The Solway Sharks iced their 3rd consecutive game in Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday evening, claiming an emphatic 8-1 win over the Bristol Pitbulls after a 4-goal middle period for the hosts.
Solway lined up with 15+2 as #71 Craig Peacock hung his skates back up amidst the return of GB u20 #88 Kyle Carruth. However, Sharks were missing #16 Bailey Thomson and #17 Joe Lynch as they iced for their 2-way sides whilst #21 Torran Anderson and #15 Kieran Hair were placed on the injury list.
On the other hand, Bristol travelled with 17+2 as import #27 Mitch Walinski and #10 Josh Poole made their debuts, whilst #23 Jacob White-Sey iced his first game back since the GB u20 World Championships. Solway gave #33 Jordan Marr the start after a rest in their previous game, matched up against regular starter #33 Tommy Nappier for the Pitbulls.
1st period – (2-0)
Sharks got off to the perfect start, despite Marr making the initial save in the game, after #9 Mason Alderson raced down the right wing and deked past the Bristol defence to fire over Nappier’s pads at 1:52 which gave Solway an early edge. Solway’s consistent offensive threat in the opening minutes forced #7 Cam Hamill to give away the first penalty of the evening at 5:55 for interference.
However, a strong PK unit for the Pitbulls denied Sharks a chance of doubling their current lead. Solway retained momentum, yet #33 Tommy Nappier matched the efforts on net by the Sharks forwards for his side. Another major chance for the Sharks was created by #12 Kell Beattie at 13:53 after his slap shot from the point rebounded off Nappier’s pads in the crease, although sticks were tied up preventing a rebound conversion.
Just as Bristol were starting to find their feet in the game, #22 John Dunbar followed suit to Alderson’s initial opener and broke down the right wing to fire top shelf on Nappier, doubling the advantage to 2-0 for the Sharks at 17:53. Gardiner made a final shot on Nappier in the closing minute, but he made the stop to see Solway lead 2-0 after the first period of play.
2nd period – (4-1)
The hosts found themselves a man short early in the middle frame as #6 Stuart Kerr was called for interference at 21:52. Exactly a minute later, #11 Sean Morris jammed the puck past Marr on the backdoor following the feed from #77 Bayley Harewood which halved the deficit for Bristol. However, moments later #5 Olivier Arseneau answered back for Solway after connecting with the puck mid-air on a full-length stretch, whilst Bristol were on a delayed penalty call at 24:35.
The Pitbulls landed themselves another PK at 26:35 as new import #27 Mitch Walinski hooked #88 Kyle Carruth on the breakaway. Solway converted the opportunity to go 4-1 up through #89 Scott Henderson, firing low past Nappier from the crease after the thread from #43 Nolan Gardiner behind the goal at 28:09. Although, minutes later Solway’s latest goal-scorer sat for high sticks at 33:49, giving Bristol a chance to continue their 100% PP conversion so far. A strong defensive shift for the Sharks saw them return to full strength without conceding and were rewarded shortly after as #71 Jay King was called for slashing at 36:22.
The Sharks capitalised on their chance once again through #22 John Dunbar, who fired the puck from the tightest of angles aside the goal line at 37:45 posting Solway 4 goals clear. Bristol failed to break down the Sharks offensive threat as #43 Nolan Gardiner added another to the tally at 39:22, firing 5-hole through Nappier. Pitbulls’ #51 Reece Cochrane snapped his stick in anger following the goal, seeing him sit for unsportsmanlike conduct at 39:22. Solway failed to convert before the buzzer sounded, ending the 2nd period with a 6-1 scoreline in favour to the hosts.
3rd period – (2-0)
Bristol returned for the final frame with clear intent, despite being on the penalty kill, which forced #12 Kell Beattie to give away a tripping call at 41:05. The Sharks sent out a strong PK unit and returned to full strength with the 6-1 scoreline unchanged. However, seconds later #33 Jordan Marr picked up a high sticking infraction at 43:51 which was sat by #88 Kyle Carruth. Once again, the Sharks defensive unit coped well under pressure and the forwards immediately fired shots on Nappier as Carruth returned back into play.
Tensions started to bubble as Sharks continued to keep Bristol off the scoreboard, resulting in #73 Sam Smith sitting for roughing at 50:46. There was a brief break in play at 52:19 after #14 Lewis Young collided awkwardly with #27 Mitch Walinski along the boards, seeing him head to the changing rooms early, helped off by Alderson and Coulter. Bristol killed off the remainder of Smith’s penalty however neither team remained at full strength for long.
Tensions spilled in the Sharks zone at 53:35, seeing #88 Kyle Carruth sit 2 double minors for cross checking and unsportsmanlike conduct, whilst #77 Bayley Harewood and #7 Cam Hamill were handed slashing and roughing penalties respectively. The pause in play failed to slow down the Solway offence as #12 Kell Beattie added his name to the scoresheet at 54:22, firing a one-timer at point past Nappier after the thread from #22 John Dunbar.
Bristol found themselves a player short once more at 56:36 as Captain #24 Tanner Butler was called for cross-checking, but the Pitbulls PK unit denied the Sharks, despite the multiple efforts fired on Nappier. Solway’s top goal scorer, #43 Nolan Gardiner picked up his 2nd of the evening in the final minute at 59:14 sending the puck across the line as his stick snapped simultaneously to secure his side an 8-1 win in the Sharktank.
MVPs were awarded to #22 John Dunbar for Solway after a 6-point performance, meanwhile #27 Mitch Walinski picked up the title for Bristol in his debut appearance.
Peterborough Phantoms vs Solway Sharks 19.01.25
The Solway Sharks travelled South to face the Peterborough Phantoms after a secure 8-1 win in the Sharktank the previous evening over the Pitbulls. However, they failed to clench revenge on the Phantoms following their prior losses, taking a 4-1 defeat to the home side after a clinical powerplay performance, despite opening the scoring.
Solway travelled with a short-benched squad of 13+2 as #14 Lewis Young and #25 Connor Henderson stepped out of the lineup from the previous evening. Meanwhile, the Sharks also several key players due to injuries and 2-way agreements. On the other hand, Phantoms iced a squad of 18+2 as Zaine McKenzie was switched out for Brad Bowering from the previous meeting between the 2 sides. Solway gave #33 Jordan Marr the start in his former home rink, matched up against Canadian import #30 Hayden Lavigne.
1st period – (0-1)
Peterborough won the initial face-off and immediately fired shots on Marr through #62 Janne Laakkonen, however these were quickly counted by the Solway first line in the opening minutes. Despite the long bus journey, Sharks dominated the opening period as #30 Hayden Lavigne made the difference for his side to retain a goal-less scoreline.
However, the Sharks were soon rewarded for their offensive threat as Solway’s top points scorer, #43 Nolan Gardiner slotted the rebound off his initial shot wide of Lavigne’s catcher after a well-worked effort from #12 Kell Beattie, to keep the puck in the Phantoms zone on the blue line at 12:58.
The Sharks were soon handed an opportunity to double their lead at 14:56 as #91 Nathan Salem was handed the first penalty of the evening for slashing. Although, the Phantoms forced Solway to the boards, killing the penalty successfully. Peterborough created some offensive pressure in the final moments through #19 Luke Ferrara and #38 Duncan Speirs, but Marr stood tall to retain a 0-1 lead to his side after 20 minutes.
2nd period – (1-0)
The Phantoms continued their offensive plays in the Sharks zone as their 2nd line connected nicely, yet Marr made the stops against his former side. Solway’s #89 Scott Henderson came close with a shot in the crease, but Lavigne reacted quickly to prevent a 2-goal edge for the visitors.
Both sides continued to battle for the puck in the neutral zone and fire shots on either netminder, although they both matched the forwards’ efforts retaining just a single goal scoreline as the game surpassed the halfway mark.
The Sharks headed to the penalty kill for the first time in the game at 37:02 as #22 John Dunbar sat for tripping #19 Luke Ferrara. Seconds later, #29 Cam Hough slotted the puck past Marr on the backdoor following the feed from #62 Janne Laakkonen at 37:31 to equalise the score to 1-1. The Sharks looked to answer back quickly, but Lavigne made the stops to maintain a level scoreline heading into the final frame.
3rd period – (3-0)
The visitors were eager to reclaim their initial lead and were given an opportunity as #2 Tom Norton was called for interference at 43:01, yet the Phantoms defence held strong. Solway then returned the favour as tensions spilled in the Sharks zone, resulting in a tripping call for #89 Scott Henderson on 46 minutes.
Yet again, Peterborough’s powerplay unit converted on the man advantage as Captain #19 Luke Ferrara fired from the slot, beating Marr through traffic at 47:24, giving the hosts the lead. Solway restarted their offensive threat, however the discipline slipped once more at 51:11 as #12 Kell Beattie sat for slashing.
Peterborough retained their 100% powerplay conversion rate at 53:07 after Phantoms’ top goal-scorer #29 Cam Hough, claimed his 2nd of the evening who sent the puck bottom corner as Marr was screened in the crease. Solway gave away another call at 54:48, landing them on the PK again as #89 Scott Henderson returned to the box for tripping. It was 4th time lucky for the visitors as the defence tied Phantoms up against the board to kill Henderson’s penalty and immediately return to attacking play.
The Phantoms were called for icing, causing a break in play which allowed Solway to call #33 Jordan Marr to the bench in favour of an extra forward. However, the risk failed to pay off as #29 Cam Hough claimed his hat-trick with an empty netter at 58:44 despite #6 Stuart Kerr’s best effort to dive infront of the shot. The Sharks were awarded a final opportunity at 59:05 as #92 Barnabas Sarí sat for hooking, yet they failed to punish Peterborough completing the game with a 4-1 win to the Phantoms.
MVPs were awarded to #33 Jordan Marr for Solway against his former team. Meanwhile, #29 Cam Hough claimed the title for Peterborough after his hat-trick performance.
The Dynamic Property Services Solway Sharks are back on home ice this weekend, ready to face off against the Berkshire Bees. This marks the fourth meeting between the two teams, with the Sharks coming out on top in two dominant victories during their previous encounters.
This match promises to be extra special as the Sharks will take to the ice wearing their specialty Pride jerseys. After the game, fans are invited to Sharky’s Bar for an exciting live auction, where they’ll have the chance to bid on these limited-edition jerseys. Among the coveted items is the #71 Craig Peacock jersey, with all proceeds from its sale going directly to support LGBT Youth Scotland. The match takes place on Saturday, January 25 with doors opening at 5:30 pm for a 7:00 pm faceoff.
Don’t miss this thrilling evening of hockey and celebration! Secure your tickets now through the club’s website at https://sharksihc.com/tickets/ or in person at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.
