Edinburgh Capitals are delighted to announce the re-signing of forward Chad Smith for the 2026-2027 SNL campaign.
Having previously been in the Player Assistant Coach role, he will now be Associate Coach going forward, working together with Head Coach Steven Lynch.
Over the last 4 seasons, Chad has been a massive part of the Caps roster both on and off the ice. He brings a wealth of experience to the team and will once again take on the joint role of playing and coaching.
In 38 games last season he scored 39 goals and 36 assists for a total of 76 points. In his 4 years with the club, he has led the way as the top points scorer, having amassed an unbelievable 286 points. Hitting the net 141 times and setting up 145 goals in 144 games.
The 27-year-old Kirkcaldy-born forward knows what it takes to win and played a big part in our double-winning season. How can we forget that Scottish Cup winner over in Kirkcaldy to give us that 1-0 win over Whitley? Hopefully, we will see plenty more goals this upcoming campaign, along with that trademark bow and arrow celebration that the fans all love.
In the coaching department, Chad has brought some much-needed assistance to Head Coach Steven Lynch both on game day and at training. Having taken on the role of Assistant Coach at the start of last season, his new role will see him take on more responsibilities, which will only benefit the club.
On returning, Chad had this to say, “I’m glad to be back for year 5! Last year was very special for everyone involved with the club, especially those who have been a part of it since the very beginning.
“Getting a taste of the success we achieved last season made it hard for me to walk away. It’s the most fun I’ve had in my career playing hockey, and the fans play a massive part in that.
“This upcoming season, it’s business as usual. I’m happy to be back involved in the coaching side of things again this year. I learned a lot last season. Steven and I are building another great team this off season to compete for every trophy possible.
“So, enjoy the summer, and I’ll see you all in September.”
Head Coach Steven Lynch is delighted to have his right-hand man back on board. “Chad has become the heartbeat of the team over the years to the point where it’s become hard to imagine the dressing room without him. His infectious personality rubs off positively on everyone else and helps bring the best out of people. It was a no-brainer to promote him to the coaching staff last year, and a big part of our success was what he brought to the room, what he did on the ice, and what he brought at the management level.
“This year, Chad will move up from Assistant Coach and take the role of Associate Coach, where he will start to take on more responsibility within the team, which he is more than ready to do. I feel that we work well together and share a lot of the same thoughts and ideas, so it’s logical that we keep progressing him within the coaching role.
“Chad is also another player coming back for year 5 with us, which keeps highlighting how much players enjoy playing at the club.”
There will be more signing news very soon. Keep an eye on our social media pages.
LET’S GO CAPITALS!
