Oct 20 2009

It was a tough weekend. Friday was won of the worst losses we have had since I have been here. The guys really started poorly and the Giants took advantage. I was proud of how they battled back to get it to be 4-2 but the Giants got a late goal in the first and really put the nail in the coffin. It reminded me a lot of our bad loss at Basingstoke my first year. Terrible day by everyone, including myself. Belfast scored their 7th goal with just over a minute left in the second. Cody Rudkowsky needed to be pulled and I figured I would let our back-up have the full intermission to warm up. I could not have foreseen what happened next but I wish I had pulled him a minute earlier.

Sunday was a different Capitals team. When our team plays responsible with the puck, we are in every game. The three times this season we lost that we got beat convincingly. The guys played their hearts out on Sunday and came up just short. I was disappointed to not get any points this weekend. The guys are working extremely hard and are really battling to get a good result.

There were a number of positives from the game Sunday. Jordan Steel played very well and is starting to come into his own as a player. He needs to continue to mature but his hockey sense is there. Ben O'Connor played great. He made a few mistakes trying to do too much but he won battles on the boards all night. Ben has always had offensive skill but needed work in his own zone. He is improving and will be one of Great Britain's top defenders soon.

One thing I would like to do, is have some personal interaction with the fans this week. I will be at the Murrayfield Hotel at 6:30 pm on Wednesday night. If anyone cares to join me to have a friendly chat about the Caps you are welcome to come. The first 5 fans who come, I have their first round. I look forward to seeing you Wednesday night.

October 13 2009

Last weekend was definitely a up and down weekend for us. I was given bad news on Saturday before the game regarding the health of Martin Cingel. Martin had flu-like symptoms and was not feeling well. We already had one confirmed case of swine flu in our dressing room and I did not want to risk the health of the team having Martin play. Cingel found out today he does not have swine flu and will be back training this week at some point. I am hoping that this will stop the progress of the illness.

We had a great win on Saturday on the road and came up just short on Sunday. Throughout the weekend a number of players really stepped up. If we continue to battle and work as hard as we did the last two games, we will be a tough team to beat this year.

I personally thought the weekend was very exciting. It was fun to see how our players faced adversity and worked hard to get a result on the road in a very tough place to play. Newcastle are in second place in the league and over the course of two nights we played step for step with them(outscoring them 4-3). If we only give up 1.5. goals a game over the course of the season, we will win a lot of games!

Our young British players played great! Ben O'Connor did a great job stepping in for Cingel on left wing. Jordan Steel had his best weekend in the 2 plus seasons I have been here. He has shown a great amount of improvement. His challenge is going to be continuing that intensity day in and day out.

What can I say about Andrew Sharp? First, he will have a fight strap from now on! But other than that, he had a phenomenal weekend! He scored the game winning goal on a great shot on a pass from Scott McKenzie. He beat Michel Robinson far side. On Sunday, he had a great fight with Newcastles' top defender and helped motivate the whole team. Sharpy has been working really hard to improve as a player. He has a way to go to achieve his goals but it was great to see him be rewarded for his efforts!

A real bright spot for us has been our team defense. Including the 20/20, we have given up 7 goals in roughly four games not including the empty net against Hull. Our team works incredibly hard in our own end. We built this team from the back, hoping that we would have a top defensive unit. I think we have one.

We are continuing to work hard to improve everyday. The players appreciate your support. We are hoping to continue our push to advance in the Challenge Cup. We are also really excited to re-start our EIHL season on Sunday! We have played a few games but we are ready for the next 53! Should be a great ride!

See you at the Murrayfield Ice Rink at 6pm, Sunday!

Ice Hockey’s Homecoming - The Gardiner Cup

Help celebrate Ice Hockey’s Homecoming with the biggest Ice Hockey event ever to be staged in Scotland

The Edinburgh Capitals, Scotland’s only Elite league Ice Hockey team, are hosting a four team tournament to celebrate Scotland’s contribution to the game of Ice Hockey and “Ice Hockey’s Homecoming”. The teams will be fighting it out to win the Gardiner Cup.

The tournament will feature two American Hockey League (AHL) teams, the Toronto Marlies (AHL Affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) and the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) and 2 UK Elite league teams, the Edinburgh Capitals and the Belfast Giants. It will take place at Murrayfield Ice Rink in Edinburgh. The timetable is below.

· Thursday 24th September - a “head to head” clash between the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Toronto Marlies.

· Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September - a Festival of Ice Hockey, a four team tournament where the best of UK Hockey face off against two of Canada’s top teams.

Scott Neil, the Managing Director of The Edinburgh Capitals, said, “This is an inspiring tournament made possible by the help and support of the City of Edinburgh Council. At a time when we did not think such an ambitious event could be staged in Edinburgh the Council stepped in with their support. We are delighted that such prestigious teams are coming over from Canada and, in addition, the Belfast Giants and we welcome them and their fans to Edinburgh.”

Scott added, “We have also worked with Homecoming Scotland and VisitScotland whose help and advice has made this dream become a reality.”

The Gardiner Cup celebrates the life of Charles ‘Chuck’ Gardiner. Known as the wandering Scotsman, he was one of the games pre-eminent goal tenders during the 1920’s and 30’s. Born in Edinburgh, on Henderson Row, he then moved to Canada with his family eventually settling in Winnipeg. He attained NHL stardom with the Chicago Blackhawks where he guarded the cage from 1927 – 1934. Prior to his untimely death in 1934 he led the Blackhawks to their first Stanley cup win and in 1945 was the first Scot to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Naming the tournament cup after this great player seemed a fitting accolade for Chuck and his family.

In Scotland’s year of Homecoming it is only fitting that a game that Scottish people played a key role in inventing comes home. This is the highest level of competitive ice hockey to be seen in Scotland and without the support of our sponsors this event would not have been possible.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh, said, "We're in for a fabulous and unprecedented spectacle here in September with the arrival of these two top ice hockey teams from Canada. This will be the first time an event like this has taken place in the UK so it really is hats off to Edinburgh Capitals for making it happen. "Ice Hockey's Homecoming" will showcase the sport being played at the very highest levels and will undoubtedly inspire many of our young people to get involved in the sport. Yet again we are proud to demonstrate to the watching world that Edinburgh truly excels at delivering premier events."

The Scottish people have given the world many great things. Imagine a world without the television, telephones, computer games, and golf. Scottish immigrants to Canada helped to invent the great game of Ice Hockey and this tournament celebrates this contribution to the fastest team sport on the planet.

Peter Lederer, Chairman of VisitScotland, said, “Canada is an important market for Scotland with around 120,000 visitors coming here every year. This tournament will not only bring direct benefit to Edinburgh through the teams and supporters staying in the city but will also allow Scotland to be showcased across the world during a time when Homecoming events are happening across the country.”

Holiday Inn Edinburgh is the official accommodation partner for the tournament. It is the largest hotel in Edinburgh with 303 bedrooms. General Manager Philip Counsell said, “We are extremely excited to be a part of this unique event. Not only do we look forward to hosting the Visiting Teams but also the fans and families that this type of tournament will attract.”
Help celebrate Ice Hockey’s Homecoming to Scotland

For full details of the event and to purchase tickets go to www.icehockeyshomecoming.com and be part of this unique sporting event.

New Interview

I recently did an interview. I thought I would share it with our fans.
1. Now all the teams have already qualified for the playoffs, what are the aims of the season for the Caps? To improve as an organzation first and foremost. This is going to be the hardest year for us. Hull is better with the assistance of added revenue and a new coach. Newcastle seems to have some exciting new players and the rest are consistent winners and larger budgets. Its going to be a battle and if we can keep a nucleus of what we had last year we could surprise some people.

2. If you could sign one player from the EIHL who would it be and why? Jody Lehman. He was the best player in the league last year and completely separated Sheffield from everyone else. Of the returning players in the league, I would love to have Weaver, he is so good and he competes.

3. JF Perras was fantastic for you but then failed to impress most people at Coventry, any thoughts behind this? How do you fill those shoes? Coventry finished second and he was a failure, thats a lot of pressure. I am sure he would like to have a few goals back but it is a team game and he helped them finish second in the league.

4. Out of the last 2 seasons as coach, which brought the most pleasure in making the playoffs? Both were special. Year 1 was the first time in franchise history and that was great for our fans and for the team but last years team was a special group of men. People would never believe the adversity we went through even if we told them. The players in our room took a bad situation and took it upon themselves to change it.

5. How close did the team come to folding last season? Close enough that I was looking for a job.

6. Whats been the highlight of your career so far? My first call up to the AHL. I had a tough couple seasons and I did not quit. Getting to the AHL as an undrafted free agent was worth all the hard work.

7. Best player you've played with and against? With-Mike Green from the Washington Capitals. Against-Eric Staal from the Carolina Hurricanes.

8. What does a normal week in the life of Doug Christiansen entail (during the season!) Monday is using a day of rest. I try to catch up on email and blogs. I do our program article, watch the video of the previous weekends games, and get ready for the next week of practice. I encourage our players to meet somewhere and enjoy Edinburgh. Tuesday we usually have a workout during the day and then I will go home and prepare that nights practice. Tuesday is either very hard or fun depending on the mood of the players and the results of the weekend. Wednesday we skate during the day and usually it is individual skill work or powerplay. Wednesday night, I usually try to build a scouting report for the weekend by watching video and doing research on our opponents. Thursday, we have a team practice focusing on Saturdays opponent and our own game plan. Usually, there is lots of PP and PK. Friday is usually a light skate getting ready for the weekend. We might make a couple adjustments based upon the previous night and get ready for the trip. Saturday is usually a road game for us. Our trips are long. I try to sleep much of the way. I wake up about an hour before we arrive and put together my game card. I have learned not to do it the night before because a lot can change in a day(sickness, etc). I try to have our players as prepared as possible. I think they need to be because I am a player-coach and it is harder to run a game plan if they are not already prepared. After the game, food and a long way back to Scotland. We often arrive in the wee hours. I will watch film or just relax on the way home. I then wake up and get ready to do it all over again at home.

You don't have to answer this one!
Thommo gave Ben O'Connor some stick over his departure from the Blaze, what are your thoughts on his departure and subsequent arrival back at Edinburgh? Was Ben just un-happy in Coventry?

I cannot answer whether or not Ben was unhappy in Coventry because I do not know. I do know that Ben really enjoyed Edinburgh and enjoyed being close to his mother who travelled up for games often with his sister. Ben was a popular player in Edinburgh and he made some great friendships with his teammates.

I have a great amount of respect for Paul Thompson and the job he does in Coventry. I was very close to wearing the Blaze jersey 3 years ago and if I did, I am sure I would have loved it. Coventry has great fans and they high level of success. Paul Thompson is the key to that. I was upset when Ben left us last year, so I know exactly how he feels. Ben contacted us about coming back and having20lost a great young defender in Craig Mitchell to Hull we needed a good British d-man. It made sense for us to try to bring him in.

I will add that I think that is a real sign of progress for our club that a player of Ben's stature would return to Edinburgh. For a long time the top clubs have waited for the best British talent to develop in smaller clubs and then sign them. Ben and Mark Garside in Edinburgh really show that the players who come to Edinburgh like it and think they can develop there and have a chance to win. When I took the job, Edinburgh needed a culture change. The two of them in a Capitals jersey show how far we have come. I hope it is a harbinger of things to come.

Real Fantasy Team?

Want your own real life fantasy team? You pick the players, you decide how much they make, you play for the team, and for better of worse...you live with the results. You do this all while thousands of people cheer, judge, scorn, swear, and sing. Well that is my job. It is beyond rewarding while being hair-pullingly stressful. It makes you a villian or a hero on a nightly basis. But you know what...it is a dream come true.

I can vividly remember playing a Nintendo game called Baseball Stars where you made your own team, drafting players, and playing them in a league. I loved it. I ate it up. I would fire guys for strike outs. I was ruthless. Then time tempered me and I got to playing NHL for Play Station where you can develop yourself. I took my dictator ruthlessness and turned it into a full fledge hockey fantasy. I made myself and NHL player. Man was I unrealistic. I gave myself 99 speed. For those of you who know me, I am in reality, a 34. Or a 3.4. Also, I was skinny. Skinny like Lindsay Lohan(I am probably skinny like Will Farrell.) That was just me kidding myself. But here I am, not playing a video game. Not playing fantasy....rather, I am building a team of men. That is just where the intrigue will begin......

As a way to promote the Edinburgh Capitals and the Elite Ice Hockey League I am going to be blogging on a more regular basis this summer. I hope to educate you on the day-to-day movements of a professional player coach. I will cover everything from how I find players, how I train, what I do encourage players to come overseas. You will learn everyday for me in the summer is manic.

You will understand why I put over 3000 minutes on my phone each month last summer and countless hours on the computer. I actually budget for a driving ticket using a cell phone. Days are spent on the move and always have to be ready to take the call that might land the league's leading scorer, like Edinburgh did last season.

If you follow the Caps or are just a fan of ice hockey you will find what the real life of a pro hockey coach is like in the summer. There is no off-season.

Stay tuned...next time we will discuss how I spent the first day after I re-signed for my 3rd season with the Edinburgh Capitals.

Loss of a dear friend Maggie Sheach

It is with extreme sadness that I am writing this blog. I just found out the news of Maggie's passing. I know there is nothing that I can say or do that will ease the pain for the Sheach family. With that understanding, I would like to pass on a story that portrays the quality of Maggie and her family.

As most people know the addition of fans to the team bus was something that I opposed strongly, as I believe it is a spot for the team only like the dressing room. Following the loss of our main sponsor, we needed to trim costs and adding fans to the bus was necessary. Andi and Maggie Sheach knew my views on this topic and were willing to organize the buses and the fans on the bus for the remainder of the season. They did so knowing my concerns and took it upon themselves to make sure everything went according to plan.

For much of the season the players and I did not know that she was sick because of how happy she was and how she was able to deal with 20 hockey players watching movies until the early morning hours. It was not until the final road trip of the regular season to Hull that we found out the sad news.

Andi asked me earlier in the week before the Hull trip if it was ok for them to buy the players celebratory beer for all we had done for them this season. I told him that we did not need that but that it was a wonderful gesture and if he really wanted to we would not turn down such an offer.

After defeating Hull, Andi gave us the beer and handed me a note from his mother to the team. The note spoke of how much we gave her this season by winning down the stretch and being apart of it while being on the bus. She felt like she was on the team. Her emotional letter left our team silent and shocked because of how supportive she was to the players and myself. The note spoke of how proud she was of us and how great the men on our team were. It was a powerful and moving note, one that I still have today.

The following weekend, Andi and Maggie were unable to attend the playoff series because of her illness. Her last day with the team was that Hull trip. She became a part of the team this season. Win or lose she was smiling, even though she was battling so much. Maggie was a special woman and raised a great family, especially Andi, who I got to know very well.

Maggie Sheach will be missed on the Capitals bus, not just because she was a supporter, but rather because she made us better men by being around her. Melissa and I would like to express our condolences to the Sheach family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Rollar Coaster Ends Dramatically

Last night was a great win for the team. We played our hearts out all weekend and probably deserved more than just two points. I am very proud of each and every player. It was great to see so many Capitals fans supporting the team on our goal of the play-offs. We have a long way to go but we are determined to achieve our season long goal.

For those who were unable to attend the Awards dinner I have included my speech from it to help you know more about how special this team is and why we have been successful down the stretch.


"I understand that the coaches’ award is supposed to be a simple individual selection, however, it is not. It is in fact very difficult this season. No body knows how difficult this season has been other than Scott Neil, the players, and those closest to those people.

Tonight we sit with 36 points in the league in 8th place. We are ahead of where we were last year with this many games remaining. We are determined to make the playoffs for the second straight season.

I would like to tell you more about this season and why this years coaches award is different that most others.

This season we did not have a training camp because of the collapse of Zoom Airlines and the change in the UK immigration laws. Only a week into the season, a player I signed to be one of our best, left the team and shortly there after we lost another solid player in John Dolan. The season was falling apart before we even started.

As the summer sun faded, so did our arrangement with our title sponsor. The money they pledged never showed up. As a result, in this very room, before practice, I told all the players they were given their two weeks notice. We needed to cut budget and I needed to know who wanted to leave. The end result of that meeting were that Nimmo and Robinson would be gone. Eventually, Hutchins and Rajcack would leave as well because of that meeting. The lack of funding resulted in players taking less money and our teams’ payroll being cut by over 30%. The UK border changed its laws again and made it harder for any non-EU’s to enter the country. It required an application that cost money. We did not have the funds to replace the players we lost.

By early January, we had lost one starting goalie, one top 4 defender, and 7 forwards. We were a team on the verge of collapse almost on a weekly basis.

The problem was not caused by the management rather it was because we operated on a budget that was based upon sponsorship money coming in that no longer came.

After that meeting, where in essence every player was released or fired, I asked the players if they wanted to practice. To a man, they wanted to. That meeting whether we realized it or not was the turning point in the season.

The next month was not easy. We conceded double digits to Coventry at home. We then lost twice in a row to Basingstoke. The following weekend we lost 9-0 in Cardiff. It was the first time since I got the job that I was scared to come to the office for fear of being fired. Finally, the came the lowest point. Buoyed by a sponsor paying for Jeff Hutchins salary we had a new player coming in for a game against Coventry. Few people know this but we drove our own cars to the game. It was the road game from hell. My car broke down on the way, a big part of me wishes I had not made it because we lost 10-2 and conceded a shocking 4 short-handed goals. We were as low as we could have been and our reward was another car trip to Newcastle the next day. As warm ups approached our sticks we stuck in traffic. The game was delay 40 minutes for us to get our sticks and shockingly we won 4-1. From that game, two of our team sayings originated. “’Get in the car and drive to Coventry’ and ‘Just play.’”

Over the next couple months, players waited patiently for their turn for new skates, or a new washing machine. The players spent more time with one another away from the rink. They welcomed in Perkins, Pasi…and eventually Bonello and Cass.

I am convinced that the team for over half the season was a house of cards. Had one more player left, the entire group would have followed. Not often do you work with a group of special, selfless men. I have had the fortune of that this season. It is because of these men, that you have a team. It is because of these men, we will make the play-offs, and it is because of these men you should be proud to be a Capital Fan.

These 12 men have been with the club uninterrupted for the whole season. They are the winners of this years coaches’ award. The Dirty Dozen.

Mark Hurtubise, Martin Cingel, Taylor Christie, Joe Dustin, Mark Garside, Mark McGill, Adam Stefishen, Neil Hay, Kyle Horne, Mark Paterson, Craig Mitchell, and Jordan Steele."


Thank you for your support. See you Saturday.