NEWCASTLE,U.K- Newcastle Vipers ended a dreadful seven game losing streak in the league last weekend when they defeated the Edinburgh Capitals 6-3, Vipers then picked up another point the following evening when they took Nottingham Panthers all the way to penalty shots. Head-coach Rob Wilson will be delighted to have picked up a win and a point from a penalty shots defeat after the form the Vipers have been in recently. Once again on Saturday both new signings Ed Courtney and Jeff Hutchins impressed. The forward line of Courtenay, Hutchins and Derek Campbell tore the Capitals to shreds and with the vision Courtenay has both Campbell and Hutchins will have countless scoring chances in the coming months. Sunday nights game was a tight tense affair that was goalless for the first two periods of play. Vipers gave a hard gritty performance and were able to limit genuine scoring opportunities for the Panthers. The Panthers had been the Vipers bogey team so far this campaign as they had taken all the six points on offer in their match’s against Wilson’s side, however the point Vipers gained on Sunday night will encourage them that they can compete with Corey Neilson’s side when they take them on later this season. In other news Likit Anderson has signed for Newcastle Vipers for the rest of the current campaign after it became known that blue liner Burt Henderson was going to be out until February of next year. Anderson had a spell with the Cardiff Devils earlier this season until injury struck. Likit posted five points from the eight games he played picking up four penalty points along the way. Anderson was raised in Sweden after being born in Thailand and he has spent time playing in both the North American and European Leagues so he should be able to settle in the UK quickly enough after all the globetrotting he has done. The arrival of Anderson will ease the pressure on Gouett and McAllister as they were the only two first choice senior defensman at the club. Player Coach Rob Wilson came out of retirement again when Henderson was injured while youngster Jez Lundin has been given many more shifts than he would normally get at this time in his career to cover the defensive gaps in the Vipers roster. Contact the author at Chris.mckenzie@prohockeynews.com
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