Newcastle KBS Vipers coach Clyde Tuyl has added three more names to his roster ahead of this weekend's season face-off.

Forwards Karl Culley, Stuart Potts and Michael Bowman have all been training with the Vipers in the run-up to the club's inaugural season.

And they have shined in their two pre-season exhibition matches against the Edinburgh Capitals, which have seen the Tyneside outfit win both games with a number of up-and-coming North-East players icing in place of the import signings who have been arriving in the country this week.

Right winger Potts spent last season with Cardiff Devils, having been on the bench for the Newcastle Jesters in 2000/1.

Culley, a left winger, joins from North-East neighbours Whitley Bay, while Michael Bowman arrives from Hull Thunder, who the Vipers will take on in their first Findus Challenge match on Saturday.

After that away clash, the first home tie will see Newcastle take on Fife Flyers at the Telewest Arena on Sunday evening.

Defenceman Kevin Bucas, who came into the squad to get onto the score sheet for last Sunday's 10-3 win against Edinburgh, will ice this weekend, although Tuyl is not saying whether he will receive a full contract. That is expected to be resolved next week.

Tuyl said: "We are very, very excited to have that trio join us. "I think over time the North-East has developed an awful lot of talented hockey players and we are very excited. We are looking forward to their development over the course of the year with us."

Jeff Trembecky, the last of the imports to arrive on Tyneside, is due into the country today (Friday), but Tuyl is confident that, despite the short time his big names have been together, that they will fit in quickly.

Of the young players who have spent pre-season with the Vipers, he also has high hopes.

Speaking of teenage Sunderland Chiefs duo Mike Allinson and Adam Carr, he said they had been urged to continue playing their hockey on Wearside, while still training in Newcastle when their scheduled allow.

"If they played with us, their match time would be limited, and it would maybe stunt their development," he said.