THE Vipers’ worrying run of results continued as they slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat.

WINGER Jeff Hutchins marked his return to action with a goal and two assists as the Vipers achieved a rare away win.

THE return of top scorer Colin Shields revitalised the Vipers who gained revenge for December’s embarrassing 2-6 home loss against the Phoenix.

TWO-goal Todd Jackson made a storming return to the action after a long injury lay off.

TWO-goal Todd Jackson made a storming return to the action after a long injury lay off.

WINGER Matus Petricko struck two minutes into overtime to defeat his former club.

BIG match nerves got to the Vipers.

WINGER Derek Campbell struck midway through the final period to inflict the first home defeat of the season on Elite League leaders Coventry Blaze.

ROB Wilson’s skilful Vipers team showed they could win ugly as their unbeaten start to the season continued.

ROB Wilson believes he has solved two of the biggest problems which dogged the Vipers last season.

THE Vipers could be without new signing Petr Kratky for the next eight games after the Czech was ruled out for three to four weeks with a broken wrist.

WHEN centreman Colin Shields returned to British ice hockey this summer it was only ever going to be with the Vipers – because he did not want to be on the receiving end of the Newcastle side’s rough-house tactics!

NEWCASTLE Vipers defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk says he is delighted to be experiencing a second coming with Rob Wilson’s Elite League hopefuls.

NEWCASTLE Vipers faced Kingston Junior Ice Hockey Club in challenge matches at under-10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 levels at Newcastle Arena.

VIPERS star Akexsandr Shev-chenko today revealed he was out to make a name for himself by scoring goals in a different sport and for a different team ahead of the new Elite League season.

RYAN McDONALD today explained how he had shaken off his jetlag to arrive on the Newcastle Vipers scene with a bang before confessing: “I don’t like losing.”

WITH the defensive-orientated playbooks of the past consigned to the dustbin the new-look Vipers proved more than a match for double winners Coventry over the weekend.

WHITLEY Warriors new coaching duo of Andrew Carter and Karl Culley made a winning start last night.

NEWCASTLE VIPERS head coach Rob Wilson said today he was happy with the his side’s pre-season progress.

NEW captain David Longstaff goes head-to-head with his predecessor as the Vipers open their new season with exhibition games against Coventry Blaze this weekend.