New Newcastle player-coach Stewart scored ten goals last season

New Newcastle Vipers player-coach Danny Stewart has called on the club's young local talent to step up to Elite League level next season.

Stewart has signed up youngsters Nathan Salem and Jamie Tinsley for next season, as well as Whitley Warriors goal-tender Liam McAllister.

"Local lads are going to play a big part," Stewart told BBC Newcastle.

"With the departure of David Longstaff and Ben Campbell and those guys it's exciting, it's a new time for Vipers."

The role is the former Coventry Blaze forward's first in coaching, and at the age of 31 Stewart is among the youngest coaches in the Elite League.

But chairman Paddy O'Connor and general manager Jaimie Longmuir believe in Stewart's ability, and with the departure of senior professionals such as Matus Petricko, Matic Kralj and Andrew Verner, added to the aforementioned Longstaff and Campbell, Stewart is excited by the opportunity of assembling a new Vipers squad at Whitley Bay's ice rink next season.

"I'm glad to be the one who's in charge and I can pick the guys who I want," Stewart added.

"Paddy and Jamie have been great and supporting me and telling me I can bring in the players I want and style of guys I want.

"We're playing in a small venue that will suit a team that's hard-working and hard-nosed and teams won't want to come to Whitley Bay."

Stewart's spell with the Blaze ended with a play-off triumph, capping a haul of three league titles and two cup wins during his spell in the West Midlands. He recorded ten goals and 25 assists in his 55 games last season.

The player-coach said he intends to extend his playing career on Tyneside, despite the pressures of coaching.

"It's the best of both worlds, you get to keep playing but you're the one who calls the shots,"

"It's a challenge - running the bench and focus on playing as well, but if I wasn't up for it, I wouldn't be here."

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