Ice Hockey: Cingel pays tribute to fans as Capitals continue slide

Published on Monday 21 February 2011 10:42

Dejected Edinburgh Capitals skipper Martin Cingel admitted his frustration today after as the Murrayfield ice hockey side lost their 21st game in a row.

A mass exodus of foreign players has contributed to their slide down to the bottom of the table and Capitals have now won only six of their 45 games.

They are nine points adrift of second-bottom Newcastle Vipers and almost certainly counted out of the end-of- season play-offs.

Cingel, now in his ninth season with the club, praised the club's loyal fans for sticking with the cash-strapped club but admitted: "It's been a really tough couple of months. We can maybe score a couple of goals, but that's it."

The popular Slovakian sniper, reflecting on Sunday's demoralising 10-2 defeat by Vipers, added: "Credit to Newcastle as they played with two lines and kept playing but the mental state of the team just now is poor because were on a losing streak and it's very difficult.

"All the guys are giving 100 per cent week-in, week-out against 12 imports and three or four lines and it is impossible to compete."

"We've got a few games left and, right now, positives are tough to find. The young guys are getting ice time and experience and that is one of the only positives."

The loyal servant added: "There's more games to play. We can try our best but there is a line and you're losing your legs, you're energy and everything. You just can't keep up with these guys."

On Saturday at league rookies Braehead - who won 15-0 - Cingel said: "They were holding three lines and it is impossible to catch them. I would like to thank the fans for all their support as they are still cheering."