Ice Hockey: Little cheer for Capitals or their fans after Cup defeat

However, the result was no real surprise given that only one imported player iced, big defenceman Evan Schafer, and No.?1 netminder Scott Reid was listed on the game sheet but did not play.

Capitals, who won the first leg 7-6 at Murrayfield last Thursday, lost the second eg 13-4.

The roster was made up of home-based players, some of whom have not featured for the Murrayfield men this season or, at best, have only warmed the bench. Even regular back-up netminder, Craig Holland, who lives in Fife and has been present at nearly 30 matches, was not in the squad. David Jackson was the man between the pipes.

Granted, it is vital to give emerging players valuable competitive ice time, but one has to question asking punters to turn up to watch an Edinburgh Capitals side, paying 12 a ticket, 8 concessions and 5 for children, with only one star player on the ice.

Dundee, however, went about their business. They rested player/coach Dan Ceman plus regulars Peter Cartwright, Jay Latulippe and Mark Nebus, but the rest played apart from crocked Kris Phillips. A J Mac Lean netted four goals, his best return for the Tayside team so far this season.

John Dolan netted a double against his former club with youngsters Ross MacIntosh and Sam McCluskey also scoring two goals each. Import defenceman Chris Zarb scored twice on his comeback after injury and Steve Makway completed the home side's scoring.

The visitors were outshot 57-33 in a one-sided game with Fife-based Iain Bowie, Midlothian youngster Jordan Steel, who is feeling his way back after a three month absence with an elbow injury, Elgin-born Neil Dolan, who opened his account for the Murrayfield men, and Bari McKenzie from Dumfries, netting. It was McKenzie's second goal for Capitals who were overpowered by a Dundee side looking to warm-up for a vital league clash at Hull Stingrays tomorrow.

Charlie Ward, Stars' director, said: "We can take a lot of positives out of this. A J (MacLean) has not scored four goals for us before, Brent Hughes, our skipper, and Matt Suderman both set-up three goals and some of our young players proved they can survive against an Elite League opposition.

"This will be a night to remember for Ross MacIntosh who scored two and collected two assists. Sam McCluskey also collected two goals and two assists and Craig Findlay assisted on two goals. And teenager James Smith, who is only 16, played a part in two of our goals while Grant Reekie also showed he can play at this level."

As for Capitals, where do they go from here? They travel to Braehead Clan on Thursday (face-off 7.30pm) for a league game and anxious fans will be interested to see what the team will be given the unrest currently in the dressing-room.