NEWCASTLE, UK – Newcastle Vipers got their Elite League season off to great start when they picked up 3 points out of the 4 available in their home double header against the Cardiff Devils. Coach Wilson appears to have recruited well both defensively and offensively and Vipers will be furthered boosted when Ryan Mahrle joins up with his new team mates after his wedding which takes place this week.
Jason Tejchma and David Longstaff seem to have developed a good understanding already as both forwards picked up 3 points during Sundays game. Longstaff who is once again captaining Newcastle this term will be hoping to lead his sides goal scoring come the end of the season but he no doubt will be delighted if players such as Tejcma, Matus Petricko and Todd Griffith can compete with him to be have the best points tally.
Coach Wilson has decided to bring two former Vipers back to the Arena as Petricko and Griffith rejoin the side from the north east of England. Matus Petricko enjoyed a hugely successful season with Newcastle in 2005/6 when he posted over a point a game and was part of the Vipers side who sensationally won the Elite League Play Offs in their debut season in Britain’s top league. Petricko has already shown the fans that he hasn’t lost the silky skills that made him a favourite during his first stint with the club as he managed to pick up 4 points during the sides first 2 League encounters of the new season.
Todd Griffith left the Vipers mid way through the last campaign after his foray into British hockey had got off to an encouraging start. Griffith can cause problems for any Elite League defence on his day though he is prone to drift out of games and the Vipers coaching staff will have to make sure that he is giving his all when he is out on the ice. Griffith did manage to tally 25 points in 35 games which demonstrates he certainly has plenty of ability. However in the Vipers home double header against the Devils, Griffith showed both the best and worst aspects of his game with clinical finish’s in both normal time and in the shoot out on the Saturday then showing very little at all in the second game 24 hours later.
Vipers blue liner Jerramie Domish could be one of the finds of the season if he can maintain the form he has shown over his first weekend of action in the Elite League. Domish looks to be solid defensively and has also gone past the oppositions players with great ease when bombing forward. Domish’s game appears to have similarities to that of Ben Storey who had a superb season with Vipers in the 07/08 campaign and Domish may able to fill Storey’s shoes after none of last years d men were able to match the form that the sides former number 2 had shown in the season before last.
One area Vipers do look a little light on is the British talent they have at their disposal, the only experienced top level Brit on Tyneside is the veteran Longstaff. Ben Campbell will use his pace to great effect on the sides penalty killing unit but he is not expected to contribute a great deal of points during the campaign. With Jamie Tinsley and Dean Holland being the only other British forwards at the club with any Elite League experience Newcastle appear to have few home grown players who will be able to make significant points contributions for them over the season as a whole.
Newcastle seem to have a more rounded team than in recent years though Coach Wilson’s side will still have to settle for a mid table berth and look to the cup competitions for any possible shot of success in the 2009/10 term.
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