Ice Hockey: Has Capitals' time with the Elite not just passed?

Published on Friday 18 March 2011 13:51

MARTIN Cingel blasted the puck into Cardiff Devils net last night and fans are now wondering if that could that be the last goal scored in the Elite League by an Edinburgh Capitals player.

League bosses are due to meet tomorrow to discuss next season and Capitals' record 30-game losing streak situation has caused real concern for rivals clubs.

The curtain came down on the regular season at Murrayfield last night when Devils skated to a comfortable 9-2 victory ,which meant the Scots finished bottom of the table with just 15 points from 54 games.

They won only six and lost 48. What's more, they only scored 134 and let in a record 418 - a staggering 7.74 a game.

Capitals failed to make the end-of-season play-offs by 26 points as Dundee CCS Stars, who are in their debut season, totalled 41 points from 19 wins and 35 defeats.

Second-bottom Newcastle Vipers recorded 12 wins and 42 defeats for 26 points.

Sadly, Edinburgh were well off the pace for most of a nightmare season and the catastrophic collapse followed a mass walkout by foreign players for various reasons.

So, Dundee fans can look forward with keen anticipation to tomorrow night's first-leg play-off tie in Sheffield against the newly-crowned Elite League champions with the return scheduled for Tayside on Saturday (7.00pm).

Braehead Clan, who also joined the league last summer, are also play-off bound. Player/coach Bruce Richardson, voted Coach of the Year by ice hockey journalists, guided his men to fifth place with 28 wins and 26 defeats for 59 points.

Richardson captured the recent 20/20 Cup and is now into a play-off contest with his former club, Nottingham Panthers.

Capitals, the longest-serving Elite League club, and their long-suffering supporters, are out in the cold and face an uncertain future.

Major surgery is required if the team are to become competitive again, but supporters were last night talking about rumours linking the team with Scottish National League hockey next season.

Many would not appreciate that, indeed several said they would not be back, even if it did re-create the rivalry between Capitals and Fife Flyers which used to pack the 4,000 capacity Riversdale rink at Murrayfield.

Scott Neil, Capitals' owner and head coach, promises a fans' forum in the "next two to three weeks" to inform about developments for next season.

And Neil, writing in the club programme, said: "I can confirm it is not all doom and gloom behind the scenes. We are working towards some positive moves for the club. I will look forward to communicating with you all on a more regular basis over the summer."

He added: "Another season comes to an end and there is no hiding that it is a relief for all at the Capitals."I would like to thank everybody for their continued support and especially Jock Hay and Steven Adair and the players for working hard and competing through very difficult circumstances. I know it has been tough for the fans as well and it is greatly appreciated that you have stuck with the team through this time."

The fans were certainly supportive of skipper Cingel when he fired the puck home for Capitals' second goal last night.

It arrived at 36min 50sec on the power play and made the scoreline 7-2. How the fans celebrated. They were on their feet singing: "There's only one Martin Cingel." There is, and he has stuck with this sad project throughout along with Great Britain call-up Jeff Hutchins. They should be commended.

In fact, Capitals will be hosting a dinner/dance on Friday, April 15 (7.30pm-12.30pm) for Cingel at the Riversdale Suite in Murrayfield Ice Rink to celebrate the outstanding commitment, loyalty and contribution that Martin has made to Edinburgh hockey. Tickets are priced at 30 per person to include a two-course meal, speakers and disco.

His strike was one of the best seen this season at the rink and defenceman Kyle Horne struck the first after 16 minutes to make the score 2-1.

Cardiff, however, pulled away with three unanswered goals in four, second-period minutes. Their slick passing sliced through Capitals rearguard and exposed netminder Jens van Poucke. Tim Burrows and Scott Matzka both netted doubles with Mark Smith, the impressive Craig Weller, Mark Richardson, Brad Voth and Stuart Macrae also scoring.

Devils missed out on the league title because of less wins in regulation time - 37 against 40 by Sheffield.

Capitals' defeat No.29 happened at Hull Stingrays on Saturday with former hit-man Jason Silverthorn netting twice.

Seventh-placed Hull outshot Capitals 51-16 and the consolation came from Kyle Horne on the power play after 13 minutes, ironically the opening goal of the game.

Eight goals then hit the visitors' rigging between the 14th and 55th minutes as the sorry tale of woe continued.