Newcastle Vipers

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Mobilx Vipers

League:

Elite Ice Hockey League

Founded:

2002

Home Ice:

Metro Radio Arena

Capacity:

4500

Ice Size:

198ft x 98ft

City:

Newcastle, United Kingdom

Colours:

Black, Gold and White

Head Coach:

Rob Wilson

Ownership:

Paddy O'Connor, Paul Ferone, Rob Wilson

The Newcastle Mobilx Vipers are an Ice Hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League having previously held membership of the British National League.

The club were founded August 2002 after a season without a professional Ice Hockey team in Newcastle. Previously, the city was represented by the Newcastle Jesters who were founded in 1999 by Finnish businessman Harry Harkimo who purchased the franchise from the Ice Hockey Superleague.

The franchise had previously been owned by John Hall who had owned the club as part of his ambitious 'Newcastle Sporting Club' project and known as the Newcastle Cobras and later the Newcastle Riverkings. The Cobras had previously played as the Durham Wasps who had moved to Newcastle Upon Tyne Arena when Hall purchased them causing the closure of the Durham ice rink.

After playing its first three seasons in the British National League, the Vipers joined the Elite Ice Hockey League in time for the 2005-06 season. The Vipers caused an enormous amount of surprise during their first season finishing runners-up to the Belfast Giants in the league and winning the EIHL Play-Off Championship at the National Ice Centre, defeating the Sheffield Steelers 2-1 in the Grand Final.