News

01/09/2006 - Weaver: New Boys Settling In

Vipers captain Jonathan Weaver (right) with chairman Paddy O'Connor

VIPERS captain Jonathan Weaver believes the club’s new players have settled into the Tyneside dressing room and feel like established members of the team - before a competitive match has even faced off.
Last season’s success has largely been put down to the attitude and camaraderie of the squad coach Rob Wilson had put together, meaning that the way any new player fit into the mentality of the club was always going to be key to their success in Newcastle.
But Weaver believes that is not going to be a problem, despite a host of new faces arriving at the Metro Radio Arena for the new campaign.
“The guys who have come in have fit really well into the dressing room,” said Weaver.
“It feels like they have been here a whole season already.”
The most recent signing, Brantt Myhres only arrived three days ahead of the exhibition match and shirt launch at which Weaver spoke to www.newcastlenightsout.co.uk .
However, Weaver is already convinced that the players who departed in the summer have been replaced by equals, and in some cases better players.
“Trevor (Koenig) was an outstanding goalie last year, but we have replaced him with a goalie with better numbers,” said Weaver, referring to the arrival of Curtis Cruikshank from Nottingham.
“We lost Pasha (Gomeniuk) and Jimi (Jan Krajicek), we brought in Pavol Mihailik and Jason Robinson and hopefully they are going to match those roles.
“We have lost some good players, but we have replaced them with quality.”
But how do you improve on last year’s inaugural Elite League season for club which today ditched the “Newcastle” from its name to generate a broader appeal across the North East? That’s the question on everybody’s lips and one which Vipers bosses must dread.
“It’s going to be tough,” admits Weaver. “After last season, the fans are going to have high expectations and we are going to have to make sure we come every night and make sure we put on a good show for them
“They are going to be excited and, like I said before, we have to try to get a trophy at the end of the season.”
Weaver added that, despite his re-signing for the Vipers coming towards the end of the summer, it was not part of a ploy to keep the fans in suspense. As soon as his decision was made, the fans were informed.
“We were talking right through the summer,” he said. “I did have a couple of offers, but at the end it came down to Newcastle and I signed.”
One of those offers was from Elite League champions Belfast, whose coach, Ed Courteney made an approach.
“Eddie’s a pretty classy guy and he said ‘if you can’t get something sorted in Newcastle, give me a call’. I didn’t talk to Eddie about money at all. In the end, there was an offer from a team in Italy, but I signed for Newcastle.”
Jonathan Weaver leads the Vipers into action on Saturday night in an exhibition match against Coventry Blaze at the Metro Radio Arena. Face-off is 6.30pm.

< back