NEWCASTLE, UK – Pro Hockey News recently caught up with Vipers coach Danny Stewart to find out his views on the season so far and how he thought a number of his signings were coping with life so far in the British Elite League.
Newcastle are currently bottom of the league after a dreadful run of results and the Vipers player coach believes its his teams inconsistency that has been their main problem so far this term.
“We’ve had some good performances but seem to follow them up with bad performances. It’s finding that consistency and I don’t know if we’ve played 2 solid games in a row yet and that’s down to inexperience and hopefully as these guys get more confident and start to understand what it takes to win in this league the guys will start to see that consistency.”
Stewart went on to outline just where Vipers needed to improve if Newcastle were going to move up the standings.
Coach Stewart (Photo Paul Lynch)
“Special teams are by far our biggest issue right now. In this league there is a lot of powerplays and penalties and we are last in the league on penalty kill with 47% which is a horrendous number and our powerplays aren’t going well either”
“If we look at Hull/Edinburgh games – half the game is special teams so that’s definitely one area we’ve got to work on – we need to get better”
Vipers have possibly there youngest ever roster of players this season and the lack of experience in the squad could be contributing towards the club struggle on special teams.
“If we look at the powerplay we want a little bit more poise so that we create and make plays. Right now on the power play we are just forcing things too much.
“On the penalty kill you need some good hockey sense, when guys are just reacting. You can put systems in place but a lot of it is reacting and battling and just competing on the kill. Guys need to realise they need to turn it up a notch when on the penalty kill and out battle the powerplay.”
“Little things like guys having the puck in the neutral zone with 20 feet in front of them to skate and they are trying to force that extra pass or that extra play rather than just getting the puck to the net. Just making the smart plays and making better decisions are key.”
Pro Hockey News asked Stewart if any of his signings had exceeded expectations so far this campaign.
“We’ve had guys that have played well and guys that have been a little inconsistent. I don’t think there’s one guy that stands out more than others. Everyone has brought a little bit of something to the team and hopefully we’ll keep getting better.”
Forsbacka adding some toughness (Photo Paul Lynch)
“Definitely, he’s a big strong guy and he’s got some skill too so he has to play a certain way to succeed in this league. There was a couple of weekends when he wasn’t doing it and I had to make sure he got back onto his game and get him refocused.”
“When Forsbacaka decides to go to the net no one is going to stop him. He can pick up rebounds and if he plays that style of game he can score some goals in this league. If he finds consistency in his game and that physical type of game he will impact this league.”
“Sometimes they will have 1 guy by him and sometimes they need 2 defenders to come back so not only is he tough to deal with but it opens up space for other guys as well. If he plays a physical style of game and through physical I don’t mean just fighting I mean finishing hits, being strong in the corner and being tough in front of net he can have a big impact for our club.”
Dean Holland (Photo Paul Lynch)
“Dean gives us another option. There are games when Deano has played the way I want him to play and there’s been games where he hasn’t. Deano had to play a physical style for us and be that little rink rat he is capable of being. He can be mean and physical on the ice when he wants to be and we need him to bring that consistently. Again I’m saying that word consistency because it’s the key.”
“Playing physically makes Dean a better player, when your playing physical and that adrenalin gets going you start playing with more energy and that makes you a better player altogether.”
To make room for Holland on the Vipers roster and wage bill British defender Rob Wilson was gassed. We asked Stewart why the former Whitley Warrior was released just weeks into the season?
“Rob is a great guy and lots of the guys enjoyed him in the (locker) room. He just wasn’t at the Elite League level. I felt if he wasn’t going to be playing regularly back on d there was no sense in keeping him here. Rob’s release had nothing to do with the teams performance I just didn’t feel he was at the level I needed him to be.”
Vipers British players have not been able to make much of an impact so far this season. We asked Danny if he was unhappy with the home grown section of this roster?
“I wouldn’t say unhappy. If there’s one kid who has exceeded my expectations going back to your earlier question it is Sammy Zajac. He’s been fantastic for us. He’s been so dependable I’ve been able to play him a regular shift from the start of the year.”
“Our other Brits just need to be a little bit more dependable and bring something to the table. I’ve had some meetings with them this week for example Nathan Salem is a kid who’s got some talent but he just not fit right now. He’s not where he needs to be fitness wise and I’ve told him he has to improve that part so he can be a better player for the team.”
Pro Hockey News asked Stewart if this was why Salem has had rather limited ice time this term ?
“Its partly that and also he’s young still learning and individual skill is just one aspect of the game. There’s a lot of systems in place and once a guy is fully comfortable playing those systems he’ll get more ice time. As his fitness comes along the more comfortable he’ll get on the ice. Nathan has also took a couple of silly penalties that have cost us and those guys who are playing less than the imports maybe getting 3 or 4 shifts a period cant be going out there and taking penalties. These guys need to be a little more dependable.”
On chatting with Stewart Pro Hockey News found out that the Vipers had almost signed promising British forward Robert Farmer in the close season and that changes to the Vipers roster would be made if Newcastle’s form did not start to pick up.
Salem is coming along (Photo Paul Lynch)
“I pursued Farmer in the summer time and I thought we had him but he pretty much pulled a 180 on us and signed in Manchester however he ended up going back over to Canada. Once the big teams start calling on guys like that were not capable of competing with the salary.”
“The next few games are key, I have been looking to see what’s out there. You don’t want to make a change just for the sake of a change. You want to make sure the right people are out there and anyone who comes in is going to improve the club and bring in elements that you are lacking. I have been looking and the next few games will be very key for some guys and if some guys don’t pick it up changes will be made.”
We asked Stewart if he was on the look out for a natural goalscorer as Vipers do not appear to have clinical finisher on their roster at present.
“Definitely with the youth and inexperience we are lacking that quality finisher. I think we have a couple of guys that will come round. We just need maybe another one to help not just with the finish but with a little more skill up front. A little more poise like we talked about. We are a lower budget club in a perfect world you could pick what you need and bring them in but it doesn’t always work that way. Were definitely looking to see what’s out there skill wise and hopefully we can find someone bring in.”
Pro Hockey News would like to thank Danny Stewart for taking the time out to speak to us and also point out that the interview took place at the Vipers recent media day at the end of October.
Contact the author – chris.mackenzie@prohockeynews.com More photos by Paul Lynch can be found on http://paullynch.smugmug.com/
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