Ice Hockey: Jackson does well but can't put out Blaze

The talented teenage netminder, who also played against Dundee Comets in a Scottish National League clash later last night, left the ice to a standing ovation from the dwindling number of home fans.

Jackson, from Glenrothes, was rightly awarded the award of man of the match, despite Capitals being hammered for the fourth fixture running.

The former Dundee Stars netminder played just over 35 minutes and lost eight goals before Craig Holland took over between the pipes.

Holland, who is also from Fife, was reserve to Scott Reid before the much-travelled stopper joined the mass exodus from the cash-strapped club.

He lost four goals leaving Capitals on the wrong end of a 12-2 whipping from Coventry Blaze, the reigning league champions.

Edinburgh lost 15-0 to Blaze in Coventry on Saturday night as fifth-placed Coventry attempted to entertain their 2,213 fans.

And in the last four games short-staffed Capitals, who are down to two imported players - skipper Martin Cingel and experienced forward Jeff Hutchins - have scored five just goals and conceded 55.

Scott Neil, Capitals' owner and head coach, promises fresh blood, probably from Europe, next week.

But Jackson hopes to have made his mark. "It's tough playing with only two imports in a 12-import league," the goalie said.

"I means you face a lot of shots but you've got to keep going.

"I try to keep composed and to concentrate and to forget the goals going in and I hope to take this chance.

"I hear we're getting more players in but I hope to be able to stick around."

And, showing all the stamina and enthusiasm of an up and coming, he continued: "It's tiring playing the Elite League and SNL games but you've got to keep yourself going. I'm enjoying this and hope that I get more chances to show what I can do."

Neil admitted that the recent scorelines were not ideal but he added: "We have to stay positive. The young GB guys are working hard to develop their game and they are enjoying the experience.

"Of course, it's not nice being beaten heavily, but they guys are getting plenty of ice time."

He conceded that it was difficult to play in the Elite League without any import defencemen but added: "You've got to work with what you've got."

And the former Murrayfield Racers star said he sympathised with skipper Cingel and Hutchins. "They are digging deep and, hopefully, their character is showing the way in the dressing room.

"It is difficult to motivate players but they have to set their own goals and work towards them.

"Iain Bowie, for example, has stepped-up recently and if we had had a full roster then the young guys would not have got this chance."

Capitals travel to Fife Flyers tomorrow (face-off 7.30pm) for the opening fixture in the inaugural East Coast Trophy.

Then they return to Elite League duty on Saturday, visiting new league pace-setters Cardiff Devils, who beat Hull Stingrays 3-1 last night after going a goal behind.

They return on Sunday to face Scottish rivals Dundee CCS Stars and Neil added: "It's a long road trip to Cardiff and then we face Dundee - that's tough. Hopefully, we'll have some fresh players in this week to be the backbone of the team."

On Saturday, Blaze won 15-0 with period scores of 3-0, 5-0 and 7-0 and the result was a new Elite League record for the club in terms of most goals in a game and biggest winning margin.

Coventry's fifth goal was their 800th in EIHL regular season games at home and Cingel iced in his 300th EIHL game in all competitions.

Last night, the skipper's goal lit up the rink. It arrived with less than two minutes to go.

The Slovakian forward, a veteran of the club and in his ninth season at Murrayfield, picked up the puck from Hutchins, barged his way through four Blaze players and slotted home to bring the diehards to their feet and end the scoring for the night.

Bowie netted Capitals' other strike after 27 minutes to make the scoreline 4-1.

Coventry were too powerful for the under-strength home line-up and that was underlined by the shots on goal, 46 on Capitals and 16 on Blaze.