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.