Good afternoon Caps Fans, hope you all had a good Christmas and are looking forward to bringing in the New Year later this evening.
Before we do, we have our annual Hogmanay game here against Kirkcaldy Kestrels. It’s a game that usually generates one of our best crowds of the year. It is one of the most anticipated games of the season, which creates a great atmosphere in the old building, so make some noise and help roar us on from the stands. Your support so far this season has been impressive and invaluable. The players thrive off it, it’s great to see so many of you back at Murrayfield Ice Arena week in, week out supporting a team that means so much to you all after a few years absence.
As we enter the second half of the season, we are in a good position to hopefully keep climbing the table. Wins against Kirkcaldy, Paisley & Dundee Comets before Christmas moved us from 6th to 4th. Hopefully two points today can move us into joint 3rd before a huge 4-point game in Dundee against the Tigers in January, which will have a massive bearing on our season. Still, with games in hand on a few teams around us and having three games to play against league-leading Aberdeen, inside the dressing room, we keep talking about our destiny being in our own hands – which it is and exactly the way it should be.
It was a difficult start to the season. A new team was put together, some that hadn’t played competitively in a couple of years, training and playing on the road for the first two months, and the delay of Murrayfield opening didn’t help but we’re starting to generate some momentum now. We’re playing good hockey, we’re understanding the importance of bringing our best game in, and the team is gelling well on and off the ice. It’s probably the best dressing room atmosphere I’ve been a part of. With your noise at home and on the road, I’m sure you’ll help us achieve our goal.
I hope you all have enjoyed the season so far. It looks like you have. I’m sure you’ll agree that the SNL is a very competitive and entertaining league and we have a team made up of predominately MJIHC and British-trained players giving their all for the club rather than the pay packet at the end of the week. Although they have given me a few grey hairs so far this season, they’ve been a credit to themselves, each other, the logo and to you, the fans they’re representing.
Enjoy today’s game. Make lots of noise and Happy New Year to you all.
Lynchy
