NEWCASTLE, UK – Former Coventry Blaze forward Danny Stewart has been unveiled as the Newcastle Vipers new player coach. Stewart had been linked with a number of coaching positions since the end of the 2009/10 campaign and his appointment looks to be a positive move for the entire Vipers organisation.
Stewart has spent the last 4 seasons with Paul Thompson’s Coventry Blaze and the 31 year old brings a wealth of experience to his new position. Stewart has also spent time in the UHL and NCAA in North America so it is hoped that Newcastle’s new coach will have a plethora of contacts to call upon as he tries to assemble a competitive side for the 2010/11 term.
Many north east hockey fans will be hoping that Stewart can build a team that epitomises the way he has approached the game since he arrived in the British hockey. Stewart has always been an antagonistic forward who tries to unsettle the opposition with his physical style of play and such an approach would be welcome on Tyneside after a campaign in which Vipers were one of the weakest teams physically in the Elite League.
Stewart’s versatility will also help Newcastle this term as he is able to play in just about any position on any line. Coventry used Danny on the blue line in the end of the season Play Offs this season due to the amount of injuries they had in defence and he showed himself he be more than capable of filling in at the back when required to do so.
One player who Stewart will not be able to call upon is British forward Dean Holland as the youngster has already agreed a deal to play in the EPL next campaign. Holland was an exciting prospect a couple of seasons back as at that time he was picking up a few points on the Vipers 3rd line while also dropping the gloves on a number of occasions. However the youngster has had little opportunity to ice for Newcastle this season which will have no doubt led to him looking at other opportunities.
Holland was rumoured to have been approached by Peterborough a couple of summers back so it is possible that the Vipers number 14 could well be donning a Phantoms uniform next term. It is hoped that Holland can secure himself a regular slot on a steady forward line next season as Dean needs regular ice time for his game to reach its full potential.
Contact the author Chris.MacKenzie@Prohockeynews.com
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