The Canadian, 39, has spent 14 seasons in the UK, including the last five with the Elite League club, latterly as team boss and more recently as part-owner.

"I will certainly miss playing," Wilson admitted.

"But the way things have progressed at the Vipers I am now able to take a step away from the ice and concentrate full-time on coaching."

He added: "We've made great strides on and off the ice with the club, now seems like the right time to hang up the skates and step behind the bench."