We must take the pain – Wilson
Jan 3 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
VIPERS player-coach Rob Wilson has revealed his players have been playing through the pain in recent weeks and promises anyone fit enough to skate will be on the ice at their second home for this weekend’s British Knockout Cup clash against Edinburgh Capitals.
The sides meet home and away in the second round of the competition this weekend, with the first game at Hillheads in Whitley Bay this afternoon (4.30pm).
Defencemen Burt Henderson is out with a broken wrist and Chris McAllister has had to admit defeat to the foot he broke a fortnight ago. But they may not be the only ones missing.
Fellow D-man Wilson’s fitness is in doubt and he will wait as late as possible before deciding if the back injury which kept him out of the Christmas games against Manchester Phoenix will do so again. But if possible he is prepared to follow the lead of many of his players in gritting his teeth and getting on with it.
“It will be a basic thing: Are you hurt or are you injured? If you’re hurt, you will play, if you’re injured, you won’t,” Wilson explained.
“We didn’t need the news that Chris McAllister’s got a broken foot. Burt Henderson is out until February and my back’s so bad at the moment. If I don’t make it that means we’re losing three defencemen.
“But I’m going to try and play. I’m getting physio every day to try and get out on the ice this weekend.”
Although McAllister’s injury was made public this week, he has been carrying the problem for some time.
“It turns out Chris has been playing on a broken foot for over two weeks,” Wilson admitted. “He’s a tough guy and he just gets on with it. But he’s probably going to be out for another two or three weeks. We’re hoping he won’t be out too long.
“David Longstaff has been playing injured for quite a while now (the Vipers captain has problems with both his hands and feet) but he’s going to give it a go for the weekend. Every team goes through injuries but everyone’s got to go through because we need to win it because it’s important for the fans, the players and the organisation.”
One reason Wilson is so keen not to throw in the towel this weekend is the way an enticing draw has opened up for his side, who after receiving a bye into the quarter-finals were drawn against one of the three teams below them in the Elite League table..
“It will be a very intense weekend for all of us,” he said. “Belfast play Coventry and Nottingham and Sheffield are already out, so by the middle of the month three of those four big teams will be out of the competition, which opens it up.”
The Vipers are asking all spectators at today’s game to wear white.
The Vipers’ English National League side are at North Division One leaders Billingham Bombers tomorrow in North Division One. Whitley Warriors are at Kingston today.
