MOBILX VIPERS head into this
weekend's play-off quarter final
series against Belfast Giants
with hopes riding on a positive
outcome.
Vipers travel to the Province
today before returning home to
the Metro Radio Arena tomorrow
(face-off 5.30pm) for what
could be a winner takes all
game.
And not only will a series win
mean a return to Nottingham for
the champions of 2006, it would
also see the career of a Vipers
stalwart end on a high.
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North-East favourite Shaun
Johnson is retiring at the end of
this season and this weekend
could prove to be the last roll of
the dice for the former Durham
Wasps ace.
"I'm trying not to think about
it," Johnson admitted. "It could
happen but to be honest, I'm not
thinking like that, as I'll be severely
disappointed if we don't
come out of the Belfast games
with a win.
"We've been training hard and
you can see in practice that the
guys are taking it to the next
level.''
He added: "The last few weeks
have been hard on us, as we've
been pretty much guaranteed
fifth place in the league, so we've
had essentially nothing to play
for. But with the play-offs coming
into view, it's been like an injection
for us in terms of speed
and effort and everyone just
wants to get on with the job
now."
After completing a clean
sweep of road wins against
champions Coventry Blaze last
Sunday, with a 4-2 victory at the
Skydome, confidence is high.
"We said we needed a good weekend
ahead of the play-offs." said
Johnson. "And last weekend we
got just that, so the confidence is
there."
Head coach Rob Wilson has
adapted his systems many times
during the season but in the winner
takes all series, is he looking
to do anything new?
"We've been working on a few
things in training and the lads
are all used to the systems,'' he
said.
"The play-offs are a totally different
game though and we'll be
taking one game at a time. In the
latter half of the season, we've
maybe struggled a little bit but
we all think we can step it up a
gear, just like we did in 2006
when we won it. Anything can
happen in the play-offs, so I hope
it all comes together for us."
And coming back to his potential
last weekend, Johnson
added "It's going to be my last
home game on Sunday night, so
I'd just like to thank all the fans
for their terrific support during
my time with Newcastle and
throughout the years. I've enjoyed
my time immensely at the
Arena and everyone's been fantastic
with me.
"So I hope everyone will be in
the rink on Sunday night and we
can finish the season with a trip
to Nottingham."
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