Saturday, September 1, 2007: Coventry Blaze 3-5 Mobilx Vipers
Sunday, September 2, 2007: Mobilx Vipers 2-2 Coventry Blaze

MOBILX Vipers came away from their pre-season friendlies with a feeling of confidence for the coming campaign, having beaten the Elite League champions and Challenge Cup holders, Coventry Blaze, on their own ice.

The Vipers followed up Saturday night's 5-3 away win with a respectable draw at home against the Blaze.

Saturday's match marked the first real outing for the new-look Vipers. Ironically, with former Vipers captain Jonathan Weaver facing his old side for the first time since his departure, it was the man wearing his old number 14 shirt who opened the scoring, Dean Holland notching his first goal at 4.25, assisted by Andre Payette and Ben Campbell.

A short-handed Adam Calder goal restored parity on 13.25, Weaver with the second assist.

Danny Stewart made it 2-1, before Jeff Hutchins opened his Vipers account, assisted by Petr Kratky on 25.27.

In his first game wearing the C, David Longstaff put the visitors into the lead on 27.19, a shorthanded marker assisted by the returning Pavel Gomenyuk.

Two minutes later, Sergiy Rublivsky was assisted by Derek Campbell to beat former Vipers stopper Trevor Koenig at the front post.

Calder's second tightened the score at 48.52, but Hutchins' second, on the empty net, sealed the win and earned assists for debutantes Colin Shields and net minder Ryan MacDonald.

Sunday's match gave the Vipers fans their first chance to see their team in its entirety on Tyneside. However, it was not to be a good start.

Within 85 seconds, the visitors were ahead, Curtis Huppe sending a slapshot past Ryan MacDonald between the home pipes.

Far from outclassed, though, the Vipers had their fair share of chances during an exciting first period, Rublivsky, Petr Kratky and Aleksandr Shevchenko coming close.

And it was only 41 seconds into the middle period that Kratky pulled the home side level, back-sticking low past Koenig.

Vipers went a goal ahead on 24.12 as Hutchins' shot came back off Koenig just enough for Rublivsky to follow-up for 2-1.

The home fans thought they had seen the lead extended, but the referee ruled out their side's effort due to a delayed penalty call.

A home win was denied in the third period, when Dan Carlson finished a simple passing move on 48.12, sending a first time shot past MacDonald after Calder centred the puck from the right.

All in all, it was a solid weekend for the Vipers against tough opposition and the fans will be hoping for the team to build on its performances for the start of the Elite League season next weekend.