Bulldogs, Marlies going overseas this preseason

The Hamilton Bulldogs and Toronto Marlies have been invited to participate in a four-team preseason tournament in Edinburgh, Scotland, to celebrate Scotland’s contribution to the game of ice hockey.

The Edinburgh Capitals, Scotland’s only Elite Ice Hockey team, are hosting the tournament from Sept. 24-27. The Bulldogs and Marlies will be fighting it out with the Capitals and the Belfast Giants to win the Gardiner Cup.

The tournament begins on Sept. 24 with a battle between the Marlies and Bulldogs at Murrayfield Ice Rink in Edinburgh at 2:00 p.m. (ET). On Sept. 26, the Marlies will play Edinburgh and the Bulldogs will take on Belfast. The two winning teams from the semifinal games will play for the Gardiner Cup in the championship game at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 27, while the two losing teams will face off in the consolation final.

“Both organizations saw this as a wonderful opportunity for their players and staff to see a part of the world that might be new to them, while at the same time, prepare for the upcoming AHL season,” said Bulldogs president and governor Glenn Stanford. “We’re looking forward to opening our preseason in Edinburgh before returning home to finish training camp and the preseason in preparation for our 14th season in Hamilton.”

“The Marlies are thrilled to participate in Scotland’s ‘Ice Hockey Homecoming’ Tournament and to compete for the Gardiner Cup,” said Marlies general manager Jeff Jackson. “This will be a terrific hockey and life experience for our players and we’re honoured to be a part of this unique event. We are looking forward to a competitive tournament and showcasing a number of our NHL prospects to the hockey fans in Scotland.”

The Gardiner Cup celebrates the life of Charles “Chuck” Gardiner. Known as the Wandering Scotsman, he was one of the game’s pre-eminent goaltenders during the 1920’s and 1930’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 1927-34. 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.