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.
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.
posted by Doug Christiansen at
20:39
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