Futurity Partnership Edinburgh Capitals BLOG

End of year blog

2008-05-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

Doug sent this to post on the blog:

"It is hard to believe that 11 months have passed since I accepted Scott Neil's offer of being the Director of Hockey Operations for the Edinburgh Capitals. I can vividly recall making calls to complete strangers named Colin, J.F., Adam, Mike (etc) trying to persuade them to play professional hockey in your city. A city I called home for the last year. Those names became faces, and those faces became teammates, and as a team we accomplished more than any other Edinburgh Capitals team has ever done. It was a season full of ups and downs and it was never boring. The Edinburgh Capitals are better off today than they were a year ago.

First of all I would like to thank all of you for your support and help throughout this season. We would not have accomplished so much without your faith and positive energy. The people of Edinburgh have been nothing but welcoming and sincere.

I am fully aware of the speculation regarding my negotiations with Scott. I would also like to inform you that Scott and I have had many discussions especially this last week in an effort to bring me back next season. It is a difficult situation for everyone. I love Edinburgh and enjoy the challenge that we have here. It is also an ocean away from my loved ones. That being said, it is a city that I could stay for a long time. These are all factors that have become a centerpiece in my discussions with Scott.

Scott needs to make sure that the most recent league regulations are going to help us succeed. He has a firm desire to use this season as a springboard for things to come. As an owner, he needs to make the organization move forward in a way that makes business sense.

Our talks were largely speculative until the league meeting last Wednesday. Scott wanted to know the financial structure of the league next season in order to understand what was going to be needed of him in order to field a strong team. I needed to know that if I were to come back would not "just be fielding a team," but rather, to have a team that can build off of last season. I need to know that we will do everything in our power to compete for silverware. I know that is what the fans pay their hard earned money for, and that is what I thrive off as a competitor.

Thank you all for making 2007-2008 the memorable year it was. I hope to see you all again in the fall! "

Final Regular Season weekend/ Congratulations

2008-03-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that the year is coming to a close. The regular season has just one weekend remaining. Of course, everyone knows the importance of the games. As a result of Belfast's victory against the Bison last night, if we win in regulation Sunday, we are in. We have a chance on Saturday as well if we win and Basingstoke loses. I am sure our fans are going to be louder than ever. Regardless of what anyone says, Sunday is a playoff game! In fact, it is Game 7.

Bring a friend, bring all your friends! It is going to be a great game. It is a great opportunity for everyone to see a game that does not happen often in sports: an elimination game. I am thrilled to be having the game in our rink in front of our fans!

A large congratulations are in order for the Murrayfield under 20 team which won their League Championship. It is great to see that the future of the Capitals is secure.

Iain Bowie will not be with us this weekend as he is gone with the National Under 18 team. The team is playing in Estonia. It is a great opportunity for him and I am sure he will have a great amount of success against players his own age. He has developed a lot as a player this year and has earned the right to represent Great Britain in international competition. We will miss him in the line up this weekend.

I would like to personally thank all of you for your support. It has been an up and down year, but I am as excited as anyone to get this weekend started!

Up and down week, Dino

2008-03-13T04:54:00.000-07:00

This week has been a roller coaster in terms of results. We lost a game against Hull, who was a team we had hoped to beat to solidify our playoff chances. Then we beat a team we have struggled against, Manchester, in a game that was a true nail biter. Last night, we lost to Cardiff in a game where nothing seemed to go the way we wanted it to.

Of course, we are not happy with just 2 points from those 3 games but we have done what was necessary to increase our lead for the 8th playoff position. Hopefully, Sunday we can beat Manchester again and really put the pressure on Basingstoke.

Dino Bauba may not return this season. I am hopeful that we can get him back but this is the same injury he suffered earlier in the year that kept him our for almost 3 months. Therefore, I am not expecting him back.

I am looking forward to seeing you all at our Awards Dinner on Friday night at the Murrayfield. It will be a great way to cap off an exciting year and encourage many of the players to come back next season.

It is hard to imagine that there are only 3 games left in the regular season. We have come along way. We could never have gotten to this position without all the support that we have received from the fans. I hope that we can give you the gift of a home play-off game, something that has been lacking in Scotland for too long!

Playoff Chase, Dino, Premier Executive Travel

2008-03-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was the first four point road weekend the Capitals have had in the Elite League. It was a huge weekend and really pushed us in the direction of the coveted playoff spot. We have a long way to go but I was extremely proud of the effort that the players gave. JF Perras was once again outstanding. Colin Hemingway was dominant and Martin Cingel continued to lead the way. However, it was the team defense that we played in Coventry that pleased me the most. We blocked shots, got pucks out whenever we had a chance, and cleared the front of the net. Adam Stefishen probably had the save of the game blocking a shot from Adam Calder that was definitely going in. Holding the Blaze to one goal in Coventry is a team accomplishment.

As great as last weekend was all it did was help us achieve our goal. We have 6 crucial games to go. This weekend we travel to Hull and are home against Manchester. We will be determined to get points out of this weekend and keep our momentum going.

We will most likely be without Dino Bauba who re-injured his groin on Sunday. Mark Garside has been fantastic in his absence and I am looking forward to him stepping up again.

Finally, I would like to personally thank Tom Malcolm the owner of Premier Executive Travel. Tom played a huge role in our successful weekend against Basingstoke and Coventry. He paid for us to leave on Friday so that we did not have a long travel day on Saturday. This included the bus, hotel, and breakfast. It took many hours out of his busy schedule and he really stepped up. Many of the players told me how vital this was to our success. Anyone who saw those games must know how important every ounce of energy was. If any of you are planning road trips in the future, I suggest you try Tom to show your support of his sponsorship.

March Madness

2008-02-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

It is officially the stretch drive this weekend. With 8 games to go, we are 3 points back of Basingstoke and pushing hard to claw our way back into the top 8. Last weekend, we split again. That brought us two points closer to the Bison. Saturday's game against the Bison is obviously huge for us. We need to play our best hockey.

Basingstoke are a tough team to beat because they have so many talented players. They are short numbers but they have proven that means nothing. They are skilled and dangerous, they play a different style than every other team in the league and that makes preparing for them difficult. Our D-men will be tested both mentally and physically because they often make you lose concentration and that is when they hurt you. I am excited for the game as it is a playoff game!

Saturday's game is getting all the attention, and rightfully so, but Sunday's game is equally important. Coventry will be trying to distance themselves atop the league and take one step closer to the league championship. We beat them the last time we played them in Coventry and I am sure Paul Thompson will have his men ready for us on Sunday.

Finally, I would like to wish all the mothers a Happy Mother's Day! I hope our play this weekend can give you a few smiles!

Regards,

Doug

Play-off Chase/ Crane

2008-02-19T06:44:00.000-08:00

Ten games remain in league play and we are very much alive in the hunt for the play-offs. We are currently 5 points behind Basingstoke and we play them twice more. This week we play Hull at home and Manchester on the road. Hull has struggled recently but they have played some very tight games. I am sure that Saturday's game is going to be a stern test. I know our fans will be loud as always!

Manchester is the team in my mind, other than Basingstoke, that is the key to our play-off aspirations. We play them three more times, twice on the road. I know that Tony Hand will have his team ready as they are trying to climb the standings and pass Cardiff. But we must find a way to beat them!

For me, this time of year is why we play hockey. Every goal is important, every game is crucial. We only have 3 more home games, we need all of your support in those games as we try to claw our way into the play-offs. Having Dino return to the line up was a huge boost with the loss of Mark Wires. Losing Mark was a tough blow to the team, but I was proud of how the team responded.

One player who deserves a lot of credit for our success is Ryan Crane. Ryan has 42 points and is currently 4th in the league for defenders. This past week he had two huge game winning goals. He has consistently been our best D-man. He is not flashy and does not get noticed like many of the other top players in the league. He has really stepped up his play the last two months, especially recently. He is going to be one of the keys to our success the rest of the way. I know he loves the city and is a player who is proud to wear the Capital uniform.

Trip to England, Dino, Knockout Cup

2008-02-11T05:07:00.000-08:00

Beating Nottingham in the National Ice Center was one of the best wins we had all year. J.F. Perras played fantastic. He really was the key. We played very hard, and I think that hurt us on Sunday against Manchester. We did not have the jump that we needed. Give Manchester credit, they played a great game. It was great to see all the Capital fans in Manchester! I wish we could have won the game for you!

Dino skated with the team for the first time last Friday. It is great to have him back around the guys. His personality is really uplifting to the guys. He will be skating all week. He will not play against Coventry and is doubtful for the weekend. However, I will keep my fingers crossed.

Finally, lets beat the Blaze! We are in a semi-final for the first time in Capitals Elite league history. I am very excited by the prospect of bringing a trophy to the fans! We all know you deserve it. I am sure that you will be loud tomorrow night. Of course Coventry in the league leader. But I love being the underdog. They are the ones with all the pressure. We have played much better the 9 weeks, it is just a matter of keeping it going.

I look forward to seeing and hearing all of you this week!

Newcastle

2008-02-04T05:42:00.000-08:00

I thought our game last night was our best team effort of the season. We played very hard for 60 minutes and unlike our previous couple games we had very few mistakes. I was very proud of the effort. I know the players were thrilled after the game. It was a big win for us and helped us climb within 5 points of Basingstoke. There is a lot of hockey to play, but I like the way our team is playing right now. It is the right time of year to be clicking on all cylinders.

Mike Stutzel had a huge game for us last night. Recently, it seems as though every night someone steps up. Of course, three goals were great, but he did a great job in the defensive zone against a very fast line, and he shut them down. I was very happy to see him get his first hat trick overseas.

This weekend we have two tough games on the road. It will be a stern test. I am sure Nottingham is ready to play us after being shutout in Scotland last time we played. After the game against the Panthers, we face the most dangerous line in the league headed by Edinburgh's own, Tony Hand. We play Manchester 4 more times. It is crucial that we play well against them down the stretch.

Basingstoke/Belfast

2008-01-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

Last night we won, but it did not feel like a win. I was very disappointed that we gave up a point. Especially, when we were up 4-2. However, Martin Cingel's goal, was extremely important to keep alive our playoff hopes. We do need help. We need other teams to beat the Bison. Now it is a matter of us focusing on our task at hand and not worry about what happens south of the border.

This weekend we have a huge rivalry game against Newcastle. Every game is crucial for us now. We must find a way to get 2 points. We have for the last 2 months, consistently picked up points every weekend. We need to start getting maximum points and what better time to start than against our bitter rival Newcastle.

Games against Newcastle are always very intense and I am sure this one will not be any different. I am looking forward to hearing you all on Sunday.

I am off to the Q&A with the Supporters Club. I am looking forward to seeing many of you there! I hope that this meeting helps shed some light on the questions that you may have as fans.

Doug

Belfast/Basingstoke

2008-01-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, we played two very tough games. Both nights were one goal games and the fans saw two fast paced games. In my opinion, Sheffield has the fastest team in the league and their worked our players very hard. I thought J.F. Perras was fantastic both nights and kept us in Sunday's game, almost by himself.

This weekend we play the hottest team in the league, the Belfast Giants. The Giants are surging and are definitely a team to be reckoned with. They are healthy and on a mission to knock off Coventry from atop the table. We will have to play our best hockey against them. Last time we played them, it was a 1 goal defeat in Belfast. I am looking forward to having Colin Hemingway back in the line-up to give us that extra push to defeat the Giants.

The Bison 10, as they are starting to be called, come to Edinburgh on Sunday. It should not take much to get the players excited for this game. The Basingstoke Bison have handed us our two most frustrating loses of the season. It is time to change that. Our playoff hopes are directly tied to how we play against them. We need inspired performances from everyone.

Dino Bauba saw a specialist on Monday and is expected to get an injection this week to determine when he will return to the ice. Needless to say, it has been frustrating for all of us who care about the Capitals to have a player out for as long as he has been out. Dino is my teammate. He wants to play. He is getting treatment. It is unethical to de-register a player when they are hurt. However, his recovery has taken longer than any of us hoped. It is my job to make sure that we are informed of any players that became available during the time of his absence.

Our organization is not like Coventry or Nottingham. We do not have the resources many of the other teams in our league have. When we spend money, we must always get value. In order to increase our budget, we need to build our fan base. We need to build our corporate sponsorship. There are many things that we can do as an organization to improve the match night experience and our relationship with the fans. Scott Neil and myself have worked hard this season to improve the team both on and off the ice. Since December 1st this team has played much better. We are playing this season to construct a foundation from which we can build in future years.

In order to build a better club, we must improve our product. Play-offs are still a very realistic goal, as is 9th place. We need to show you, our fans, that we are committed to improving the club. We are one win shy of tying last seasons total for the year. We have advanced in the Knock-out Cup. We came within one game of advancing in the Challenge Cup. The next two months are not just important for this season. It is important for us identifying how we want to develop as an organization.

Almost every team in the league, has most if not all of their players sponsored by either corporations or fans themselves. This added money allows them to field a better team and have a better match night experience. In order to be a contender in the league, we are going to have to make our fans and corporations in Edinburgh get behind us. A prime example, is Ben O'Connor. Had the Castle Arms not gotten involved with the club and aided us in our attempt to sign him, he would not be a Capital. Likewise is true with Fight Strap Hockey. Had they not helped us sign Mike Stutzel, he would not be with us. This is one of the ways our club can improve itself dramatically. This organization, just like all others, can always improve in the area of sponsorship. All our sponsors are vital to our success. Futurity Partnership and P.J. Green have been extremely supportive this season. One area that we lag behind much of the league is player sponsorship. It was in this area, that my conversation post game with Nigel Duncan was regarding.

Currently, I am looking to see if there are players available that can help us, if Dino cannot return. The reason I mentioned to Nigel Duncan that I would love if someone was able to come forward to help, was not because we are going bankrupt or needed to pass the hat. Rather, it was intended to start this conversation. The goal was to make people who enjoy hockey and the Capitals, think about how they can improve our club with us. I am glad we are starting to discuss this. I am hopeful that this conversation will unearth a couple new sponsors.

I have spoken with dozens of fans regarding how we can help make our club better. Some of the ideas have been implemented already this year. We as an organization are working to become more accessible and informative. We are trying to make the fans feel like they are apart of the team.

Sports teams are special. They are not just entertainment, they often are a way of life. A way of uniting people. I, too, am a massive sports fan. I watched my American football team lose in overtime on Sunday night. I was wearing my Green Bay Packer hat, sweatshirt, and golf shirt. I was glued to the tv. I felt like I was apart of the team. I rode the wave of emotion with the players. I shared in the disappointment after the loss. But thats what sports is. It is tying the fan to the team. Making them share in the experience, not just watch it. This is what we want to give our fans. This is what will fill the Murrayfield again.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you at the Supporters Club Q&A with Scott Neil and myself next Monday night at 7:30 in the Riversdale Suite.

What a difference a day makes

2008-01-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

As I am sure all of you can imagine, Saturday night was an absolute nightmare. We were completely outplayed. Basingstoke deserves a lot of credit, they came to play. After the game we as a team smashed the video tape as a symbolic gesture that we had to look forward not backward. It was a huge game, but there was nothing we could do. It was over. We had to move on.

I thought on Sunday afternoon before coming to the rink that we would find out what kind of team we are. I am happy to report that we have a lot of players with a great deal of heart. Sunday's game was pretty, however, it was effective. Without some key players, everyone had to step up.

I was extremely proud of J.F. Perras. After a tough night, he bounced back and was the wall we needed him to be. His play paved our way to victory. He clearly deserved man of the match.

Sheffield comes to the Murrayfield this weekend. They are a team desperate to right their ship. I know they are coming to Edinburgh expecting success. I am confident that if we play the way we can we will be with them every step of the way.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the Murrayfield this weekend! Bring a friend, it should be great hockey!

Back to league play

2008-01-07T05:54:00.000-08:00

I am very happy that we advanced in the Knockout Cup. I know that Newcastle were missing a few key players but so were we. All you can do is play against the opponent that is on the ice against you and we did that. Our goal entering the weekend was to advance, and we accomplished that goal.

The fans of the Edinburgh Capitals deserve a run at a championship and now that we are in the semi-finals,they have one. I am thrilled to be apart of giving them the opportunity to cheer on us towards some hardware.

I was not pleased with how the game ended as I am sure some of you witnessed. The last 3 minutes gave us some valuable motivation and lessons for practice this week.

I was thrilled for Adam Stefishen last night. He has the toughest job in hockey. Adam has been a great professional all year and he has given us an honest effort day and day out. He has fought the toughest the league has to offer. Last night he was able to give us a huge goal to tie the game. Nobody was happier for him than me.

Saturday night is probably circled on most of your calendars as it is mine. The game in Basingstoke is huge. We are 7 points back of them and need to have an inspired effort. I am expecting Mark Wires to be in the line-up this weekend, he should help out immensely.

We have been playing .500 hockey since December 1st and we need that to continue. I am looking forward to making this last 3 months very interesting.

Knock-out Cup

2008-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you who came last night enjoyed a great game. Unfortunately, we came up on the short end but I thought we gave 100%. Coventry is a very good team and they showed last night why they are in first place.

I have been very happy with the play of the British players recently. They have really stepped up and taken advantage of the added ice time they have received. Mark Garside has been great since he returned from the World Championships, I am expecting big things from him down the stretch. I was very happy to see Mark Paterson get his first Elite league goal last night. Mark is a young player who works very hard and he deserved that goal last night. I told him that maybe he should play all his games on TV.

Newcastle our opponent this weekend in the British Knockout Cup is very similar to us in the fact that they have a few players out. Last time we faced them, we had a great win at home. I am sure they are going to be ready for us. Newcastle has been a big rival of ours all season and it should be a very intense weekend.

Regarding our team, I am expecting Kyle Horne to be back in the line-up this weekend. Mark Wires is seeing a doctor tomorrow and will find out if he is cleared to play on the weekend. My expectation is that he will not be playing. Dino Bauba had some good news today. His muscle is not torn. It is now a matter of getting therapy and getting back into action. I do not think it will be in the next week or two, but he will be back this season.

The fans have been great recently. Keep it up. It really does matter! Our players respond to you.

I am very excited for the last 3 months. There should be some great hockey to come and watch! Feel free to bring a friend!

Doug

Christmas week

2007-12-26T06:19:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great holiday and has survived the influx of turkey and stuffing.

By now everyone knows that we had a very successful weekend. We treated it as a playoff series and I was very pleased with how the team performed. We played hard for 120 minutes and got four points, equally importantly, we gave up none. We are now just two games behind Hull.

In the second game against Hull, Mark Wires sustained a severe cut to his forehead. Due to the efforts of Bonnie, Curly, Scott, Claire he got to the hospital in a timely fashion and was rescheduled for plastic surgery the following morning. I am happy to report that Mark is back at his apartment in Edinburgh and healing. He will not being playing in the Belfast game, it is too early to tell whether or not he will be ready for the weekend game at home against rival Newcastle.

Dino Bauba is still suffering from his muscle injury. He is not expected to play in 2007.

The team enjoyed the holiday having a great Christmas meal at the Castle Arms Restaurant. It was very nice of Ivan and Morvin to open their establishment on Christmas Day.

I hope all of you come back Sunday louder than ever in a very important game against the Vipers.

Happy Holidays.

Doug

Hull weekend

2007-12-20T11:48:00.000-08:00

The Hull weekend is the biggest 2 game series we have had this season, there is no doubt about it. We need to be successful this weekend. Having two great games would put us in a great position for the stretch drive in the New Year. Hull is a very hard working team. They never quit. We have to play well every minute this weekend. The are a very opportunistic team.

Last weekend had a lot of positives. We were down 3 and 4 players Saturday and Sunday respectively. It was upsetting to lose to Manchester in OT at home, however, I was very proud of how we battled back from a 3-0 hole. After the first 15 minutes on Saturday, I thought our team played as well as it has in a long time. I thought that everyone played their role and stayed the course. We stuck with the game plan each night and were able to get the pucks to go in in the 3rd period each night.

The line of Cingel, Stutzel, and Hemingway has played very well, and the captains led last weekend, especially Cingel who had four points on Saturday night. Martin has seemed to find his groove and I am hoping it is just a sign of things to come.

After a couple very hard and extended games, I gave the players an extra day off, in order to reenergize for the weekend and have the legs to be going for 120 minutes. I know the players are excited. We all know this is a big weekend for us.

Once again, I hope you all have a great holiday and are very LOUD on Sunday.

Regards,

Doug

2007-12-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

As the holiday season approaches, I would like to give a special thanks to a lot of people. Far too often the special efforts of people goes unrecognized. This organization would never be where it is without the efforts of the many supporters we have.

The Edinburgh Capitals organization is not a big one, and the people who volunteer their time and or money deserve a massive amount of recognition.

The sponsors of the team, especially our senior sponsor David Hand need a great amount of praise. I have been here for only 13 weeks and I can see how much David has given to the program. He is at the rink almost daily, talking hockey, Edinburgh, or just the daily news. It is great to have a hockey man supporting us!

Of course all of the sponsors deserve a special pat on the back, but it is the people who give their time that I would like to thank in this blog.

One such person is Lynda Bumani. Lynda is a godsend. She has worked extremely hard this year! She gives up so much of her personal time. She organizes and attends all of the kid’s club events, she sets up and attends all the school meetings and programs (roughly 3-4 a week), and she even massages the players! Lynda has made my job much easier. She is a wonderful woman and is someone who has gone far beyond the call of duty.

Another person who needs to be recognized is John Fairley. He is the do-it-all man. If I have learned one thing in Edinburgh-it is that John gets things done! He installed new heaters in the dressing room, new fans, and a new stall. He also gave a very generous win bonus to the players for Saturday’s victory against Manchester. I have no idea what I would have done this season without John.

One of my most vivid memories of my first week in Edinburgh was trying to understand Curly’s accent. I fondly recall Adam Stefishen getting out of the car his first day in Edinburgh after Curly drove him back from Glasgow and saying, “I just drove an hour with Curly, and I have no idea what he said other than the word ‘sheep.’” For those of you who don’t know him, he is at every home game, often the road ones and was the equipment manager before Matt Dible. Curly and his girlfriend Clair have been very helpful. They have done everything from picking up players in Glasgow, to sewing socks, to cleaning the dressing room, to making pre-game coffee. If you ever need a good joke, Curly is the man to see.

Ivan and Morvin from the Castle Arms are two of the best fans we have. The Castle Arms has become the players’ favorite place, largely in part to the hospitality of Ivan and Morvin. I know the players enjoy being able to have a place just to be themselves. Ivan is a true example of a fan that has committed to the organization. He offered to give us assistance in any way that he can. He has backed up every word he has said. If you like having Ben O’Connor on the Caps, you should make sure to thank Ivan.

Ian Croyle has done a little of everything for the club this year. He has housed Ben O’Connor, he has driven players around the city before they had cars, and he has treated the players to Wannaburger to give them a taste of North America. He has made all of us feel like guests in his home. He has given without ever asking for anything in return, especially at the poker table! In all seriousness, Ian is great fan and a wonderful person to have in the rink.

“Mr. B” (Beatson) has easily had the worst job of all the volunteers. He has transported the players to and from the airports for road games. For those of you who don’t know, that means he is at the rink at 5am to take us. In addition to the driving, he is always on the bench during games helping and has even helped Adam Stefishen fill his days.

If any of you like the website, thank Keith Butland! I know I nag him all the time about getting stuff online, but he is fantastic. He does all of this from England! I have never even met Keith, and I know that I owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Keith runs the forum, which is not always the easiest place to be during a tough month. He is a true professional and is always looking to help.

David and Jan Orkisz have been great in helping advance our exposure within the Edinburgh area. David has helped plan a big surprise for the fans in the near future. He has also helped a lot in advancing us with respects to our technology (not my strong suit). Jan has been taking photos of the team all year. If you enjoy the pictures on the website Jan is the one who takes them. In addition, he is working on the calendar for 2008.

Ali and Jim McCrae are the ones who came up with the idea of the vidzine. Last week our vidzine was the 10th most viewed sports video in the U.K! That is amazing! It is their hard work that has allowed us to get more exposure and do more with the fans. I thought it was a great idea and I am so happy that it worked out.

Steven and Mark, our interns, do a lot of the work that goes unnoticed, they are the ones calling schools, filling our forms, corresponding with companies. They have done a lot for the team. Steven leaves December 17th to return to the United State. He will be missed.

Matt Dible or “Dibs” has been a great addition to the team. Dibs has the hardest job in hockey…equipment manager for the Edinburgh Capitals. Dibs has been extremely helpful since he arrived. He is eager to learn and is always able to give the team a smile. He loves hockey and gives all his free time to be with the team. He tells me all the time that he has never been so tired in his life, and I am sure he is right, we work him hard. I think Colin Hemingway is single handedly going to give him grey hair. He takes it all in stride and is always there to help the team. I am looking forward to seeing Dibs become more apart of the team.

Last but most definitely not least, Jock Hay. What would I do without Jock! He is there for every practice, every game. He always has a smile on his face. He is a good ear when I need it. He has been great for me. I am incredibly thankful for all that he has done. He really has been a joy to work with!

I could type all day thanking all the people who help us. If you haven’t been mentioned above, please know that your contributions to the team have been appreciated. It is the people around the organization that make playing for the Caps such privilege. As fans you give all that you can. We are doing our best to make sure we improve as a team to give you something to be proud of in return.

I wish you all a very warm, dry, and happy holiday season.

Respectfully yours,

Doug Christiansen

Belfast

2007-12-04T07:22:00.000-08:00

First of all, I would like to thank the fans who emailed me their ideas of how to improve the organization. It was greatly appreciated.

Of course, last weekend was very emotional. A great win Saturday at home in overtime, and a tough loss on the road in Coventry. I must say that game was very frustrating. I was so proud of the way the guys battled battled back to tie the game. What happened after that was maddening. It was a hard loss to take and those of you who were there know why!

I believe this team is turning the corner. We are playing much better. The addition of Mark Wires has been great. He gives us more speed and skill. His energy is contagious.

I know this has been a tough first couple of months, however, I know that you are going to stand behind your team and push us to more wins.

This weekend is HUGE! It is very important that the fans come ready to support us. I know that the Belfast fans will come in droves, so it is important for us to establish our home ice advantage with the best fans in the league cheering us on.

I know you are all exited for the weekend, I am too.

See you when the puck drops.

Doug

Thoughts

2007-11-19T07:24:00.000-08:00

It has been brought to my attention that many of the fans post on the forum asking questions or making suggestions to the organization. The forum is for fans. I am more than happy to address any fan suggestions. In fact, Military night was an idea a fan had that we thought was long over due. If someone has an idea, or is willing to run an event, please email me. My email is on the website.

One other thing that I would like to address is the Supporters Club. If there is anyway I can help please let me know. Maybe the next meeting I or a couple players could come and do a Q&A with the members. Just an idea.

I know things right now on the ice are not going well. It has been a tough run. I am very excited to add Mark Wires to the line-up.

We know we must improve, and right now we are working to do that. I hope you all stand by us. Most people do not have their lean moments scrutinized by others, but we as professional athletes do. The players are just like everyone else, who have emotions. Right now it is about building confidence and playing with it. You do not turn years of losing around in 2 months. This is a process that takes time.

Our fans are as passionate as any in the league. Your chats, your songs, the flags, you are great! After seeing and hearing you all on the road(I am amazed some of you have a voice to speak with after games).

The MIR is a great place to play when you all are rocking. We fed off that energy against Coventry and we plan on doing it again very soon!

Thanks again for all your support.

Challenge Cup weekend

2007-11-03T05:24:00.000-07:00

First of all I would like to thank all of the fans who have extended their support toward the organization, it means a lot. Secondly, I think Ali McRae's effort to put out a videozine is great. I will be a great way for the fans to see what they missed when they are out of town. Or selfishly, for friends and family back in North America to watch a little bit of what is going on over here.

I know there are lots of rumors this week. I wish that I could inform everyone of exactly what we are doing. In this circumstance, I am not able to. There will be a signing announced on Monday. Beyond that, I cannot say much more. I know that is frustrating, but I have no choice.

Personally, I think the fact that we are in a Challenge Cup game this weekend helps our mental state. We have played well there, and a positive result is tangible. Now its a matter of going out and executing.

I hope all of you enjoy the game Sunday(I am not talking about Hearts/Hibs).

Doug

To the Fans.

2007-10-29T06:10:00.001-07:00

To the Fans of the Capitals,

First of all, I would like to thank you for all your support. You are the ones who make our organization go. I have played hockey for 25 years and last night may have been the worst loss I have ever been apart of. As you may have heard, I gave every player their two week notice, meaning in two weeks, they are out of their contracts if we do not renew it. I told everyone that if they do not want to be apart of the solution, I will find someone who will.

When I took this job, I knew that there would be lean moments, tough times. Did I ever imagine that it would be as low as last night? No. However, this is a challenge. This is my challenge. I took this job knowing there was a lot of work to be done. As last night indicated, there still is a lot of work to be done. I do not shy away from this. I have found often in my career and life that is moments like this that show the kind of person you are. We are going to right this ship.

I assure you the fans, we will improve this team. We are not going to back down from this adversity.

Once again, thank you for your support. Just by reading this, it shows that you care. I promise you, the person writing this blog cares just as much as you do and will do whatever it takes to improve your team.

Hull

2007-10-26T23:02:00.000-07:00

It is 7am and I am getting up to get to the bus which leaves at 8am. The game is a bit earlier and we would like to have a nice lunch break a long the way, which is why we are leaving a bit earlier.

Todays trip cannot go by fast enough. Ever since Wednesday, I could not wait to play today. The game today gives us a chance to compete for a Championship. Today, we can potentially get ourselves in a one game season against Newcastle next week at home to advance to the semi-finals.

I am dying to get there and win this game. .........

Coventry week

2007-10-15T17:55:00.000-07:00

As far as losing streaks go this is about as frustrating a streak as I have ever been apart of. Having watched the tape of Sunday's game we could have scored many times and had a big win. Give their goalie credit he made some big saves but so did ours. J.F. Perras was outstanding and deserves more support.

We are making fewer mistakes every week but that is not helping us on the scoreboard. It is time for us to move forward. It has been a very bad 3 weekends. The key is that we learn from our mistakes.

The team is going to be working very hard this week and we are going to learn that losing is not acceptable in Edinburgh. Will will do what it takes to right this ship.

I am very thankful for all of the fans support, you have been great. I am looking forward to seeing you against Coventry. Seems like a great night to send a message to the league.

2007-10-11T05:37:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, and welcome to our weekly blog which will feature player and team information both from myself and from the players themselves. As I mentioned in my press release on Monday, we were very upset with our results last week, however, we are hopeful that we can get healthy quickly and get two points against Nottingham on Sunday.

On the injury front, Jeff State has not practiced this week and is day-to-day. I hope he will be able to play Sunday. I expect both Luza and Bauba in the line-up. If State plays, it will be only the second time this season we have had a full team. That is something I am very much looking forward to.

Finally, I would like to thank all who made my parents visit to Scotland so special. I am sure they will be back.

See you all Sunday! Your support has been fantastic!

Doug

Welcome to the Edinburgh Futurity Partnership Capitals Blog

2007-09-18T08:34:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Edinburgh Futurity Partnership Capitals Blog.

Each week we'll be getting updates and comments from Doug Christiansen and also guest players.