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The Edinburgh Capitals, Scotland’s only Elite Ice Hockey team, are hosting a four team tournament to celebrate Scotland’s contribution to the game of Ice Hockey and “Ice Hockey’s Homecoming” The teams will be fighting it out to win the Gardiner Cup.

The tournament will feature two American Hockey League (AHL) teams the Toronto Marlies (AHL Affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) and the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL Affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) and 2 UK Elite league teams the Edinburgh Capitals and the Belfast Giants and will take place at Murrayfield Ice Rink in Edinburgh. The timetable is below.

• Thursday the 24th September - a “head to head” clash the Hamilton Bulldogs V’s Toronto Marlies • Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th - a Festival of Ice Hockey, a four team tournament where the best of UK Hockey face off against two of Canada’s top teams.

In Scotland’s year of Homecoming it is only fitting that a game that Scottish people played a key role in inventing comes home. This is the highest level of competitive ice hockey to be seen in the UK and without the support of our current sponsors this event would not have been possible.

The Gardiner Cup celebrates the life of Charles ‘Chuck’ Gardiner. Known as the Wandering Scotsman, he was one of the games pre-eminent goal tenders during the 1920’s and 30’s. Born in Edinburgh on Henderson Row he then moved to Canada with his family eventually settling in Winnipeg. He attained NHL stardom with the Chicago Black Hawks where he guarded the cage from 1927 – 1934. Prior to his untimely death in 1934 he led the Black Hawks to their first Stanley cup win and is the first Scot to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Naming the tournament cup after this great player seemed a fitting accolade for Chuck and his family.

HISTORY

This page celebrates the many Scottish Ice Hockey Players or Players with Scottish descent over the last 150 years. You will notice our very own Managing Director Scott Neil and of course the legendry Chuck Gardiner.

The Scottish people have given the world many great things. Imagine a world without the television; telephones; computer games; and golf. Few people appreciate that Ice Hockey was another great Scottish invention. Scottish immigrants to Canada helped to invent the great game of Ice Hockey and this tournament celebrates this contribution to the fastest team sport on the planet.

COLIN SHEILDS – nhl draft

2000s Homecoming Scotland 2009 is an events programme celebrating Scotland's great contributions to the world. In 2009 we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth, Scottish contributions to golf & whisky, plus our great minds and innovations and rich culture and heritage. The Edinburgh Capitals founded the International Ice Hockey Tournament “Ice Hockey’s Homecoming” awarding the “Gardiner Cup” to the winning team. The event will be celebrating the contribution of Scots and people with Scottish heritage in the game of ice hockey. • The Elite Ice Hockey League was formed in 2003 and is the highest level of ice hockey competition in the United Kingdom. (www.eliteleague.co.uk)

1990s • The Edinburgh Capitals are a successor club to the famous Murrayfield Racers team. The Capitals were founded in 1998 (www.Edinburgh-Capitals.com) • The Hamilton Bulldogs Club was established in 1996 after relocating from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where the team played several years as the Cape Breton Oilers). Hamilton’s new AHL team is called the “bulldogs” after a public marketing campaign to name the team ran in The Hamilton Spectator. From 600 names submitted, six finalists were chosen Firebirds, Bay Wolves, Wolfpack, Harbour Hounds, Havoc and Bulldogs (www.hamiltonbulldogs.com)

1980s • Gregory Campbell (born on December 17, 1983) is a Canadian ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League. He is the son of former NHL player and current NHL Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell, and is currently the Panthers NHLPA representative. Bell started his National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques in 1984. He also played with the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers. He was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1985.

1960s • Tony Hand MBE (born 15 August 1967 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish ice hockey player who became the first British-born and raised player to be drafted by an NHL team when he was picked by the Edmonton Oilers in 1986. He is currently player-coach of the Manchester Phoenix. He holds several national records, and has scored over 4000 points in his career. • Bruce Bell (born February 15, 1965 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired a Canadian ice hockey defenceman. Bell started his National hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques in 1984. He also played with St. Louis Blues, new York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers. He was names to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1985. (………………………………) • Douglas Robert Gilmour (born June 25, 1963) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who is the current head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). • James Stephen Smith better known as Steve Smith, (born April 30, 1963) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1984–85 to 2000–01. • Andrew Scott Neil, known as Scott Neil, (born August 1, 1962 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a retired British ice hockey player who played in the United Kingdom between 1985 and 2002. He also played for the Great Britain National Team between 1989 and 1994. He was inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. Neil is currently the owner of the Edinburgh Capitals in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/scott_neil)

1950s • David "Dave" Lewis (born July 3, 1953) is a former National Hockey League (NHL) defenceman and coach. • Colin Campbell (born January 28, 1953), nicknamed "The Sheriff", is a former professional ice hockey defenceman, coach and the current Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League

1940s • Adam Brown (born in Johnston, Scotland). He won the Stanley Cup in 1943 with the Detroit Red Wings.

1930s • The American Hockey League (AHL) traces its origins directly to two predecessor leagues: the Canadian-American Hockey League (aka “Can-Am” League) founded in 1926, and the first International Hockey League established in 1929. Although the Can-Am League never operated with more than six teams, for the first time in its history it dropped after the 1935-1936 season to just four member cities: Springfield, Philadelphia, Providence and new Haven. At the same time the rival International Hockey League lost half of its eight members after the 1935-1936 season leaving it as well with just four clubs located in Buffalo, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. (www.theahl.com) • At the 1936 Winter Olympics, Great Britain won the men's ice hockey competition. Eleven of the thirteen British players had trained and played previously in Canada sometime during their career. It is a common misconception that the British team was made up of Canadians. Only one player was actually born in Canada. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_1936_Winter_Olympics) • Donald Stewart "Grapes" Cherry, (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian ice hockey commentator for CBC Television • William Scott "Scotty" Bowman (born September 18, 1933 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a retired National Hockey League head coach. • Neil P. Armstrong (born December 29, 1932, in Plympton, Ontario) is a former professional ice hockey linesman and is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

1920s • Ice Hockey was added to the Olympic Games in Antwerp 1920, being one of the most popular events at the Winter Olympics. (www.olympic.org).

1910s • On November 22, 1917, in Montreal, the National Hockey League was formed. Originally composed only of a few Canadian teams, the NHL soon expanded to include teams from Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and New York. Today, the National Hockey League (NHL) is considered the highest professional form of ice hockey attainable (www.nhl.com) • The British men's national ice hockey team (also known as Team GB) is the name of the national Ice Hockey Team for the United Kingdom. A founding member of the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1908, the team is controlled by Ice Hockey UK. The team were a force in the game in the early 20th century, winning the first ever IIHF European Championship, Bronze medalists at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, and became Olympic champions in 1936 in Germany.Olympic Record: 1924 Won bronze medal & 1936 Won gold medal. European Championships: 1910 - Won gold medal. World Championships:1935 Won bronze medal, 1937 Won silver medal and 1938 Won silver medal. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain_men%27s_national_ice_hockey_team)

1900s • James Foster (September 13, 1906 - January 4 1969) was a Scottish-born Canadian goaltender. Born in Glasgow, Foster emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1912. He is best known for his role in leading Great Britain to its only Olympic gold medal in ice hockey • Charles Robert “Chuck” Gardiner (born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1904) Gardiner joined the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1927-1928 season. He became the only NHL goaltender to captain his team to a Stanley Cup win in 1934. In 1945, Gardiner became a charter member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 1998, he was ranked number 76 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players. Gardiner is an Honoured Member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/charlie_gardiner_(ice_hockey) • Toronto Marlies - Shortly after the turn of the twentieth century, a group of Toronto sportsmen decided to form a new athletic club in the downtown core. The name they chose was the “Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club”. The club was named after the Duke of Marlborough who’s family name was Churchill. The Duke was an uncle to Sir Winston Churchill. (ww.torontomarlies.com)

1890s • Alex Gray (June 21, 1899 in Glasgow Scotland – April 10, 1986) was a Canadian ice hockey right winger for the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1927 to 1933. His nickname was "peanuts"

1870s • James G.A. Creighton is considered the “father of ice hockey”. He is credited with organising the first recorded indoor ice hockey match at Montreal, Quebec Canada in 1875. He had played sports during his boyhood in Halifax, where a free-wheeling, stick-ball game called "ricket", "shinny" or occasionally "hockey", was played on ice outdoors with any number of players. It is believed that Creighton developed rules for the organized indoor game from the style of play of those games in Halifax, where (according to some historians) they had developed out of a Scottish game called shinty. James G.A. Creighton was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1993 as the "father of organized hockey.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_George_Aylwin_Creighton)

1850s • Some say modern ice hockey originated in the mid-1850´s by British soldiers stationed in Canada. The first recorded hockey games were played by British soldiers stationed in Kingston and Halifax during the mid-1850s.

HIGHLIGHTS BLUE - Canadians ice hockey players with Scottish decent RED - Ex NHL players born in Scotland

Associations & Teams: NHL (www.nhl.com) Elite League (www.eliteleague.co.uk) AHL (www.theahl.com) Olympics – Winter Sports (www.olympic.org) Edinburgh Capitals (Edinburgh-Capitals.com) Toronto Marlies (www.torontomarlies.com) Hamilton Bulldogs (www.hamiltonbulldogs.com) International Ice Hockey Federation (http://www.iihf.com)

Sources: http://www.sportsknowhow.com/hockey/history/hockey-history.shtml http://www.pgoha.com/the_origin_of_hockey.htm

Wikipedia http://www.birthplaceofhockey.com/origin/game-chron.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_George_Aylwin_Creighton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/charlie_gardiner_(ice_hockey) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_1936_Winter_Olympics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain_men%27s_national_ice_hockey_team

TOURNAMENT

Background and Overview of the Event

In fitting with this year’s Homecoming Scotland and the historical links between Scotland and Canada it is appropriate that such a prestigious tournament is being held at one of the grand old ladies of British Ice Hockey - Murrayfield Ice Rink. It is a great tribute to Edinburgh and Murrayfield Ice Rink that in the year of Homecoming Scotland, UK hockey fans will have the opportunity to watch two of the best hockey teams and players ever to play in competitive matches in the UK.

Scott Neil the Managing Director of Edinburgh Capitals says of the tournament ‘The Homecoming Ice Hockey tournament honours an Edinburgh born legend of the game - Charlie Gardiner who captained the Chicago Blackhawks to Stanley Cup glory in 1934. It was not until I started to research the input of Scots into the game that I came across the remarkable and poignant story of Charlie Gardiner who is a true legend of the game and is honoured in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. I was deeply moved by the story and proud to discover that Charlie Gardiner was born less than 3 miles from Murrayfield Ice Rink. Whilst there is no doubt that Scottish people and their descendants have had an influence in the development of the game it is clear that Canada has developed the sport into the best game in the world.

It is an honour for the Edinburgh Capitals to host this tournament and I would like to thank the Montreal Canadien, Toronto Maple Leaf and the Elite League organisations for agreeing to their participation.

I truly hope that we can also build a legacy from this tournament for the benefit of ice Hockey in Scotland and the UK and develop the relationships and friendships to encourage an interest and investment from people who are passionate about the game. It would be fantastic to see Scottish kids provided a real opportunity to develop their skills on the ice in an attempt to emulate the achievements of Scots born Charlie Gardiner’.

Thursday, 24th September (7.00pm face off doors open 6.00pm)

Head to Head Clash Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL Affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) v Toronto Marlies (AHL Affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs)

Saturday, 26th September

Semi Final Game 1: 1.30pm face off - 12.30pm doors open Edinburgh Capitals v Toronto Marlies (AHL Affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs)

Semi Final Game 2: 5.30pm face off - 4.30pm doors open Belfast Giants v Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL Affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens)

Saturday, 27th September 3rd & 4th place: 1.30pm face off - 12.30pm doors open Final: 5.30pm face off - 4.30pm doors open

Should Edinburgh Capitals v Belfast Giants play in 3rd/4th place on Sunday - the match will count as an Elite league fixture

Homecoming is about celebrating what Scots have contributed to the world and so help us celebrate!

Teams

Edinburgh Capitals The Edinburgh Capitals are a Scottish Ice Hockey club, playing in the UK-wide Elite Ice Hockey League. They are based in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. The team play at the Murrayfield Ice Rink, close to Murrayfield Rugby stadium. The Capitals are a successor club to the famous Murrayfield Racers team. The team played in the British National League for most of their existence but in 2005-06 season they joined the Elite Ice Hockey League.

The Capitals are coached by Doug Christiansen, who will start his 3rd season with the club in 2009/10. The team are owned by Scott Neil, who saved ice hockey in Edinburgh after the collapse of Murrayfield Royals and Murrayfield Racers.

Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) The Hamilton Bulldogs have been a member of the American Hockey League for 13 years since playing their inaugural season in 1996-1997. The team is the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. Each year the Bulldogs compete to win the Calder Cup Championship, a feat they accomplished in 2007 in only their 11th season in the AHL. Prior to their Calder Cup Championship, Hamilton had reached the Calder Cup Final in both 1997 and 2003.

The ‘Dogs have produced a total of 173 players that have played in the NHL including the likes of Mike Komisarek, Carey Price and Tim Thomas who all competed in the 2009 NHL All-Star Game. In 2008-2009, 20 former or current Bulldogs played for Hamilton’s affiliate the Montreal Canadiens. Last season the Bulldogs tied a franchise record with 49 wins in the regular season and earned 102 points, the second-most in team history.

Toronto Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) The Toronto Marlies are a proud member of the American Hockey League and top affiliate of the National Hockey League’s, Toronto Maple Leafs. The Marlies just completed their fourth season in the city of Toronto and finished fourth in the North Division. Since moving from St. John’s, Newfoundland following the 2004-05 season, the Marlies have reached the playoffs in three of four seasons. Ricoh Coliseum located just outside of downtown Toronto is home for all 40 Marlies home games.

In 2007-08 the club advanced to the Western Conference Finals but lost to the eventual champions in five games. Also in that season the Marlies were North Division Champions and set a Maple Leafs affiliate record for most wins in a single season.

The Marlies are a critical component to the growth of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team continues to make significant investments, financial and otherwise, to make the AHL club competitive and a successful training ground for the Leafs of tomorrow. It is expected that a number of Marlies (13 in 2008-09) will be called upon by the Maple Leafs to contribute at the NHL level next season.

Belfast Giants The Belfast Giants are Ireland’s premier ice hockey team and are venturing into their 10th season as a franchise. The Giants represent Belfast’s desire to move away from its troubled past and at their home ice, the Odyssey Arena, the Giants provide an environment where only ice hockey colours matter. The Giants have enjoyed success to the tune of two League Championships and a Playoff championship whilst exerting themselves at the highest level of British ice hockey. Northern Ireland’s only professional ice hockey team have succeeded on the European stage too, competing in the finals of the Continental Cup, ice hockey’s equivalent to football’s Champions’ League. Last season was the Giants most successful in their short history, winning the Challenge Cup and British Knock-Out Cup, two of British ice hockey’s major championships. Last season was also a major success off the ice as the Belfast Giants welcomed their one millionth visitor to professional ice hockey in Belfast. The upcoming season’s Giants have been built around a core of exciting British players, including Scots, Colin Shields and Stephen Murphy.

Murrayfield Ice Rink The Murrayfield Ice Rink is a 3,800-seat multi-purpose arena in the Murrayfield area of Edinburgh, Scotland, right next door to Murrayfield Stadium. It was built between 1938 and 1939. It is home to the Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey team.

The Murrayfield Ice Rinks seating capacity is in excess of 3,500 and the Olympic sized ice surface measures 200ft x 97ft. The Rink has been a centre of attraction in Scotland for all types of Ice Sports and Exhibitions for over 50 years and attendance comes from all age groups and walks of life. Many generations have passed through the doors and countless romances blossomed from chance meetings in the arena!! It has one of the best ice surfaces in the UK for hockey and is a rink that produces a great atmosphere and nostalgia perfect for that homecoming experience.

The Rink was completed in 1939 and was immediately requisitioned by the Army during and after the 2nd World War. The Rink only opened for business in 1952 and was bought by the current owners in 1957.

Murrayfield Facts • Only Ice Rink in Edinburgh. • Over 17 public sessions per week. • Public Skating attract over 300,000 per year. • 85% of all skaters are between 7-21. • The actual age range of skaters is between 3 and 80. • Most popular session is Learn To Skate.

Charles ‘Chuck’ Gardiner Born Charles Robert Gardiner on December 31st 1903

The Gardiner Cup celebrates the life of Charles ‘Chuck’ Gardiner. He was one of the games pre-eminent goal tenders during the 1920’s and 30’s and was known as the ‘Wandering Scotsman’ as he was one of the first goalies, if not the first, to play out of the net. Born in Edinburgh at 85 Henderson Row he moved to Canada with his family eventually settling in Winnipeg. He attained NHL stardom with the Chicago Blackhawks where he guarded the cage from 1927 – 1934. Prior to his untimely death in 1934 he led the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup and in 1945 was the first Scot to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Naming the tournament cup after this great player seemed a fitting accolade for Chuck and his family.

His Blackhawk teammate Art Coulter praised him highly during an interview with Antonia Chambers the Author of his Biography ‘Before the Echoes Fade’ “I wouldn’t do this for everyone, but Charlie Gardiner was a superior human being”.

He was also a brilliant outfielder and a championship rugby player, an excellent trapshooter, an avid golfer. He was called “hockey’s songbird” for his tuneful voice, broadcast by radio in both Winnipeg and Chicago. He was a pilot and a skilled amateur photographer. He was married to a woman who was an athlete in her own right, and the couple had a son, Bobby. He seemed to “have it all.”

Coulter’s opinion of Winnipeg’s legendary goalie of the 1920s and 30s was shared by virtually all who knew him. Gardiner had immense joie de vivre – he was, as his coach Dick Irwin said, “always full of pep and the life of the team at all times” as well as “the games greatest goaltender,” in the worlds of Winnipeg Tribune.

Hockey had been part of Gardiner’s life ever since he went to Canada and played his first corner-lot game. Straining every fibre muscle, gasping for breath, he struggled to skate as fast as the other boys, but never could keep up with them. Hours and hours of practice out in all kinds of weather failed to improve his skating.

As he told John Carmichael of the Chicago Daily News in a lengthy interview many years later (December 3, 1932). “We used to flood the back yards of all the homes and improvise hockey teams. I couldn’t skate very fast, so by unanimous consent I was shoved into the goal and told to stay there. You see, I didn’t learn to skate until after I was eight years old.” So he would wrap the magazines around his legs for goalie pads and go into makeshift crease marked by tree branches. “I remember the fellows using old magazines as shin pads, wrapping them around their legs, inside the stockings. Newspaper-bundles of ‘em – were converted into kidney pads or for whatever purposes the individual needed them. We all wore stocking caps or toques as we call them, for open air play. Sometimes it would get so cold that we could only stand to play ten minutes at a time. Then we’d go into a near-by shack and warm up by the heat of an old wood stove and go back and finish the period. It was the only way we could survive.”

Charlie Gardiner’s story has remained untold until now. The biography “Before the Echoes Fade” follows him through the heat and thrill of games won and lost, but also through a fiercer battle, one that he both lost and won. In doing so, it celebrates the truest of all victories – the triumph of the human spirit.

Sadly, Gardiner passed away on June 13, 1934, as a result of a brain haemorrhage. His death, just a few weeks after winning the Stanley Cup, was one of the most poignant stories of the NHL's early days.

Statistics

Awards First All-Star Team Goalie (1931, 1932, 1934) Second All-Star Team Goalie (1933) Vezina Trophy (1932, 1934)

Sources: Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/charlie_gardiner_(ice_hockey) Legends of Hockey - http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?type=Player&mem=P194504&list=ByName#photo Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame - http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/players.html?category=7&id=9

To an athlete dying young A.E. Housman

The time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought you shoulder-high. To-day, the road all runners come, Shoulder-high we bring you home, And set you at your threshold down, Townsman of a stiller town, ……………. So set, before its echoes fade, The fleet foot on the sill of shade And hold to the low lintel up The still-defended challenge cup.