Pressure pays off for Vipers

Dec 22 2007 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

ROB Wilson thinks being left short of numbers has caused the penny to finally drop with his Vipers players, but that will not stop him trying to draft in new players before the end of the year.

Although 2007 has only ten days still to run, the Vipers have six Elite League games to play in that time. And while there will be no new recruits before the first of them, at Nottingham Panthers today, the Canadian coach was optimistic last night he may have made a breakthrough in his frustrating search for new talent.

The lack of numbers has had a positive effect in his eyes, however, making his current squad finally wise up to what he has been telling them for some time.

As well as being an import down since the sacking of Petr Kratky, the Vipers have lost Colin Shields through injury and have had to carry Pavel Gomenyuk and Jeff Hutchins, who have been a long way short of full fitness.

Wilson’s whole coaching philosophy is based around dogged defence and winning low-scoring games, a knack his side has finally rediscovered after a miserable run of two wins out of 11. The Newcastle-based team have won two of their three games since, the last two going beyond regulation time, but scoring only five goals in the process.

With top scorer Shields out with a broken hand it is an approach they will have to continue taking.

“I’ve told the guys we got five out of six points because we battled,” said Wilson.

“Sometimes being short makes the guys grit their teeth and go to work.”

Coventry Blaze’s recent dip means the third-placed Vipers are only six points off the Elite League summit despite their horror run and the difficulties Paul Thompson’s side has been facing has only added to his friend Wilson’s optimism.

“Coventry losing the last few games means everybody’s back in it,” he said. “We’ve got to try and grind something out this weekend.”

Having looked as though he would have to get through the Christmas period without anyone to replace Czech defenceman Kratky, sacked earlier this month, Wilson was last night optimistic he has finally made the breakthrough in the transfer market. Indeed, if all goes well he could have two new players icing next weekend. “There’s a couple of guys have become available and I’m hoping to have someone in by the end of the week,” said Wilson.

“If not, then just shortly after in time for the Hull-Edinburgh weekend (December 29/30).

“I’m looking at a defenceman and a forward.”

The Vipers currently have only one available import slot but Hutchins’ groin injury could spare one of his team-mates getting a P45 for Christmas. The Canadian winger is expected to be out for four to five weeks as he recovers from groin surgery. He could be de-registered during that time, as Kratky was when he broke two fingers earlier in the season, allowing a second new man to come in without the need for any further until his return.

Wilson will at least be boosted by the return of Jez Lundin and Richie Thornton after their appearance in the Under-20 World Championships in Riga. The pair were part of the Great Britain team relegated to Division II of the competition after their dismal showing in Latvia.

Lundin was at least one of the few British players to find the net in the tournament, scoring in the defeat to Slovenia.

The Vipers are in action again tomorrow, when they entertain Belfast Giants in a 5.30pm face-off at Newcastle Arena.

Billingham Bombers have two Northern League games at the weekend, at Blackburn Hawks today and Fife Flyers tomorrow. Whitley are at home to Flintshire Freeze in the English National League (North) tomorrow.