Wilson feels pain of loss
Dec 29 2008 The Journal
DRESSED in a silver grey suit and tie, player-coach Rob Wilson still cut a disconsolate figure as he faced the media after another frustrating Vipers’ home defeat, writes PETER ADAMS.
Troubled by the back injury that had forced him off and to the bench, Wilson looked and sounded uncomfortable.
He said: “I am very disappointed and I have got to the point where I do not know what to say any more. You know at times I think we absolutely owned them, dominated them and we should have won 2-1, had we waited 3-1, 4-1, so it was a poor, poor result.
“At times we looked like t he team that can play with anyone but we have lapses that I can’t understand. I talked about the only way they were going to beat us was to give them rushes and we go and do it on a powerplay – a powerplay. Then three forwards watch a guy skate right by them and bang, a rebound, goal, that simple.”
Earlier Wilson had broken down during the warm up and the Vipers then lost influential captain, David Longstaff, during the second period. Because of his various hand and foot injuries, Longstaff has only been playing recently.
The Vipers effectively lost Saturday’s game in 54 seconds of play early in the third period. Leading 2-1, the team was operating a powerplay when David Beauregard broke away along the right. He made netminder Andrew Verner commit himself before picking out Kenton Smith at the far post on 43 minutes.
It became 3-2 after Verner had denied Smith but couldn’t send the puck into a safe area. He had no help and unmarked Alex Dunn hit home the rebound on 44 minutes.
Vipers had earlier taken the lead straight from the face-off which started the second period. Jeff Hutchins’ pass opened the Phoenix defence and Rob Rankin’s assured finish made fans wonder why he had not scored in 15 previous games.
Phoenix player-coach Tony Hand’s hit-and-hope pass into the crease ended up being deflected into the net by a Viper for the 32nd minute equaliser.
But it took the home side less than four minutes to reassert itself on a five-on-three powerplay. Positioned in front of goal, Derek Campbell kept his composure after seeing a shot hit a post, and flicked the puck to his right where Hutchins struck it home for his 11th goal in 13 games.
After Vipers had surrendered that lead, and with seconds left, Campbell had a chance to equalise from close range but, being challenged by Phoenix players, could only shoot at netminder Stephen Murphy.
Wilson also announced that a testimonial game is to be held in his honour at the Metro Radio Arena on Thursday, February 5, and that he is hoping to attract some big names to play in his All Star side which will take on a North East All Star team.
VIPERS: Hutchins and Rankin 1+1. Andersson and D.Campbell 0+1.
PHOENIX: Hand and Smith 1+1, Dunn 1+0, Beauregard, Fulghum and Mulherin 0+1.
