NEWCASTLE, UK – Newcastle Vipers will need to show a great improvement on their recent form if Coach Wilson’s side are to knock the Belfast Giants out of the Play Offs this weekend. Vipers take on Belfast in Northern Ireland on Saturday evening before travelling back over the Irish Sea to face the Giants again at Hillheads on Sunday afternoon.
Newcastle played in Belfast as recently as last Saturday when Steve Thornton’s Giants recorded a comfortable 6-1 victory over the Tyneside based outfit. Vipers experimented with Ryan Jorde playing on the wing in both of their games last weekend and it is possible that Coach Wilson will persist with this tactic for this weekend’s double header. If Jorde was moved back to defence one of the clubs young Brits would have to play regularly on the 2nd forward unit a move which does not appear likely given the amount of ice time Holland, Salem and Tinsley have received so far this term.
If Jorde does continue to play as a forward. extra pressure will be placed on the Vipers blue line as the 3 imported defenceman will all have to log a lot of ice time over the course of the weekend’s action. Newcastle currently have no experienced British d men on their roster after Ritchie Thornton left the team mid season to link up with the Whitley Warriors in the ENL and Northern League. Therefore Jerramie Domish, Mark Gouett and Ryan Mahrle would all have to put in some lengthy shifts if Vipers went with 3 d men this weekend.
Vipers did show that they are capable of beating the top sides in the Elite League last Sunday night when the Nottingham Panthers went down to a 5-3 defeat in the north east. However it does have to be noted that Panthers iced a young unproven net minder between the pipes and that many of Nottingham’s top performers were rested that evening.
Belfast go into this weekends play off quarter finals as heavy favourites to secure their place in the final 4 at the NIC in Nottingham. However it is just possible that Newcastle could spring a massive surprise and edge the Giants out which would be a superb way for Rob Wilson to finish his coaching career with the Newcastle Vipers. Wilson announced this week that he would be stepping down from coaching duties at the Vipers at the climax of this season.
Contact the author Chris.MacKenzie@Prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.