EDINBURGH Capitals lost goalie JF Perras to newly-crowned Elite League champions Coventry Blaze only hours after warning that other clubs were set to poach their players.
The news is a massive blow to the Murrayfield men as the fans' favourite will be difficult to replace.
He is also the second player Blaze chief Paul Thompson has signed from Capitals squad after tempting young British defenceman Ben O'Connor sout
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Perras, from Embrun, Ontario, was a virtual unknown before arriving Edinburgh last September from the Lubbock Cotton Kings of the Central Hockey League.
But his outstanding form caught the eye of Great Britain coach Thompson, who also doubles as coach to Blaze.
The razor-sharp goalie, who also assisted on two of Capitals goals last term, also recorded two shut-outs and ice-cool JF confirmed that he is more than ready for the challenge of playing for Britain's No.1 ranked side.
And he said: "I'm really excited about the upcoming season. I've heard nothing but great things about the organisation and I know, after playing in Coventry quite a few times this year with Edinburgh, that Blaze can fill their arena consistently with amazing fans which is great.
"I'm also looking forward to joining a top squad. It'll be exciting to get on that winning train again where every night a win is expected.
"I'm very happy to be part of the Coventry Blaze set-up and I hope that we will have a great year and we'll be able to achieve a great deal of success."
He added: "I'm aware of the expectations of coach Thompson but I'm looking forward to the new challenge.
"I'm eager to be able to prove myself once again in the league. I'm only in my second season in the Elite League but I learned a lot about the league and the players from playing last year with the Capitals.
"I had a good time in Edinburgh and I'm proud of what we achieved as a team after the Christmas break. It was great for the Caps to make the play-offs after such a great effort.
"Edinburgh is a great city and the Capitals organisation was great to me. I wish Doug Christiansen and his squad all the best next season."
Christiansen is sorry to see his No.1 go south but he said: "I want to wish JF all the best next season. We spoke about a contract and thought we were going to re-sign him but Coventry came in with a great offer.
"He (JF) was a big part of our success last year and it is my job now to replace him. I know he enjoyed his time in Edinburgh and it was a hard decision but Blaze signing two of our players definitely strengthens our rivalry, which was already intense."
The 27-year-old French Canadian turned in a string of man-of-the-match performances that helped Edinburgh to their best ever Elite League season in making the play-offs where they were knockout out at the first time of asking by Coventry. Capitals also reached the Knockout Cup semi-finals.
The full article contains 529 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
