Vipers expect new player Prpich will deliver

Nov 17 2010 by Matthew Leslie, The Journal

BLAME it on the postman is Newcastle Vipers coach Danny Stewart’s line after the much-delayed signing of Canadian ace Mike Prpich was finally completed.

The forward was actually signed a month ago but was unable to link up with his new team-mates at Hillheads due to what was understood to be Home Office red tape.

Many thought this was down to a host of new rules and regulations on those seeking to ply their trade in the UK.

However, as it turns out, it was the most basic rule of the lot that stopped Prpich getting in – he didn’t have a passport.

Stewart revealed: “Prpich has received his visa and we can confirm that he has it in his hand and is set to fly out, or fly in to Newcastle, today.

“It means he’ll be here for the weekend and he’ll be a huge boost for the club as well. To be completely honest it was a mishap with the delivery service which delayed his arrival.

“It’s as frustrating as it is it’s completely out of our hands you know.

“He paid for express courier service for his visa and they sent it on the ground. Then it got misplaced by the ground carrier.

“The visa comes within his passport so he can’t fly until he gets that back, so basically the passport was misplaced.

“It was too late to get him in for the weekend gone so we’ll have him in this weekend which is good.

“Last week, if we were to get him in, he was basically coming right off the plane into a game, so it might have been a little bit of a tough start for him.

“He’ll be here a couple of days before the Hull game and while there might be a jet-lag issue, I’m going to throw him right into the fire.

“That was his call and fair play to him. He said he wanted to come in and get right into it so he has every opportunity and you if he or I think he’s feeling the effects of it then I can pull it back a bit.

“But to start the game, I’m going to throw him right in there and get him playing.” Vipers have also signed up a new defenseman but are keeping his identity a secret, should any more passport mishaps occur.

Stewart added: “We’ve signed a defenseman and I think we’ll be getting that out to the public in the next couple of days. As for him being in this weekend it’s still up in the air, we’re definitely not going to confirm it not after what we went through with Prpich last week!

“We don’t want to give the fans the wrong impression that he will be here and then he doesn’t show up”

The Vipers are in home action on both nights this weekend as part of the Drive for Five weekend.

Saturday’s game is against Hull Stingrays (7pm) while the following night Nottingham Panthers are the visitors (5.30pm). Tickets are available from the Vipers office on 0191 4774100 or online at www.vipershockey.co.uk/shop