NEWCASTLE,U.K- The Newcastle Vipers have added two more players to their roster for the upcoming season. Head Coach and Director Rob Wilson snapped up Rob Rankin from the Hull Stingrays and former Sheffield Steelers double-winning Joel Irving has also agreed terms with the Tyneside side ahead of the 2008-09 season.
Rankin was the top goal and point scorer for the Stingrays last season posting 24 goals and 33 assists in the 61 games he iced. Rankin picked up 98 penalty minutes and also netted four times on the powerplay. It is believed that Rankin has been signed to play on the second line.
The Irving acquisition ahead of the forthcoming campaign has gotten fans very excited. Irving picked up 53 points last season playing for the Youngstown Steelhounds in the Central Hockey League in 64 games. Irving also picked up 114 penalty minutes giving the impression he is still willing to drop the gloves when the opportunity arises. Coach Wilson has recently stated that he thought the Vipers were pushed around too easily by other teams last season and Irving will provide the side with great size and skill on one of the top lines.
Vipers now have seven players signed up for next season including local youngsters Jez Lundin, Ben Campbell and Dean Holland who will all take shifts on the third line. Irving and Rankin join 2007-08 returnees David Longstaff and Mark Gouett as the Vipers roster begins to take shape.
Wilson will surely be in the market for some experienced British talent after losing both Colin Shields and Shaun Johnson for next season. Johnson’s retirement leaves a big gap to fill as there has been no harder working centre in the Elite league in the last few years and with top Brit Shields departing for the Belfast Giants, the Vipers home-grown players have little top level experience with the exception of captain Longstaff. There has been alot of movement of British players in the last few weeks and with only a handful of quality Brits left unattached Wilson will have to be quick to secure one of them unless he is planning on using the extra import slot to compensate for a less experienced British pool of talent. Contact the author at Chris.mckenzie@prohockeynews.com
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