The Edinburgh Capitals are a Scottish ice hockey club, playing in the Scottish National League (SNL). They are based in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. The team play at the Murrayfield Ice Rink, close to Murrayfield Rugby stadium.
In April 2018, a consortium led by David Hand (brother of ex-Racer Tony) won the contract for ice time at Murrayfield, effectively rendering the Capitals homeless.
The newly formed Murrayfield Racers applied to join the EIHL and take the Capitals' place but were rejected, plunging the future of top level ice hockey in the city into jeopardy.
The Racers were subsequently accepted into the Scottish National League (SNL) instead, where they remained until 2022.
However, in July 2022, four years after the Capitals had folded, it was announced that Murrayfield Ice Rink had new management and that the Edinburgh Capitals would return to play in the Scottish National League.
History
BNL years
The Edinburgh Capitals were founded in 1998, following the collapse of the Murrayfield Royals, replacing them in the British National League (BNL).
The first three seasons for the new Edinburgh team were largely unsuccessful, finishing 8th out of 9 in their inaugural season (ahead of the Paisley Pirates), 8th out of 10 in their second season (ahead of the Milton Keynes Kings and the Pirates), and 9th out of 10 in their third season (finishing once again ahead of the Pirates).
The Capitals would receive a massive boost for the 2001–02 season, with the signings of former NHLer, Jason Lafreniere, and SM-Liiga player, Roland Carlsson. That year the club finished seventh out of 12, with Lafreniere amassing 88 points in 44 games. The following summer saw Lafreniere leave the Capitals to join league rivals, the Guildford Flames.
Over the following three seasons, the club developed a European style of hockey, recruiting most of their imports from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Among those included fan favourites, Jan Krajíček, Ladislav Kudrna, Peter Konder and long-serving captain, Martin Cingel. The 2002–03 season also marked the arrival of the popular, Elmira College graduates, Steven Kaye and Adrian Saul. The club once again made a mid-table finish, ending the season in 6th place out of 10.
The 2003–04 season saw the Capitals make a blockbuster signing. Former Murrayfield Racers legend and league winning player and coach, Tony Hand, would be returning to Edinburgh after leaving the Dundee Stars. Under Hand, the Capitals would accomplish their best ever league position, finishing third out of seven and for the first time, make the playoff semi-finals. The forward line of Hand, Saul and Kaye would top the scoring charts, with the trio finishing as first, second and third top point scorers in the league. Adrian Saul would also finish as the league's top goal scorer, with 31 goals in 35 games.
The 2004–05 season was a very disappointing one for the club. During the summer, the league's deadliest line from the previous season was split up, with Hand signing for the Elite League's Belfast Giants, Steven Kaye moving to French side Morzine-Avoriaz, and Adrian Saul moving to the club's biggest rivals, the Fife Flyers. Ladislav Kudrna, the team's goalie from the previous two seasons would also switch teams, moving to Yorkshire based Hull Stingrays. The Capitals would finish this season in last place, recording only six wins, making it the club's worst season in the league.
The step up to the EIHL
Early EIHL seasons
Following the 2004–05 British National League season, the Capitals and Newcastle Vipers applied to join the Elite Ice Hockey League, however both clubs withdrew their offers to make a joint application with the other remaining BNL clubs. Terms could not be reached between the Elite League and the BNL teams, so the Capitals and Vipers returned to their initial offers. Both clubs were accepted into the Elite League for the 2005–06 season. The BNL subsequently disbanded and the remaining teams moved into other leagues.
This season saw the return of Tony Hand as player/coach, after taking the Giants to a 2nd-place finish during the previous year. In the regular season, the team finished last with 23 points in 42 games. Due to the London Racers folding mid-season, the Capitals made the playoffs by default and were placed in a group with Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers and eventual 2005–06 playoff champions, Newcastle Vipers. The team finished bottom of the group with two points in six playoff games.