Thrilling win for Solway over Blackburn
Solway Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen Dumfries, played what coach Martin Grubb called their best hockey for two years on Saturday as they defeated league champions Blackburn Hawks 5-3 at the Ice Bowl. The will look to continue their excellent 2016 form this coming Saturday at home to Whitley Warriors (7pm faceoff).
The chilly temperatures and heavy snow last Saturday were no match for the red hot atmosphere inside the rink as the two sides – winners of the last eight NIHL league, cup and playoff titles between them – played a thrilling match which swung to and fro through all sixty minutes.
Sharks were missing injured pair Alan Crane and Jamie Scott but otherwise iced their strongest squad since the early weeks of the season.
The match began at a frenetic pace with Solway on the attack from the first puck drop, and though they had to kill the first penalty of the game, Sharks got the opening goal that their pressure deserved.
From an attacking face off Marc Fowley won the draw and caught goalie Daniel Brittle off guard with a wrist shot from the circle to open the scoring at 8.48. Blackburn’s response was just over a minute later as Adam Brittle netted at 10.07 to level the scores heading into the first break.
Blackburn had regrouped in the interval and took the lead at 22.13 as defenceman Max Drakeley scored from just inside the blueline to edge the
visitors ahead. Sharks’ special teams came to the fore in the middle session with two powerplay goals and a delayed penalty strike.
First as Hawks skipper Arnone sat for hooking, the powerplay unit set up for Juraj Senko to unload a bomb from the point, which was tipped in front of net by Joe Coulter and past Brittle for the tying score at 26.14.
After Blackburn regained the lead through Rjay Berra at 29.54, the Dumfries side rebounded with two further goals before the second period ended. First with a penalty about to be called on Hawks Finnish defenceman Kim Miettinen the Sharks were able to move the puck for captain Struan Tonnar to score at the far post at 33.11 and the scores were tied at 3-3.
Then the goal of the game for me – another Sharks powerplay with crisp passing from the right circle to Senko at the point who laid off to Tonnar at the left circle for a one-timer which screamed into the net for what turned out to be the game-winning goal, timed at 37.00.
In the previous home game with Blackburn, a tight game at 40 minutes was blown apart as Hawks scored three times in the opening two minutes. This time there was no repeat as Solway bagged the insurance marker just 59 seconds into the final frame, Steven Moore taking Stuart Kerr’s pass and firing high past Brittle to seal the win.
Blackburn were unable to convert three final-period powerplays as the Sharks defence, lead by goalie Kieran Hobbins (34 saves), held firm and shut the door on the league leaders and inflicted a second defeat of the season the Lancashire outfit.
SCORING: Sharks – Tonnar 2+0, Moore 1+1, Coulter and Fowley 1+0, Senko 0+2, Kerr, Bowie, Murray and Speirs 0+1. Hawks – A Brittle and Berra 1+1, Drakeley 1+0, Arnone, Pollitt and Bentham 0+1.
A delighted Solway Sharks coach Martin Grubb said: “The match itself was a great hockey game from the first minute to the last, we worked hard, executed our systems, took pride in the performance and thoroughly deserved the win.
“In terms of the performance it’s probably the best we’ve played for 18 months, everyone should be pleased with what they’ve seen tonight. We’ve said previously that we need to show consistency and having beaten Sheffield last week it was important for the rest of the season to start winning against the top teams.
“Blackburn’s record over the past couple of years has been excellent and credit to them, but tonight we played for the full sixty minutes and got our deserved result.”
This coming weekend Sharks have their first double header of 2016, at home to Whitley Warriors on Saturday night before the trip to Teesside and Billingham Stars on Sunday night.
Warriors are second in the league with 13 wins from their 20 games to date, however they were beaten 4-2 on their last visit to the Ice Bowl in October. Billingham are two places and five points above the Sharks but they have played four more games. All three sides will be chasing a place at the end of season playoff weekend which features the top four sides from the division.
Looking ahead to the weekend, coach Grubb said: “This weekend will be a big gauge of where we are in the playoff race – both sides are above us but having just had the result we have against the very top team we have to go into the weekend with confidence.
“Whitley are a much changed team from last season and they are having a great season under David Longstaff. Billingham are traditionally a strong second-half team and they’ve started to put results together so we’re taking nothing for granted.
“We will work hard in training and look to pick up where we left off against Blackburn and keep the run going for as long as possible.”
Solway Sharks host Whitley Warriors this Saturday at Dumfries Ice Bowl, face off is at 7pm with doors opening at 6pm. Tickets are available from the Ice Bowl reception on match night priced at £8 adults, £5 concession and £16 for a family (2+3).
* Before last week’s match there was an impeccable minutes’ silence in memory of George Wallace who passed away after a short illness. George was well known and respected in hockey circles, his son James has just returned to the Sharks while daughter Ruth plays for the Sharks ladies team. Everyone at the Solway Ice Hockey Club sends their condolences to Joyce, Ruth and James and all family and friends at this sad time.
* The NIHL North Playoff weekend takes place at Ice Sheffield on the weekend of April 9-10 and for the first time will feature both Moralee and Laidler teams at the same event. The four semi finals will be on the Saturday, while the Laidler and Moralee Playoff Finals will take place on the Sunday afternoon. Full schedule and ticket information will be released in the very near future.
