Vipers in in bid to land former NHL star

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 20, 2008

Byline: By LEE RYDER

NEWCASTLE Vipers are trying to sign former NHL star Ed Courtenay.

Vipers finished their weekend on a high in front of 3,000 people after seeing off Sheffield Steelers on penalty shots after a pulsating 3-3 draw at the Metro Radio Arena.

But the talk of the locker room today was whether Vipers can nail what would be a big name signing in the shape of Courtenay.

Head coach Rob Wilson has held talks in Canada with the right-winger who left his post as player/coach with Belfast Giants last season to start his own business.

Now it is up to the player to decide if he wants to come out of retirement.

Newcastle are currently playing minus one import due to a wrist injury for Burt Henderson, who may face another six weeks out, and the signing of Courtenay would be a major boost to the roster.

Vipers general manager Jaimie Longmuir said today: "There have been discussions with a big name player in the past fortnight and we hope they will be resolved in the next 48 hours. We are very hopeful."

Courtenay - who won the Elite League title in 2006 with Belfast Giants - still has plenty to offer despite reaching his 40th birthday in February.

The star played for San Jose Sharks in the NHL as well as proving to be a popular figure at both Belfast and Sheffield Steelers in later years.

Vipers' injury problems intensified last night as winger Derek Campbell retired early with a groin problem after taking his tally to four in four matches.

Steelers had weathered an early storm from Vipers last night but snatched the lead on 8:49 as Ashley Tait fed Dowd before the ex-Scimitars ace slotted past Andrew Verner.

Immediately after the goal, home enforcer Andre Payette dropped the gloves before flooring Andrew Sharp and it was well and truly game on.

Less than a minute after the opener, Campbell latched on to a pass from Jez Lundin before beating Lehman with a cool finish for 1-1.

Steelers grabbed the only goal in the second period when Joe Talbot was played in by Steve Munn on 27:35.

But in the final period, Sheffield's good work was wasted as Todd Griffith tied it up again at 2-2 five minutes into the third.

And two minutes later Newcastle edged in front for the first time when Griffith again scored after Wilson and Tyler Willis combined well.

Steelers took a time out soon after and it paid off as Dowds netted the equaliser with just under seven minutes left after Jason Hewitt and Randy Dagenais pulled the strings.

With no goals in overtime, it was then down to a shoot-out.

Verner blocked Tait's effort before David Longstaff scored against his old club.

Dowd's penalty was beaten away by Verner only for Lehman to deny Ivan the chance to seal it.

But when Sheppard almost struck the scoreboard behind the goal, it was time for the home crowd to celebrate.

VIPERS were beaten 3-2 in Belfast on Saturday to end their interest in the Challenge Cup.

CAPTION(S):

SIGNING SWOOP: Ed Courtenay