Ice Hockey: Big Mac is back on Vipers menu

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 23, 2008

Byline: By LEE RYDER

NEWCASTLE Vipers have pulled off another major coup by persuading former star former NHL ace Chris McAllister to return to the club.

Big Mac - a 6ft 7in giant defenceman - starred for Vipers during the 2004/05 campaign during the NHL lockout, when a pay dispute resulted in the cancellation of the season in North America.

The former New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche star will be one of the big names of the Elite League next season and will join another in goaltender Andrew Verner at the Metro Radio Arena on what is turning into a star-studded roster.

Head coach Rob Wilson told the Chronicle exclusively from his North American home: "I'm delighted to have McAllister playing for the Vipers again.

"After re-signing Henderson and Gouett for our blueline, it was important to have a big guy back there who is going to go for the hits and impose a presence."

McAllister will be studying at Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University as part of his contract, with Derek Campbell, Mark Gouett and Ben Storey having benefited from the club's association with the University last season.

Born in Saskatoon, Canada, 33-year-old McAllister started his career in the Western Hockey League with the Saskatoon Blades and was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the NHL draft in 1995.

Wilson said from Toronto: "Chris is a real team player and is the type of player we want playing at this club.

"His presence is going to be a real attribute to our game, and I'm sure the fans are delighted to have a favourite playing back for the Vipers."

A delighted Big Mac added: "I'm delighted to be heading back to England and the North East.

"I enjoyed my time there back in 2005 and I'm delighted to finally be heading back."

David Longstaff is the only player remaining at the Vipers from when McAllister last played in the club colours but the big man has been impressed with the Vipers recruitment so far.

"Rob is putting together a very good team, a team that is hard working, gritty and will work very hard to get the win," said McAllister.

"After speaking to Rob I think that the fans will be impressed with how the team is going to line up.

"It is certainly going to be very exciting and entertaining and I can't wait for the season to start."

McAllister will make his debut for the Mincoff Vipers when Coventry Blaze visits the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Saturday, August 30.

Face-off will be at 6.30pm and tickets will go on sale from early August.

For details on group packages, flex tickets and other ticketing details please call the Vipers on (0191) 242 2420.

McALLISTER FACTFILE

CHRIS McALLISTER spent three seasons playing for the Canucks AHL farm team the Syracuse Crunch before making his debut in the NHL in 1997, playing 64 games for Vancouver before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1998.

After 56 games for the Leafs, McAllister was again traded, this time to the Philadelphia Flyers where he played 121 games for the Flyers and four games for the AHL outfit the Philadelphia Phantoms.

A move to the Colorado Avalanche materialised in 2002, and after 48 games for the Avalanche McAllister was traded to the New York Rangers towards the end of the 2003/2004 season.

A salary dispute between the NHL and the NHL Players Association resulted in a 310-day lockout and the cancellation of the entire 2004-05 NHL season, with many players heading to Europe to ply their trade.

During the second half of the 2004-05 season the Vipers brokered a deal with McAllister to play for the Vipers, a deal which was supported by the entertainment complex, The Gate, who contributed towards McAllister signing for the Vipers.

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RETURN TICKET: Chris McAllister is back with the Vipers