Hartmann plays it cool over Caps signing overseas stars

Edinburgh Capitals player-coach Richard Hartmann has urged fans to remain patient as he finalises deals to bring in quality players from overseas ahead of the new Elite League ice hockey season.

Speaking after the club 
announced the signing of promising young Scottish 
defender Willie Nicolson from rivals Fife Flyers, Hartmann said: “I would ask our fans to please remain patient. Some other teams have built formidable squads and we are working to build a team that can compete. There are very good reasons why we are waiting and we are keeping a good part of our budget for some quality 
additions.”

With the first game less than a month away, rival teams are looking to add one or two players to their roster, whilst Edinburgh still have space in their squad for seven additional foreign stars to accompany the four already signed up.

Hartmann continued: “I 
appreciate this may be frustrating for fans but we are doing this in the club’s best interest, to get the best team we possibly can.”

This season, the league’s ten teams have been split into two Conferences. The Capitals will compete in the Gardiner Conference, named after Edinburgh-born NHL hall-of-fame goalie Charlie Gardiner.