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.
The Newcastle side’s Elite League campaign does not get underway until a week today but they are certain to be given a good workout by a Blaze side featuring Jonathan Weaver among others.
“It’s a big honour to be asked to follow in Jonathan’s footsteps, especially being a local lad,” said Longstaff. “I’ll try to emulate him a little bit and hopefully have some success.
“Not much will change. I’ve always been pretty vocal in the dressing room. We’ve got a lot of new players so I might have to give them advice about the league, the area and stuff like that. But everyone’s equal in our squad.”
Weaver’s departure, and the decision by co-owners Rob Wilson and Paul Ferone to concentrate on their off-ice roles, have given the 2007-08 campaign the feeling of a new era.
“It’s a whole new team but after last year when things didn’t go well we had to make wholesale changes,” said Longstaff. “I’m looking forward to the new season. Things are going well off the ice with the way the team’s been training. We’re going to be a lot more free-flowing, score a lot more goals and hopefully be a lot more entertaining for the fans.”
Of his decision to hand Longstaff the ‘C’ for next season, coach Wilson said: “It’s not a criticism of Jonathan but David’s really been the leader here for the last few years. It was just a natural progression.”
Tonight’s game in Coventry is a 6pm start, with the return facing off at 5.30pm tomorrow.
