It was Capitals last season, seen against Cardiff Devils, and now it is Murrayfield Racers who ice out of the rink. Picture Ian Coyle

Murrayfield Racers will play in the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) Cup from September.

The new team, with Murrayfield Racers legend Tony Hand, who also played for Ayr Scottish Eagles, Sheffield Steelers, Edinburgh Racers and Dundee Stars, at the helm, will join Dumfries-based Solway Sharks in the competition.

League bosses have confirmed that seven teams will play in the mini-league.

Hand is director of hockey at new-look Racers who are run by a consortium who earlier this year won the bid for ice time at Murrayfield Ice Rink.

Billingham Stars, Blackburn Hawks, Hull Pirates, Sheffield Steeldogs and Telford Tigers join the Sharks and Racers in the Cup.

Racers will play one home game and one away fixture against each other before two legged semi-finals and a final later in the year.

Kirkcaldy-born Martin Grubb, Sharks’ coach, said: “Our Scottish National League team and junior teams have played at Murrayfield regularly.

“It will be an experience for the senior Sharks side to head to Edinburgh and face a team with such a storied name in Scottish and British ice hockey.

“The Murrayfield Racers were the big rivals for my team Fife Flyers when I was growing up and I remember watching players like Tony Hand, Rick Fera and Chris Kelland, to name a few, in the Heineken era.

“For me to now coach against a Murrayfield Racers side will be a great pleasure and it’s great to have another team North of the Border.

“We’ve flown the flag in the NIHL since 2011 and hopefully this will open the door for some more crossover games in the future.”

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