Blaze game is ‘crucial to title’

Nov 10 2007 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

ROB Wilson has challenged the Vipers to end Coventry Blaze’s unbeaten start to the Elite League season or kiss their title hopes goodbye, writes STUART RAYNER.

The Newcastle side are second in the table but their Canadian coach knows they can only finish the season on top by getting the better of Coventry in their six games this season. The Midlanders are 1-0 up in this term’s meetings, but the Vipers can put that right by winning in the Skydome Arena and at home to Paul Thompson’s side next Saturday.

“Coventry’s just a massive game,” Wilson admitted. “No one else is taking points off them at the moment so we’ll probably have to win the series against Coventry to win the league. We’ll have to win one of our games in Coventry because they’ve already beaten us at our place.

“We played a very intelligent road game against Edinburgh (on Sunday), keeping it tight at the back and taking our chances when we needed to. That’s what we’ll have to do in Coventry. We’re trying to sneak a win – 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 or whatever.”

The Newcastle-based side go into the clash in good form, having lost just once since September 22 – when they were hammered 7-1 at home by the Blaze. The game also pits Great Britain assistant coach Wilson against his boss at international level, Thompson.

“We keep most of our own stuff private,” said Wilson. “We will try to draw other things out of each other in terms of who’s playing well and things like that. I’m sure he does the same with me. If he slips up I will take advantage. We’ve got a good working relationship but I want to beat him, that’s for sure. I don’t wish bad on any team but I don’t care if they don’t win another game this year.

“It will be a big feather in our cap to beat Coventry, it’s a David and Goliath-type thing.”

Pavel Gomenyuk starts tonight’s 7pm face-off but with the Ukrainian struggling with a groin injury, it is far from certain he will put in a full shift. Jeff Hutchins will not ice due to his own groin problem. Neither will face Sheffield Steelers in tomorrow’s Challenge Cup game.

The Vipers have already qualified for the semi-finals but Sheffield need a win to do likewise, with Nottingham Panthers and Cardiff Devils awaiting in the last four. Ex-Steelers captain Wilson is anxious not to do his old side any favours, however.

“I want the guys to give Sheffield a real game,” he said. “I’d rather have them do that than gift Sheffield a spot in the semi-finals. You don’t want it to come back to bite you – if Sheffield made it to the final and we’ve given them a bye we could regret it. No one has given anything to us in the past three years, so I don’t expect us to give anything to Sheffield.

Whitley Warriors and Billingham Bombers have two-game weekends in the English National League (North). Table-topping Warriors travel to Blackburn Hawks today, then entertain Kingston Jets tomorrow.

The Bombers’ programme is the same but in reverse, playing in East Yorkshire today before hosting the Hawks. The ENL Vipers, three points behind Whitley with a game in hand, are at Flintshire Freeze tomorrow.