Elite League for the 2005–06 season. The BNL subsequently disbanded and the remaining teams moved into other leagues.This season saw the return of Tony Hand as player/coach, after taking the Giants to a 2nd-place finish during the previous year. In the regular season, the team finished last with 23 points in 42 games. Due to the London Racers folding mid-season, the Capitals made the playoffs by default and were placed in a group with Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers and eventual 2005–06 playoff champions, Newcastle Vipers. The team finished bottom of the group with two points in six playoff games.
For the 2006–07 season, Scott Neil took over as head coach after Hand signed as player/coach for the league newcomers, Manchester Phoenix. In the regular season, the team finished tied for last place with Hull Stingrays, with 39 points in 54 games.
In the summer of 2007, the club made the announcement that 29 year old, American forward, Doug Christiansen, would be the team's player/coach for the 2007–08 season. Under Christiansen, the Capitals qualified for the Elite League Playoffs for the first time, finishing 8th in the league and picking up 41 points. They were seeded against League champions, Coventry Blaze, who defeated the Capitals 1–0 at Murrayfield and 3–2 at the SkyDome Arena at the Quarter Final stage of the competition.
Christiansen was re-signed by the Capitals for season 2008–09, however the team struggled near the foot of the table for the first half of the season. The Capitals showed dramatic improvement in the latter stages and qualified for a playoff position by finishing 8th for the second year in a row. League champions, Sheffield Steelers, defeated the Capitals 8–2 in the Quarter Final first leg, with the Capitals defeating the Steelers 5–4 at Murrayfield in the return leg. This season was notable in particular for the skill and contribution of Mark Hurtubise, who finished as the league's top point scorer, recording 89 points in 54 games. Hurtubise also made the Elite League All-Star Team.
Christiansen's 3rd season in charge was injury plagued, losing key players throughout the season, including himself with a shattered kneecap in the first game of the season. But the Capitals showed their battling qualities and set a new franchise record for number of points in a season. 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.
2010–11 season and management changes
Following the departure of Steve Thornton as coach, the Belfast Giants swiftly appointed Christiansen as coach for the 2010–11 season. On 1 July 2010, it was announced that Brad Gratton would replace Christiansen as head coach of the Edinburgh Capitals.The 2010–11 season was an especially 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 lost the remainder of their games and finished the season bottom of the Elite League. They recorded only six wins and 15 points and failed to make the playoffs, making it the club's worst season to date.
There was further uncertainty when it was announced on 5 June 2011, that after nine seasons with the Edinburgh Capitals, loyal club captain, Martin Cingel, was moving on to the Manchester Phoenix of the English Premier Ice Hockey League.
After 13 years as sole owner of the club, 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 Webmaster, Keith Butland.
On 26 September 2011, it was announced that Scott Neil would be stepping down as general manager of the club, 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.
However, on 5 October 2011 it was announced that Matthew Tailford would be taking up the additional role of general manager. A further addition to the management team was announced on 27 January 2012 as George Ferdinando would become the latest shareholder of the club.
2011–12 season
On 16 August 2011 it was announced that experienced, Slovakian forward, Richard Hartmann, had signed for the Capitals for the 2011–12 season. It was confirmed on 24 August that he would also take on the role of head coach, becoming the club's first European coach.Under Hartmann, the club would once again return to a predominantly European style of hockey, signing all but one of their imports from Slovakia, Czech Republic or Latvia – something unique to the Elite League. After a promising first half of the season, the club suffered a string of injuries and a loss of momentum, which resulted in the team finishing in 9th place and, once again, failing to make the playoffs. The season went out with a bang however, with the last game being against the old enemy, Fife Flyers, who had finished bottom in the league. The game finished 11–3 in favour of the Capitals, but was also notable for the number of fights and incidents, including a bench clearance, a player's jersey being thrown into the Fife support, and several players being thrown out of the game.
It was announced on 22 December 2011 that Richard Hartmann had agreed terms to return as player/head coach for the 2012–13 season. This positive news was followed on 5 February 2011 with the announcement that fan favourite, and league top goalscorer, René Jarolín, would also return for the 2012–13 season. Jarolín would be rewarded for his season's effort by being named to the EIHL Second All-Star Team.