Several have volunteered to pick up arriving players from the airport and drive them to The House of Steel.

And even Steelers are helping out the Murrayfield men, who have seen their pre-season plans hit for six by the collapse of airline Zoom.
Steelers general manager Mike O'Connor has offered the use of hotel rooms so the trio have enjoy a short nap before game time.

It's a double gesture which Capitals' director of hockey, Doug Christiansen, appreciates and he said: "The fans are picking up the guys from the airport and driving them south and Mike has offered a hotel room – that's great."

Three of them – Shawn Germain (defence), Michel Robinson (netminder) and Mark Hurtubise (forward) – will not meet their team-mates until just before face-off time.

Defensive duo Taylor Christie and Joe Dustin touched down in Scotland last night while feisty utility player Adam Stefishen arrived yesterday morning to start his second season with the Capital club.

Christiansen said: "It's not the way we would have wanted, but these guys are professional ice hockey players.

"We'll not be talking rocket science to them before the game. We'll be trying to play simple, basic hockey and hoping that the guys can gel quickly."

On Sunday, Capitals host their first match of the new season when they entertain Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup (6pm).

In the opposition dressing-room will be Glasgow-born Colin Shields, who returns for a second spell with the Northern Irish club.