Our Edinburgh Capitals missed out last season due to coming up short in the Quarter Finals. This season Steven Lynch and his team progressed after disposing of Dundee Tigers, 13-6 on aggregate.
Two Semi Final matchups awaited on Saturday. First up SNL League winners Aberdeen Lynx faced off against Kirkcaldy Kestrels. On paper, most people could not see past the Lynx but the Kestrels had other ideas. A great game was witnessed by the fans and the Kestrels came out on top with a 5-3 victory.
It was now the turn of your Edinburgh Capitals as we went head-to-head with Paisley Pirates. A team that had caused us some problems throughout the league campaign. A scoreless first period then saw the Pirates grab two quick-fire goals midway through the second. The unlikeliest of scorers, Dman Jack Wright got us back within one before Joe Lynch drew us level minutes before the buzzer.
A very tense final period saw both teams have chances. Chad Smith was hauled down clear through on goal and a penalty shot was awarded. There was only ever going to be one outcome as Chad went one one-on-one with the Pirates goalie. The crowd erupted and the Caps led 3-2 with just under five minutes remaining.
Credit to Paisley they weren’t done yet and equalised minutes later to send the game into OT. 3 on 3 hockey it was to be for the next five minutes, thankfully only 40 seconds in our Captain Joel Gautschi latched onto a Chad Smith pass to race clear and hit the back of the net and send the fans wild.
What a final was in store for us all on Sunday. The Caps had already beaten the Kestrels 7 of the 8 times they had faced each other so far this campaign but we knew that went for nothing in a one off Final.
Undoubtedly the Caps played their best period of the season as we raced to a two goal lead through Joe Lynch and Ross Borwick with only nine minutes on the clock. The second period as you would expect saw a reaction from the Kestrels. They got back within one goal before Archie Holmes increased our lead once again.
The Kestrels came back and scored two quick-fire goals to make it a 3-3 game with six minutes left of the middle stanza. Archie Holmes got his second of the game and we were back in front and led by the odd goal in seven heading into the final period.
The Caps went on the PK early in the period and as Ross Dalgleish looked up in the D zone he found Chad Smith rushing free. Chad’s first shot was blocked by the Kestrels goalie but dropped in front for Chad to prod home and bring an almighty roar here to the Lion’s Den.
Thereafter chances appeared at both ends but Craig Chalmers stood on his head to keep the Kestrels at bay. With the final seconds ticking away the crowd rose to their feet to cheer their team over the line. The buzzer sounded and Caps were the SNL Play Offs Champions 2024!
The boys celebrated on the ice before receiving the Play Off trophy from the SIH representatives. The champagne corks popped and the real celebrations began.
A great weekend of hockey from the Capitals and this saw us lift our first senior trophy since the club returned to the ice in September 2022. Hopefully, many more to come!!
LET’S GO CAPITALS!
