The Hercules Ice Hockey Apparel Solway Sharks made it 4 wins from 4 in 2024 on
Friday night when they welcomed the Leeds Knights to the Shark Tank.
The match started at a frantic pace but it would be the home side that would take the
early lead through Nolan Gardiner on the power play. Less than two minutes later
Sharks doubled their advantage through Caly Robertson. Into the second period
when the Knights came out with pressure and were rewarded just over the mid way
point of the period when Matt Haywood fired home. Less than a minute later Leeds
tied things up through Jordan Griffin, the league leaders weren’t finished there, as
Jake Witkowski made no mistake finishing high over a helpless Warburton.
Solway Sharks knew winning the final period would take the game to at least
overtime and that’s exactly what they did with Nolan Gardiner scoring the only goal
of the final period.
Both Netminders were the star of the show in overtime making big stops at either
end to force the match to penalty shots.
Both teams missed their opening 2 attempts before Sharks missed their 3rd and Mac
Howlett put the Knights up by one, Scott Henderson answered back for the Sharks
before Warburton denied the next 2 knights to send the shootout to sudden death,
where Mac Howlett saw his second attempt saved. Mason Alderson stepped up and
was the coolest man in the building as he converted past Gospel and gave Sharks
the Shootout win and the 2 points to continue the fine form in 2024. Defenceman Kell
Beattie picked up the man of the match award for the Solway Sharks.
Solway Sharks continued their fine start to 2024 coming out on top in a dramatic 13
goal thriller on Saturday night in Bristol.
Making the longest away trip of the season, it was the home side that made the
most of the first period, rushing into a 2-0 lead. The Pitbulls added a 3rd early in the
second period, however, the Sharks at that point found a way back into the game
through Caly Robertson, before Craig Peacock pulled back another before the end of
the second to send the Sharks into the 2nd intermission down 3-2.
Nolan Gardiner tied things up for the Sharks before Lewis Young and Mason
Alderson converted to give the Sharks a 5-3 lead all within 2 minutes of the restart.
Bristol then made a comeback of their own scoring 3 unanswered goals to go 6-5 up
with only a few minutes to play. Solway Sharks found a way with 53 seconds left
when Olivier Arseneau tied things up at 6-6 and sent the game to overtime.
With less than a minute to play in overtime, just as the Pitbulls killed off a 5v3
penalty, Scott Henderson found space in front to fire past Norton and take the win for
the Sharks and round off another 4 point weekend as they continue to climb the
league table in 2024. Game winner Scott Henderson Picked up the Man of the Match
award and here’s what he had to say after the weekends results,
“It has been great to see us getting consistent results so far in the new year. The
team has really bought in and we are gaining confidence each week. We are finding
different ways to win which is always very promising to see. We just need to keep up
this pace for the remainder of the season as every weekend there are important
points up for grabs.”
The Sharks return to the Ice Bowl this Saturday to take on the Sheffield Steeldogs.
Puck drops at 4:00 pm and doors open at 2:30 pm. You can get your tickets now for
this match either via the clubs website, https://sharksihc.com/tickets/, or in person at
the Ice Bowl.
