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.
But despite Vipers picking up a host of injuries in Sunday’s impressive 4-2 win over Nottingham Panthers, the defenceman is expected to be the only absentee when Edinburgh Capitals visit Newcastle Arena on Saturday.
The news was what coach Rob Wilson was expecting after Kratky picked up the injury in the opening game of the season, a penalty-shots victory over Hull Stingrays, and he will not be moving into the market for a replacement.
“If you’re being honest, you’re always expecting the worst and hoping for the best,” said Wilson after the news was revealed.
“We’ll miss him but Ritchie Thornton and Jez Lundin have done a good job in his absence.
“With Petr being out for that length of time and those two playing so well, you wouldn’t want to bring in a replacement – and I wouldn’t want to do it to them.”
A number of players were struggling by the end of Sunday’s win, with Mark Gouett’s knee apparently causing some discomfort.
But Wilson reassured fans: “A couple of the guys have got fairly serious knocks but we don’t expect anyone else to be missing at the weekend.”
