Fan's shock as Griffith announces he's quitting on Facebook

Jan 5 2009 The Journal

THE Vipers must continue for the rest of the season without their top goalscorer Todd Griffith who told player coach Rob Wilson that he was quitting the club after Saturday night’s British Knockout Cup win over Edinburgh Capitals.

One of a number of players whose future with the club was believed to be in the balance, the Canadian obviously decided to go before possibly being pushed and shocked fans learned of the news on his Facebook page yesterday afternoon – hours before the Vipers’ second leg draw with Capitals, in which Griffith scored to secure his side’s place in the semi-finals.

The Vipers hurriedly issued a brief statement on their website confirming that the 16-goal forward had resigned. After the game a Vipers’ spokesman said: “It is with great reluctance that the club has accepted Todd’s resignation. As we understand it, Todd is a young man who is a long way away from home for the first time, where all his friends and family are, and he is feeling homesick.

“Other opportunities have also come his way and he wishes to explore them. We wish him the very best of luck in what ever he does as he has been a model professional for us off and on the ice.”

Griffith, who turns 24 later this month, joined the Vipers after splitting the 2007-2008 season between two East Coast Hockey Clubs, the Bakersfield Condors and South Carolina Stingrays.

Possessing explosive pace and silky puck-handling skills , Griffith produced some stand-out moments for the Vipers in the 35 games he played for the club. He also contributed 10 assists to the team’s cause and his last two set up the Vipers’ first and third goals in the 5-4 victory against the Caps. Having already lost teeth this season, Griffith was felled by a high stick to his face soon after the first goal.

Before he left the ice, Griffith hurled his stick onto an unoccupied part of the team bench and smashed his helmet into the plexiglass in frustration.