Photo credit: Edinburgh Capitals
Ahead of the Elite Ice Hockey League's Scottish Cup tournament weekend, a select number of Eagles players and alumni were presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to skate with ex-NHL and KHL superstars at Murrayfield Ice Rink.
Aaron Robertson, an academy player with the Edinburgh Capitals, and goaltender Berke Ricketti, along with alumni utility player Michael Moore, participated in this match-up between a Scottish Selects and a Russian & International selects side which included:
- Andrei Nikolishin (Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, 1993 IIHF World Championship Gold Medalist) - Aleksei Badyukov (Russia Super League champion with Ak Bars Kazan (2005-06), 2 time KHL Gagarin Cup champion with Ak Bars Kazan (2008-09, 2009-10) - Aleksandr Guskov (former 2003 Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick, 2nd in all-time goals by a defenseman in the KHL)
Robertson and Moore (back-row, left) represented Scotland while Ricketti (front row, 2nd from right) manned the net for the Russian selects.
After the game, Berke Ricketti was asked what he took from the experience:
"Pro experience can really make a difference, even when you don't have your legs anymore. A couple of ex-pros kept stopping the younger guys' dekes because they could read and anticipate what they have planned, even if they didn't have the legs to keep up to the younger guys. They also gave me a Russian hat and all signed my Eagles jersey."
For more information on the Inaugural Scottish Cup Weekend held at Murrayfield Ice Rink, click here.