Hutchins Opts for Newcastle Over Edinburgh

Former Union forward Jeff Hutchins has decided not to take up a full-time contract with Edinburgh and has left the club to join bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League rivals Newcastle Vipers, it was announced Monday.

“We have worked hard and have made an agreement with Jeff Hutchins to come back to the Vipers,” said Newcastle General Manager Jaimie Longmuir. “Hutchins is a known player who will score goals and I am sure he will strike up a great partnership with Ed Courtenay who also arrives this week.”

Doug Christiansen, a former Union forward and current Edinburgh coach, commented, "I knew all along there was a chance this would only be a temporary arrangement. We needed to turn things around and win some games. Hutchins came in and we started winning some games and he put in some great effort. I wish him the best of luck in Newcastle; he will be sincerely missed by the Capitals."

Christiansen continued, "I am very disappointed that Newcastle decided to announce this move early without our knowledge or consent, it's a tough time for us and teams within this league are supposed to be helping one another. We were hoping to have a last ditch effort to keep him even though it had already been announced by Newcastle as he still had not signed a contract with them when they made it public".

Jeff Hutchins played 6 games for the Capitals, and scored 3 goals and had 5 assists.

Christiansen added, "Jeff Hutchins did his job, he scored goals and won us games and competed. I am sure he'll help Newcastle and we are appreciative of his effortsThe Edinburgh Capitals announced Wednesday that the team has agreed to terms with former Union forward Jeff Hutchins. Hutchins made his debut with the Capitals Wednesday against the Coventry Blaze. The Capitals compete in the BMIBaby Elite Ice Hockey League.

Hutchins joins the Capitals after starting the season with the Bracknell Bees of the English Premier Ice Hockey League squad. The 30-year old Hutchins spent the last three seasons playing for the Coventry Blaze, Belfast Giants and Newcastle Vipers. The 6-foot Toronto-born star has played 132 games in the Elite Ice Hockey League, scoring 65 goals and 72 assists.

Before coming to the UK at the start of the 2005-06 season, Hutchins played in both the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League, where he was part of the 2002-03 South West Division Championship winning Mississippi Sea Wolves.

As a member of the Dutchmen from 1998-02, Hutchins amassed 23 goals and 40 assists in 109 career contests. The Toronto native enjoyed his most productive offensive season as a senior, compiling nine goals and 13 assists in 31 games.