And if you can't get to the game tonight and want to see how the actions unfolds as it happens be sure to join us from 5.15pm for our live blog tonight.
The Chronicle's chief sports writer Lee Ryder will be at the game bringing you all of the latest action, colour and inside information from the Vipers locker room as Rob Wilson's side look to get off the mark for the new season.
You can also read a review and leave your opinion on our ice hockey blog Face Off and check out our match review.
Rob Wilson's side had threw away the 1-0 lead handed to them by Matus Petricko eight minutes into the second period before Yank defenceman Scott Romfo's slapshot levelled things up to make sure it was all square going into the final frame.
Wilson had explained to fans in the prawn sandwich area during the second interval his side would still deliver the good despite no longer containing tough guys like Andre Payette and Derek Campbell this season.
]]> Although, it has to be said that Cardiff enforcer Brad Voth hasn't had may quiet nights like this in his career.And with Payette, destined for Manchester Phoenix and the EPL this week, watching as a fan he must have been dying to get out there and get into the mix with Voth.
However, Wilson believes that the lack of his own enforcer neutralised the game tonight and that hard work and energy would come good for him
And it did when returning fan favourite Todd Griffith slotted home to make it 2-1 four minutes into the third period.
Jason Tejchma bagged a debut goal on 45:05 but it wouldn't be enough to seal even a regulation time victory as Max Birbraer bagged with nine minutes left to slash the two goal cushion to one and then Phil Hill equalised with less than four minutes to go.
It meant a penalty shoot-out and after Mark Smith scored Griffith tied it up again.
Yet, Newcastle were handed a great chance when Matty Miller missed his one on one only for David Longstaff to fluff his chance at the other end.
Birbraer scored but Tejchma's effort was saved my Stevie Lyle meaning Vipers open up with a defeat on pens.
Still there is always Sunday night's 5.30 meeting to make amends for Wilson's troops.
]]>The former NHL star has left Vipers following a disappointing seventh-place finish and early play-off exit, with Newcastle failing to qualify for finals weekend at Nottingham a fortnight ago.
The Chronicle understands that McAllister stormed out of the UK feeling bitter about the way his stint ended on Tyneside.
]]> The former Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks player also claims the club refused to let him take his sticks back to North America, insisting that they belong to the club.McAllister said: "I'm very thankful I will never be a part of this organisation again. This situation is a joke.
"They won't even give players their sticks at the season's end."
However, Vipers have hit back at McAllister's claims about ill- treatment from the club and say that plans are already well under way for a "complete rebuild" of the Newcastle roster, with Wilson's side preparing for another season of Elite League hockey.
By his own admission Wilson says there have been mistakes made this season, but he could also rightly feel frustrated by performances on the ice after his carefully assembled side flunked.
And with Wilson currently on international duty as coach with Great Britain, general manager Jaimie Longmuir said today: "We're shocked by Mac's outburst, to be totally honest.
"When we signed him we wanted a leader and somebody who could drive the team forward.
"It's disappointing to hear what he's had to say because we didn't feel we got what we thought we would get from him.
"As far as we're concerned, we went above and beyond the calls of duty to make him comfortable here.
"We gave him quality accommodation, helped him through Northumbria University to study and even paid to get him a direct flight home to North America."
Vipers will hold a meeting with supporters on April 24 in an open forum to take questions from fans who are anxious about the future. This follows Wilson's admission that he would have to re-think things following the club's early exit from the play-offs to Coventry Blaze.
The meeting will see Paul Ferone, Wilson and Longmuir talk about the future of the club.
And the Chronicle can also reveal that Vipers are close to agreeing a deal to re-sign the Canadian defenceman Mark Gouett.
Gouett is expected to be unveiled as the first signing for next season and is expected to be joined on the roster by Dean Holland, Jez Lundin and Ben Campbell.
But Wilson, who has pulled off a string of big-name signings since Newcastle joined the Elite League, is expected to add more stars who will get bums on seats next season.
Longmuir added: "We are building a team for the fans.
"It's not about big-time Charlies.
"It will be a team that works hard but also looks to challenge for honours and silverware.
"We're confident we can do that, but as always we need the support of the fans."
Meanwhile, American star Rob Rankin is also unlikely to return to Vipers.
The former Topeka Scarecrows ace is set to stay in the US after spending last season at Newcastle.
The meeting on April 24 takes place at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel at 7pm, with all fans urged to attend.
]]>The player was on a two week notice period with Vipers after head coach Rob Wilson tried to shake up his players following poor performances.
However, Griffith has made the decision to return to North America.
]]> The player has proved to be a favourite for the Vipers fans and without a doubt supporters will be unhappy to see him go.Griffith was top goalscorer with 16 goals and also chipped in with eight assists in his 33 games for the club.
Players and fans were saying their goodbyes yesterday with Griffith joining Marek Ivan and Tyler WIllis by going through exit door at Newcastle.
]]>And with two pieces of silverware still to play for it has to be trophies that we aim for.
Therefore, after our game with Nottingham Panthers tomorrow night, we must focus on the British Knockout Cup like we have never done before.
]]> We have got to give it 110% in the British Knockout Cup and we have to take a serious tilt at the play-offs too.We'll be fighting and we'll be physical and do anything that we have to do to succeed.
That's the demand ahead of the games coming up.
Hope you all have a great new year celebration and see you all soon at MRA.
Willy
]]>And there were a few players last week warned there will be changes and somebody will be going.
I feel we need a defenceman in here.
]]> I told a few guys that they need to step up their play.I hadn't been happy with Todd Griffin, but he, along with Rob Rankin, stepped up their game.
There were a lot of names flying around but Likit Andresson is a player we have been talking too.
We hope to complete the signing this week and he should be here soon.
In terms of players going out we will see after next week's games.
Looking back at the games with Nottingham and Edinburgh I satisfied in some ways.
If you'd have asked me on Friday if we could pick up three out of four points, I'd have been happy with that. It got us out of a rut.
Mark Gouett has scored for us what should have been the winner but it was chalked off for interference.
We have an away game with Basingstoke and then Coventry at home.
If we can repeat that we can turn the corner. We have been on a hard run of games.
]]>When I was on the way back from Sheffield on Saturday night after the Challenge Cup game I was thinking hard about the lack of confidence at the moment.
And after watching Arsenal lose 3-0 to Manchester City and all of the talent they have, it hit home that it can happen to anybody.
]]> Confidence is a crazy thing in sport and I am sure if you could bottle it, market it and sell it you would be a multi billionaire.If you look back over the season at one point Sheffield were struggling badly but they have now taken nine points from the last 10 and they are top of the Elite League.
That's how it can turn for you.
When I look at what we are doing for the team in training, we simply can't push the guys any harder.
It's simply a lack of confidence that is costing us results at the minute.
We aren't producing and we need to pick our game up.
That must start at Nottingham and Coventry but we know there are two upcoming games that will be really tough for us.
]]>With Wilson currently in Poland away on international duty with Great Britain and joined by his skipper David Longstaff, the injuries back home are still one of the biggest threats to whether Newcastle Vipers can have a successful season or not this year.
It all started early in the season when Burt Henderson went down with a broken wrist against Belfast Giants.
And since then it's struck for Jez Lundin - who missed his team GB call-up due to a knee injury - and Derek Campell (groin) and Todd Griffith (facial injury).
]]> Some of the walking wounded will return for Saturday's visit to the SkyDome.But now Vipers have turned to Warren Tait to help ease them through this weekend's difficult double-header against the Blaze.
The 27-year-old played four games for Newcastle and scored in the 3-2 home loss with Nottingham Panthers on opening night.
Today Jaimie Longmuir told me: "We have been unhappy about some of our recent performances.
"What we are looking for is to build up consistency.
"We have two massive games this weekend, and it is unfortunate they have fallen at around the time we have both David and Rob away on international duty.
"It is bad enough losing Rob as a coach, but we have lost an important player who handles the puck really well.
"Coventry have been doing well in the league, but if we want to do well we have to pick things up."
And looking at Tait's return, Longmuir says: "He has played with us already this season and impressed.
"We know he has plenty of experience, and he can help us out again this season."
]]>He brings with him bags of experience and skill and I still think he has a lot to offer us after playing at the top level in the NHL.
And of course his knowledge of Elite League is also fantastic after his days at Belfast Giants.
]]>But we have so much happening at Newcastle at the moment with the likes of Chris McAllister and Andrew Verner in the squad and a host of exciting youngsters coming through.
Throw in people like David Longstaff, Derek Campbell, Mark Gouett and Andre Payette and there is a good experienced roster to choose from.
Of course I had to fight off other interest for Ed but in the end we managed to attract him out of retirement.
]]>Instead, Wilson still feels there is plenty of room for improvement going into Thursday night's encounter with Edinburgh Capitals at the Metro Radio Arena.
The good thing from Sunday night's victory has to be that finally Wilson's current roster is gelling together.
A couple of weeks ago it was Derek Campbell who was looking to shake off his goal drought and after getting stuck in to some pre-match pasta as a new ritual, he responded with five goals in his last few weeks before picking up a groin injury.
Now Andre Payette has managed to get off the mark with two goals in as many games while Todd Griffith bagged his first hat-trick in Newcastle colours to take his tally to 10 for the season.
Newcastle fans know that their record victory against Basingstoke is bettered only the 9-2 win over the Caps in November 25, 2005.
And since they joined the Elite League there was also a Challenge Cup win over Edinburgh in September 2005 which ended in a 9-0 rout.
Throw into that Edinburgh lost 9-0 againt to Cardiff Devils at the weekend, there's certainly plenty of food for thought going into Thursday night's clash.
]]>Wilson has been after an experienced star ever since Burt Henderson broke his wrist last month.
The 40-year-old former Belfast Giants and San Jose Sharks ace left Belfast last season and Wilson revealed on Irish TV that he'd met the player to sign him.
WIth Wilson serving a ban in the stands during tonight's game in Belfast against the Giants in the Challenge Cup, he did not dodge the question when asked.
]]> Wilson said: "I don't mind admitting it, we have spoke to Ed."We will have to see what is happening.
"He has a business back home in Canada, which has just started so we will see."
Wilson and Co return to Tyneside to take on Sheffield Steelers at the Metro Radio Arena.
]]>Campbell is always hungry for goals but like all sportsmen doesn't need reminding that they come in spurts.
Yet clearly the 28-year-old is determined to make hay while the sun is shining.
]]> Campbell had been concerned about his form after going five games without scoring and opening the season with an irregular tally of two in the opening 10 matches of the season.The cold streak for DC left him looking for a fresh approach and after an idea from former Newcastle Vipers star Spencer Downey - who now entertains guests at the Metro Radio Arena with expert analysis during intermissions - the all action left winger was happy to take up the offer.
Downey knocked up a dish that would have had the Italians drooling and the move quickly paid dividends as Campbell slotted home twice against Basingstoke and followed up with a brace against Edinburgh Capitals before collecting the man of the match award at Whitley Bay Ice Rink.
Now Face Off hears that others in the Viper camp have got wind of Downey's skills in the kitchen with the former Newcastle inundated with requests as the players celebrated his birthday bash!
Mind you, they will face a fight to get past Campbell who already has place at the table booked following his goalscoring exploits last week.
And he'll get the chance to see if it was a one off against Belfast Giants and Sheffield Steelers this weekend.
]]>I know the players were tired after their long trip home from Cardiff last weekend but I refuse to use that as an excuse.
We need to start doing the things we are good at again.
]]> First up we have Basingstoke and that will be a tough game for us.They have some good players but I do think we can go there and win with the right mentality.
If we protect our end properly, I know we have enough goals in this team to win.
Edinburgh is a game we will deal with properly too.
If we have to be physical, we will be.
If we have to hit, we will hit.
And if we have to fight, we will fight.
Defeat means we are out or as good as out.
So we have to make sure that come Sunday night we're still alive.
Hope to see you this weekend
Willy
#21
But his words to Chronicle recently that his side always seemed to like doing things the hard way could not have been more accurate.
In a role reversal incident, Wilson actually asked me: When have Vipers ever done it the easy way?
]]> Willy is referring to this Sunday's Challenge Cup tie with Edinburgh Capitals, a game Newcastle need to win,It's a must win game. And Newcastle must then pick up positive results away to Belfast and Sheffield.
Or Newcastle's interest in the competition is over before it has barely started.
When Wilson spoke of targeting all four of the trophies on offer this season to Vipers back in the Hilton Hotel in August, he would not have been anticipating the 7-2 walloping endured by Manchester Phoenix last week which has made it so difficult for his side to get out of Group A and make the semi-finals.
One of the problems last week was the travel factor going into the game.
The players put in one of the best performances of the season in Cardiff against the Devils in a 2-1 overtime win but that was witnessed by just 12 Newcastle fans.
Now they head into the game with Edinbugh Caps on Sunday on the back of a 643 round mile trip back from Hampshire where they will have faced Basingtoke Bison.
A bit of solace may be taken from the extra three hours rest time for Vipers this weekend.
But unless there's a Viper victory against Ediburgh on Sunday at Whitley Bay Ice rink, there will be tears before bedtime.
On the other hand Wilson could still be singing It's Now or Never on the karaoke at Last Orders bar in the shadow of the rink in Hillheads come Sunday if his Challenge Cup hopes are still alive!
]]>And after coach Wilson's side proved they are more than capable of recreating the sort of form that lifted them to the top of the table last season, Wilson will be praying this isn't the start of another spate of injuries to key men.
Henderson was actually snapped up by Wilson to help deal with the injury crisis last term but even though the man who used to ply his trade in Japan for a team known as Snow Brand, he was also sucked into the jinx with back problems.
]]> A hit from Bobby Robbins resulted in the broken wrist for Henderson and the defenceman required oxygen, painkillers and a trip to hospital.Wilson said ahead of tonight's game: "It's a big blow as he has been outstanding for us the last two weekends, and was really showing us his full abilities.
"I've had both wrists broken in my career, so I know what it can be like. It depends a lot on which bones have been broken; best case scenario is around 4 weeks while at the worst end it can be 8 or 10."
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