NEWCASTLE , UK – Newcastle Vipers made an encouraging start to their 2010/11 season as Danny Stewart’s side did the double over the Edinburgh Capitals in 2 challenge games on the first weekend of the season for both clubs. Vipers seem to have assembled a solid roster that could well surprise a lot of sides this campaign. At the clubs media day Pro Hockey News was able to grab a few minutes with Player/Coach Stewart and ask him how he thought the season was shaping up.
With an mid-table season expected, Stewart was asked what he expected from the season
“So far, so good, I like what we have, a good balance of energy and competitiveness. We’ve got some decent size especially for Whitley Bay. I feel it’ll be a successful season as for standings wise it remains to be seen but our goal this year is to show up every night and compete for 60 minutes.”
The club is playing games out of Whitley Bay ice rink this year, which presents a different challenge to teams compared to the much larger Metro Radio Arena which has been home to Newcastle sides for a number of seasons. Would this present a challenge to Stewart?
Stewart is keen to make a good impression (Photo Newcastle Vipers)
“Yeah definitely, I built the team to suit our rink, I wanted some size at the back with a little bit of a physical presence and I wanted some size up front. I didn’t want us to be completely suited to Whitley Bay and not suited for everywhere else so I wanted to have that balance of guys that could skate as well. We went younger this year, a lot younger. I can’t see a team being as young as us in the league this year. I think that will bring more energy and excitement to Whitley Bay and produce a different style of hockey to what many are used to up here”.
Some fans have questioned the wisdom of the club in moving it’s base to Whitley, but Stewart was quick to allay those fears
“I don’t see it as a disadvantage at all at the end of the day we play here and when we play other teams they have to play here as well. Whitley Bay Ice Arena have been good at accommodating us so far, they’ve made improvements to the ice surface and the rest of the building so hopefully it’s a better experience for the fans as well.”
Although coaching this season, Stewart will still have a role on the ice and will likely drop to the 3rd line of players, or would he?
“I guess I will be yes, it gives us a little more depth and it gives me a chance to have more time on the bench and work things the way I want. We’ve got some skilled guys so there’s no need for me to play on one of the top 2 lines when we’ve got the guys who are more than capable of doing that.”
In the end of season playoffs you played in defence for the Coventry Blaze, would you move back to the blue line again if needed ?
“Yes definitely. Versatility is always a good thing and we’ve got a few guys who are versatile and we expect them to play different positions. As we have some size and toughness at the back there are cases where we will lose guys to penalties and stuff like that so if I’m needed to go back there its no problem”.
Experienced player Paul Sample has been selected this season to take on the role of captain, which has raised a few eyebrows and Stewart gave his reasons to Pro Hockey News.
New captain Paul Sample (Photo Newcastle Vipers)
New to the club this year is the British trio of Liam McAllister, Rob Wilson and Sam Zajac. All highly regarded as future stars of the game, Stewart snapped them up when speaking to other people within the game who recommended them to him.
“The lads were recommended to me regularly when I spoke a lot to local boys like Samps (Paul Sample) in particular and I talked to him about those guys. I spoke to Tom Murdy (Coventry net minder) to see what the new guys were like and players from last year like Lobby (David Longstaff) and Rob Wilson (former Vipers coach) had some influence over the view I took of the young players. I definitely did some research to make sure they were the right guys and I’m pleased to have them as part of the Vipers”.
The Vipers are notorious as one of the tougher teams within the EIHL, but this year Stewart has moved the side away from out and out toughness and he explained his decision
“There’s no one that’s come in that’s an out and out enforcer, we’ve got plenty of team toughness. We’ve got a tight knit group so far and hopefully we can get even tighter and I feel that creates an atmosphere where guys will be sticking up for each other. We have plenty of toughness so that’s not an issue.”
With this being his first big step into coaching, Stewart was asked whether it was his plan to become a coach.
“I think it had crossed my mind a few times, I don’t think I had seriously thought of pursuing it this early but when the opportunity arose from Newcastle I initially talked to Paul Thompson about it and it got me thinking. I thought it was a good opportunity for me.”
Paul Thompson, Coventry Blaze and Great Britain head coach, has been Stewat’s coach and mentor for a few seasons and naturally some of his coaching abilities have rubbed off on Stewart.
“Yeah definitely he’s a guy who has the knack of getting the most out of his players. He’s a competitor and has won everything there is to win in British ice hockey. Definitely taken a few things from playing for him, its definitely helped me. Over the summer with recruitment I was constantly talking to him about it and he was giving me little tips to help me.”
The Vipers begin their home campaign this Sunday when the Sheffield Steelers head to Hillheads in Whitley Bay with the game facing off at 17:30.
Contact the author – chris.mackenzie@prohockeynews.com
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