  Thank you for supporting the Vernon Hills Capitals! If you no longer wish to receive news and promotions from the Capitals, please click here to unsubscribe from our newsletter. For the latest Capitals' news, scores, and stats, and to purchase official Vernon Hills Capitals souvenirs, please visit www.VernonHillsCapitals.com. November 14, 2009 vs. Oregon (Wisc.) Stampede 8:00PM at Glacier Ice Arena Tickets are on sale now at www.VernonHillsCapitals.com!  Capitals return home next weekend!Tickets are on sale now for the the Vernon Hills Capitals' 2009-2010 home opener next Saturday (November 14) vs. the Oregon (Wisc.) Stampede. The puck will drop on this Great Lakes Hockey League–South Division showdown at 8:00PM next Saturday at Glacier Ice Arena. Between periods the popular local band EnKase will entertain the crowd. Capitals games are an exciting, affordable way to spend an evening. Tickets are just $5 and youth hockey players wearing their team's colors are free! Team resets for 2009-2010 season The Capitals will play 26 Great Lakes Hockey League games this season, all holding significance as the team marches towards Magnuson Cup. General Manager Warren Sundt could not be happier with the team at this point. "We have some promising prospects this year, we have more depth and we bolstered our defensive core," Sundt said. The Capitals recruited heavily during the off-season, and have worked to rebuild a team that found itself winning only four regular season games in 2008-2009. "There are a lot of new faces, but we welcome it. It's no doubt we struggled a bit last year, especially at defense, so I can't wait to see what we can do this season,' said Capitals defenseman Brandon Pokrzewinski. October 24, 2009 at Fond du Lac: Bears 3 Capitals 2 (SO)  Capitals surrender to Bears in shootout; head to Fox Cities tonightThe Vernon Hills Capitals will travel to Appleton, Wisconsin tonight to take on the Fox Cities Ice Dogs at 8:30PM. On October 24 the Capitals opened the 2009-2010 season in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin against the defending national champion Fond du Lac Bears. Fond du Lac's Blue Line Ice Center was buzzing with excitement as thirsty fans prepared for a true barn burner between the Capitals and Bears. The game marked the first regular season game for both the Capitals and Bears, and was the first meeting of four between the two GLHL South Division rivals. The Bears put the first tally on the board at 8:27 into the first period. During the first period fans saw a hard-fought battle as both teams had plenty of opportunities to score, but the play of Capitals' goalie Doug Bair and Bears' goalie Scott Sarauer was too much for both offenses. A typically high-scoring Fond du Lac Bears team headed into the first intermission with only a one goal lead. After a motivational speech delivered by Capitals' General Manager Warren Sundt during the first intermission, the Capitals struck first in the second period with an impressive goal by newcomer Zach Kozak. Kozak showed poise and speed as he beat Bears' defensemen to the outside and buried the first Capitals goal of the 2009-2010 season just 20 seconds into the second period. The remainder of the second period featured another great display of goaltending at both ends, as both teams' goaltenders made their own highlight reels of tremendous saves. The Capitals, however, were finally able to breech Bears' goalie Scott Sarauer's levy when Zach Kozak picked up his second goal of the night on assists from Mike Barnes and Dan Stastny with 3:30 to play in the second period. Despite a hard offensive push by Fond du Lac near the end of the second period, the Capitals headed to the locker room with a 2-1 lead going into the second intermission. Fond du Lac scored early in the third period to knot the score at two apiece. The remainder of the third period led to a stalemate of sort as both teams pushed hard for the winning goal. Regulation time ended with 2-2 tie. Overtime offered much of the same as regulation time: strong offensive pushes only to be nullified by great defense and goaltending at both ends of the ice. The five minute overtime ended and placed the Capitals in their first shootout in franchise history. After two shootout rounds during which the Capitals failed to score, Fond du Lac's last shooter lit the lamp and ended the game. The Capitals suffered their first loss of the season but picked up one point in divisional standings. In other notables, Capitals goaltender Doug Bair made 42 saves in the loss.  For more information about the Capitals, please visit www.VernonHillsCapitals.com!
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