Season Preview: Newcastle Vipers
September 8th, 2007This summer may already feel like winter but it’s not quite hockey time yet, well actually now that the season is upon us it is indeed hockey time again. With the season only a few weeks one day away and with obviously no blogging time left I guess it’s about time to try finish up the preview each of the teams with as much knowledge as I actually have of them anyway! Next up it’s the Vipers:
THE VIEW
What to expect:
Who knows what to expect with the Vipers. Two years ago they won the playoffs only to follow that up with a very average season. The new zero-tolerance rules brought in last year hurt them and their playing style a lot and they have addressed that in this off-season moving more towards a team with speed as well as the physical presence. They quickly signed up Jeff Hutchins from us to provide the goals and have retained the services of their number one goon Andre Payette. Payette of course will be fun to watch in the Odyssey again and no doubt will be a punch bag for Carlyle Lewis at the first opportunity. Newcastle has looked sharp in pre-season but so have others and I think a lot of teams may have the measure of them. No doubt I’ll be proved wrong.
Key Player:
Jeff Hutchins: He scored over thirty goals for the Giants last season and finished up as our top points scorer. He was one of the premier power forwards in the Elite League and it was a tough loss for the Giants. He’ll be loved in Newcastle and will fit into the style and no doubt will score at least over twenty goals again this season. He brings a physical game to the table and it’ll be fun to see him go head to head with some of our guys when the Vipers come to town.
Odds for the Gambler:
2 to 1: On Jeff Hutchins to get booed by some fans on his return to the ‘O’
10 to 1: On Hutchins to fight a Giants player!
50 to 1: On Hutchins to go pointless in games against the Giants
If they were an NHL team they would be the:
Anaheim Ducks - Newcastle may not have won anything last year but like the Ducks they play very physical aggressive hockey.
A Prediction that means nothing: 9th
STATS AND FACTS
Previous 3 seasons:
04-05: n/a
05-06: 2nd in Elite League with 25 wins and 12 defeats.
06-07: 8th in Elite League with 24 wins and 29 defeats.
06-07 vs Giants (W-L-T): 1-5-0
In 15 games against the Vipers in their history the Giants have won 12 and only lost 3. They have scored 62 goals and let in 34.
ON THE WEB
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