Campbell getting used to the flak

Mar 19 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DEREK Campbell is getting used to life as something of a verbal punch-bag for Rob Wilson. But the 27-year-old does not mind his Vipers player-coach constantly getting on his back – because it shows he values him.

The forward will be hoping to become only the third Vipers player to hit 50 points this season when his team hosts play-off-chasing Edinburgh Capitals in tonight’s Elite League clash.

But despite another productive season – 21 goals and 27 assists from 51 games in a struggling team – Campbell has a permanent flea in his ear from Wilson, who openly admits he is unrelenting in his criticism and cajoling of the Canadian.

“I’ve had mixed feedback from the coaching staff this season,” admitted Campbell, whose laid-back approach can sometimes be at odds with Wilson’s work ethic.

“But I’m confident that when our coaching staff and my club have criticised me this season, they’ve done it in a positive way. That’s the style we have in Newcastle and something I was aware of when I signed for them.

“It’s one thing you can never knock coach Wilson for – he’s very passionate and he wants to get the best out of players.

“Don’t sign a contract if you can’t handle that kind of style. I just deal with it.”

The positive for Vipers fans is that Campbell, who scored 55 points in 53 games last term, is hungry for more, stressing: “One good thing about it is I still love playing here.”

Like many of his team-mates, Campbell is over-familiar with the inside of the penalty box, having spent over 200 minutes there in each of his two campaigns on Tyneside.

Wilson encourages his players to get stuck in, and is largely prepared to suffer the consequences if necessary. But Campbell’s two-match suspension for slashing against Cardiff Devils last month, at a time when the squad was down to the bare bones through injury, was dreadfully timed with a British Knockout Cup semi-final first leg in Manchester days later.

The Vipers will be out for revenge against Edinburgh, who have had the Indian sign over them this term. The eighth-placed Caps have won five of eight meetings – none more emphatically than 12 days ago, when they raced into a 7-1 first-period lead on the way to a 9-2 victory. With the Vipers’ sole focus on preparing for next week’s two-legged play-off, netminder Andrew Verner is expected to be rested for tonight’s Newcastle Arena game, which faces off at 7.15pm.